The Ref Stop

Promotion

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kje2198

New Member
Hi All,

New Level 7 ref here and I am planning on trying to gain promotion 7-6 next year (would love to do 6-5 aswell but I am realistic that this is quite unlikely) the new promotion targets seem to include 5 AR appointments however the only 2 leagues near me that consistently run teams of 3 at OA (which seems to be a requirement by the looks of things) are the united counties league and south spartan midlands league, which I would think are not looking to take new level 7s on for the next year. Any advice to try and get the AR games in for promotion next year?

Thanks
 
The Ref Stop
Hey @kje2198

My local step 5 league take on level 7s. But I do think it is an 'in the deep end' experience.

Outside of that you will struggle for regular lines.

The only other thing I can think of, but it might leave you out of pocket. If you have another referee in the same boat as you, you could email the local league and explain you two need lines.

Offer to run lines on the grassroot league for free or cheap maybe?
 
Could you do Central Midlands Regional Football Alliance by any chance?

Or u18/u21 leagues, midweek?

Anything like that?

Edit - Also, Leicestershire Senior Football League, and if you do get on the UCL, I might see you next season 😀.
 
wazztie16 said:
Could you do Central Midlands Regional Football Alliance by any chance?

Or u18/u21 leagues, midweek?

Anything like that?

Edit - Also, Leicestershire Senior Football League, and if you do get on the UCL, I might see you next season 😀.
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We have a midweek league that’s u18 but by looks of RPP from 7-6 the AR requirements need to be in u21 and over. UCL and SSML seem like a good option for me should they be accepting level 7s however travel maybe the big issue currently due to work/family commitments etc SSML has quite a few times local to me that would be ideal especially their division 1 🙂
 
Are you from Northants?
Quite sure you’d be able to operate as an AR on the United counties league!
 
RefereeX said:
Are you from Northants?
Quite sure you’d be able to operate as an AR on the United counties league!
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Yeah I’m based in Northants at the mo my biggest worry with UCL is the travel required as I am quite new to refereeing and with work commitments I don’t want to take on too much that my family and work like heavily suffers. If I could stay relatively local to Northants and still AR would be a perfect balance as I can get my middles on a Sunday .
 
kje2198 said:
We have a midweek league that’s u18 but by looks of RPP from 7-6 the AR requirements need to be in u21 and over. UCL and SSML seem like a good option for me should they be accepting level 7s however travel maybe the big issue currently due to work/family commitments etc SSML has quite a few times local to me that would be ideal especially their division 1 🙂
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Usually appointment secs will relax requirements a bit for promotion candidates
 
kje2198 said:
Yeah I’m based in Northants at the mo my biggest worry with UCL is the travel required as I am quite new to refereeing and with work commitments I don’t want to take on too much that my family and work like heavily suffers. If I could stay relatively local to Northants and still AR would be a perfect balance as I can get my middles on a Sunday .
Click to expand...

You should be able to tell whoever is doing the appointments that you’re only able to go to certain grounds due to work commitments.
The only thing is in the UCL referees will expect you, as an AR, to arrive around 1:45 for a 3pm KO and then usually stay for post match pleasantries too.

If in doubt, have a chat with Olly about what’s best!
 
RefereeX said:
You should be able to tell whoever is doing the appointments that you’re only able to go to certain grounds due to work commitments.
The only thing is in the UCL referees will expect you, as an AR, to arrive around 1:45 for a 3pm KO and then usually stay for post match pleasantries too.

If in doubt, have a chat with Olly about what’s best!
Click to expand...
Second this, I managed to get promotion from 7-6 and 4w-3w whilst limiting my travel with appointment officers due to family commitments with a new baby. Furthest I travelled was 40 minutes until the very last game of the season when I went an hour to make sure I hit my 25.
 
The Spartan has 3 divisions all of which use neutral assistants so your chances are fairly good of getting games consistently. And availability is done on a spreadsheet; you mark in advance when you are and are not available and they take it from there.

Similarly, UCL appointing officer often sends out short notice requests for cover so they too would likely take you on.

Like others I serve both leagues. Spartan is my primary and my UCL games tend to be those sent when they’re short of cover and I’m without a game.

Contact them both, the worst they can do is say no.
 
kje2198 said:
Hi All,

New Level 7 ref here and I am planning on trying to gain promotion 7-6 next year (would love to do 6-5 aswell but I am realistic that this is quite unlikely) the new promotion targets seem to include 5 AR appointments however the only 2 leagues near me that consistently run teams of 3 at OA (which seems to be a requirement by the looks of things) are the united counties league and south spartan midlands league, which I would think are not looking to take new level 7s on for the next year. Any advice to try and get the AR games in for promotion next year?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Best not to assume both those leagues are not looking to take on new L7s for next season. There are 3 Divisions within the UCL so that’s many Assistants required. Drop them a line & see what they say.
 
Presumably at the least county FAs will appoint some 7-6s to county cup games sooner than usual to help out?
 
Refollie said:
Presumably at the least county FAs will appoint some 7-6s to county cup games sooner than usual to help out?
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That is a strong possibility especially with the extra preliminary and preliminary rounds, the first of which is on the 1st Saturday in August I believe.
 
David G said:
That is a strong possibility especially with the extra preliminary and preliminary rounds, the first of which is on the 1st Saturday in August I believe.
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If you are talking about FA Cup qualifiers, the extra preliminary round is indeed Saturday 3rd August.
 
Loved every minute of my 7-6 and 6-5. Learnt so much.

Although it is possible to do at least two jumps in a season I took my time (I also had a young baby) but I kept my feet on the ground and didn’t rush. 2 seasons for two promotions and I found that a good level of challenge. Also plenty of time there to get 5/10/15 lines in .. youth games can count towards this as well as long as it is 11 v 11 with offsides. Maybe you could do a youth line a couple of weekends instead of a men’s Middle?
 
RefereeX said:
You should be able to tell whoever is doing the appointments that you’re only able to go to certain grounds due to work commitments.
The only thing is in the UCL referees will expect you, as an AR, to arrive around 1:45 for a 3pm KO and then usually stay for post match pleasantries too.

If in doubt, have a chat with Olly about what’s best!
Click to expand...
I think I might get in touch with Olly as I am still technically classed as a Trainee on the WGS although I sent off my games from an FA sanctioned tournament a few weeks ago so not sure the hold up from it ticking over to a Level 7
 
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