Rant with a question

[Redref34]

Hi all

Why do county FAS and RDOs seem to place weak or even under 18 officials on really difficult and tough games?

Step 6/7 - I have been placed on the line of a referee who is not only under 18 but who I know has had a really tough time this season with a very nasty incident. I am all for supporting and given young and new referees games but it does seem to be to be a little counter intuitive. Not only that it could be seen as pretty dangerous as these games need managing properly as not to descend into chaos.

Is there an arrogance of if your a referee you should just be entitled to referee any game and it doesn’t matter what it is or do RDOs have a method to their appointments?

 

[JamesL]

Is it a step 6/7 game? If it's step 6 then they are a level 4 referee or at least on promotion pathway.

RDOs don't normally do appointments. These are usually handled by a dedicated person at the CFA or the league.

Methods are usually availability of refs, availability of observers if the referee needs a certain type of game for the promotion pathway, performance will come into it, referee experience Vs expected difficulty of game, knowledge of referee.

 

[Redref34]

Apologies I have had this experience with county cup appointments which are done by my RDO. I wasn’t clear. I have also had this experience with an appointment officer at step 7 but also find it happens to me at step 6 as well!

Maybe it is just me - I like to support other referees and maybe that is why I am being asked to take these roles as an AR - however it is difficult when the game becomes out of control and you have to try and support a referee who has made some errors.

 

[CaptainsPlease]

It doesn't sound like you have much personal experience of this referee, and are prejudging what will happen based on their age and a past incident?

 

[Redref34]

It doesn't sound like you have much personal experience of this referee, and are prejudging what will happen based on their age and a past incident?

Not just one. Seems like a pattern. We all know the referees in our league and the referees in our area enough to know how the game is likely to go if you are a AR on one of their fixtures. Of course - completely understand that the game could go fantastically. I just don’t see why referees would be put in a situation if it can be avoided.

Again - I am happy to support referees - I would much rather do this with me being in the middle and them watching me than the other way round.

 

[JamesL]

Ok so step 7 v step 6 in county cup..that makes sense.

So I would guess that the referee is probably going 5-4 and needs to be observed on a competition using neutral assistant referees. Despite you belief about the referees readiness they are on the pathway and have to be given an opportunity to show that they are ready, or not, for the next level.

At levels where retention and promotion are a thing it's about balance. You can't hide referees from the more challenging games because that's not fair on those that have to then referee those games more frequently but also the ref who doesn't get the game misses out on learning or it it is a case they aren't up to standard they are retained because they get easy games.

If you don't want to AR for this ref based on hearsay or past experience then take it up with the appointments officer or turn up, do your best job to help and support without prejudging them. They may have since had help and support around areas they might have struggled with. You might be able to fill in some gaps.