it’s a great way of learning yeah right, all I did was either agree in my head or disagree with decisions he gave I didn’t learn anything or take anything out of the experience, your stuck to one half of the pitch and a touchline like a dog on a lead, how anyone can enjoy it is beyond me, oh and your earning half the money!
Well, it's looking at the *why* of your agreement and disagreements that is a part of the learning process.
Why did you agree with the referee? Because he was right? Because your positioning and his positioning were aligned to agree on the decision making process?
Then why did you disagree with some of his decisions? Because your view was better than his? - These are cues to help you think about if the positions were reversed, where would you improve your positioning if you were in the middle, so that "AR" you would agree with the decision you're making from the middle's point of view?
There's also other stuff, game management in particular, that you should be able to pick up over time. I was selected to AR for a level 4 referee who took a liking to me early on in my career. He mentored me fantastically, and I got to watch his style of refereeing. I could tell you when he had a bad day, and when he was spot on.
His method of refereeing and mine clashed though, I felt he was too officious, he felt I was too 'weak'. We were both probably on the right track, but I was a hard-headed youth back then and didn't really pick up on the advice quick enough. I can see that now, alas I can't rewind time.
The other thing you'll see about game management is what not to do. I've been on the line when things kicked off, and a referee got chased around the pitch by a player he sent off. Of course, that was a serious incident. But examining it (I was more experienced than the centre that day), I could identify the flash points that the centre referee was not identifying that led to the boiling over that almost led to an assault.
AR's get a unique position in my view, because they often get time to 'soak' up the situation more than the man in the middle and reflect more. At least, I think that anyway. There's nothing better than to run the line with a great referee in the middle and see how he disarms situations with a deft touch, or word immediately - That is something I'm still amazed by today. And there's nothing better at learning what not to do, when you see a poor referee, or inexperienced one, or even a good referee having a bad day.
So, what would you have done differently from that referee? And why? And what makes you think that your differences would have made the game be officiated 'better'? Those are all the questions you're supposed to reflect on when you're out there.
The other benefit to being on the line, or even having actual linesmen is that you have two qualified people who can give you advice right there and then. My 'dressing room', when I'm in charge has a policy of open, honest feedback. I want my assistants to tell me if I've had a crap day and if I've ****ed up. And vice-versa. - Diplomatically, of course! I'm quite happy with my career on the line because, touch wood, I've only had one match out of many where the referee chastised me, and that was my very first match, where I admittedly was a headless chicken. And he switched from criticism to guidance once he realised it was my first line and the League may have erred in appointing me to that fixture.
As for money, irrelevant really.
My advice though is that if you're going to be a referee, as with anything you should never stop looking to learn. If you close your mind and say 'it's crap, boring, didn't enjoy it', fine, whatever. But then you're deliberately ignoring a lot of factors that can contribute to your growth and learning as a referee, and that's a shame. And it's not something that, maybe, an older gentleman should be thinking, that should be for the wet behind the ear's youngsters who may not know any better.
