hi all looking for some support/advise. I have been doing a lot of refereeing this season considering I qualified earlier in the year, but I am at the point where I think i am burning out I have quite a mentally exhaustive job (teaching) and refereeing 2x a weekend has started to make me dread looking toward the weekend. Any advice re: this any of you peoples can offer?
Taking a break
- Thread starter kje2198
- Start date
TheReferee
Member
Maybe start with just doing 1 game a week and see how you feel then, if you still feel exhausted take a few weeks off and come back stronger.
FirsFox40
RefChat Addict
I’ve posted this before on here (and possibly more than once), but this time of year I have a similar phase. It’s the dark, the crap weather, and since July I’m already in triple-figures for number of matches/meetings.
And that’s absolutely fine to dial back a bit. Christmas is on the horizon and it’s mentally and physically (and financially) taxing, and that’s not even considering fixtures.
Cut down your games, focus on you and what you enjoy doing, and ramp back up on the other side. No one will think less of you, and it won’t harm any promotion prospects (etc) if you tell someone you’re busy and/or need a bit of a break.
And that’s absolutely fine to dial back a bit. Christmas is on the horizon and it’s mentally and physically (and financially) taxing, and that’s not even considering fixtures.
Cut down your games, focus on you and what you enjoy doing, and ramp back up on the other side. No one will think less of you, and it won’t harm any promotion prospects (etc) if you tell someone you’re busy and/or need a bit of a break.
Just cut the games down to an amount where you start to miss refereeing and steadily increase.
Everyone has nailed it. Tough old time this part of the season.
Everyone has nailed it. Tough old time this part of the season.
Give yourself more breaks.
I am an Assistant Headteacher and I referee at the weekend but I only do Saturdays. Rarely will I do Sundays and rarely will I do weekdays. However, this week I am doing Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, due to county appointments!
If I have something on or a busy week, I’ll close the date. Can always pick a game up at a later date, if needed.
I welcome the little breaks sometimes as it can become a chore, keeps me fresh.
I am an Assistant Headteacher and I referee at the weekend but I only do Saturdays. Rarely will I do Sundays and rarely will I do weekdays. However, this week I am doing Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, due to county appointments!
If I have something on or a busy week, I’ll close the date. Can always pick a game up at a later date, if needed.
I welcome the little breaks sometimes as it can become a chore, keeps me fresh.
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Sometimes it's really good to just take stock and treat yourself to the occasional weekend off! If you are a full time teacher and refereeing, you are effectively giving yourself one day's rest a week (and not even a day if you are doing Sat/Sun) and that isn't enough for a lot of occupations. Certainly not teaching!
You'll soon start missing it when the other half suggests going shopping or doing the housework!
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I’ll add an aside to this drawing on the time of year.
We are approaching the frost season - icy pitches, postponements etc all of which will start adding in breaks.
You haven’t said when at the weekends you do your games but perhaps taking the weather into account will help you make the reduction? Morning games are more likely to go than afternoon games if pitches are icy. Close the mornings, enjoy a rest and take your runout in the afternoon?