A&H

is 26 to old to become a new ref

D

Danwilliams

New Member
Level 7 Referee
Hill all so i attending a referee open day on the 14th of June 35 people went i think only 26 people was accepted that was including me i was happy as i am one step closer in doing my dream. When i was at the open day i noticed there were teens there like 15-18 year old d i think i was the oldest person there and the course is in august so not long now i am just worried that maybe i am too long in the tooth to start its just been on my mind for days now cheers guy
 
The Referee Store
Welcome to the forum mate.

I didn't start referee until 35 :)

What is a refereeing open day? Are you U.K. Based?
 
SM said:
Welcome to the forum mate.

I didn't start referee until 35 :)

What is a refereeing open day? Are you U.K. Based?
Click to expand...

yea mate i am based Burton on Trent i went to a derby college they hold a open day which was £10 and its just the teacher telling you what the course would be about it only lasted about an hour
 
Dan, I did the course when I was 42 and managed to reach level 4 so go for it and enjoy it. Like you, most of my course (everyone except me actually) was about 14-16 but I think I'm the only one still active 12 years later.
 
I was 46 when i done my ref course, still going at 60 and as long as me legs hold me up i'll be like the duracell bunny rabbit....
 
Twenty six too old!!?? :eek:
You're avin' a laugh intcha!!? :p

Some would say it's too young!! :D
Most refs I'm guessing don't take up the whistle until their ability to play or enjoy playing has finished (ie early thirties and older) so no mate, it's not too young at all.
In fact, I'd go as far as to say, you've left it til about the right age - not too shy and awkward like a teenager or youth yet not a crusty old fart who thinks he knows better than everybody else and who could never be wrong (no names, no pack drill ;) :D ).

Crack on Dan. From where you are mate, the sky's the limit ..... :)
 
Hi Dan

Just done my course - there were 22 of us on the course: 17 teens and 5 of us over forty.

Great course, really enjoyed it, learned a lot (I must confess: I first did the ref's course in '99, but have been inactive for a number of years, so need to re-qualify).

Amongst us oldies, were two teachers (who'll be involved with school football) one dad whose lad is moving from U16 football to adult (open age) football so won't be coaching the team any more, a manager from a local side who wanted a better idea of the "rules" (laws!) and a lovely chap who hasn't played much but wants to get involved with the game.

Whilst some of the teens clearly have a big future officiating, I think all us "oldies" have the benefit of life experience and will probably make better refs in the first instance.

(My only complaint is that it's all gone quite in the two weeks since the course finished ... We need to do 5 games before an exam in September ... Despite badgering the rdo and one of the tutors, Ive heard nothing. I'm desperate to start officiating whilst it's still fresh in my mind. (@Kes - I'm in your neck of the woods, if can help in any way ...))
 
To be totally fair, I think it really depends what you want out of refereeing. Everyone above is exactly right - you can be involved and contribute as a referee even if you only start when you retire from playing, let alone at the relatively young age of 26! But what if you want to reach the top.....

From what I've gathered, the very very best case scenario in terms of level progression probably averages out at around a level a year, with a "double jump" from 7 to 5. So if your goal is to be refereeing in the Premier League, the best and most dedicated referee ever would still need 7 years under their belt. I wouldn't be surprised if 10-12 years is more realistic, as the higher levels will take more than one season for almost anyone: Michael Oliver held the record for youngest ever PL referee at 25 1/2 and he started at 14. Obviously there are limitations when you're that young, but it's still probably not an unfair time frame.

So, as a 26 year old starter, that would mean that if things went well, you could maybe hope to aim to reach the PL in your late 30's? And that's far from unrealistic - Roger East was appointed at 48 and is still going at 51, now that maximum age limits have been abolished https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Select_Group_Referees
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Select_Group_Referees
So my point? If you're good enough and dedicated, anything could happen!
 
RefJef said:
(My only complaint is that it's all gone quite in the two weeks since the course finished ... We need to do 5 games before an exam in September ... Despite badgering the rdo and one of the tutors, Ive heard nothing. I'm desperate to start officiating whilst it's still fresh in my mind. (@Kes - I'm in your neck of the woods, if can help in any way ...))
Click to expand...

Jeff, PM me a contact number mate so I can give you a buzz and chat. :)
 
26 is fine, it might just mean that you don't have the same level of support available to you that those under 24 do. I was 30 when I started properly (I actually started much earlier but wanted to concentrate on playing so hardly refereed until my 30s) and I had five seasons at level 4 and four seasons at level 3. Got level 6 when I was 31, level 4 at 33, and level 3 at 38.

So at 26 you might be a bit old to make it to FIFA or the highest levels, but you can still have a very enjoyable refereeing career at high levels.
 
Wait, what? They charged you £10 to go and spend an hour finding out what would be on the course? The Burton on Trent area must be overflowing with qualified referees, 100% coverage on all games across all age groups / leagues (OA, youth, vet, blind, deaf, ladies, religious, walking, wheelchair etc) if they feel the need to charge £10 to try and entice new referees. I hope they credit that amount against your course cost, if nothing else!
 
Down here in sunny Somerset, we had to pay £10 to go on a "pre-referees" course, too.

You pay your tenner and go to an evening (approx 2 hrs?) where you talk about referee-ing, what it involves etc. and where and when the courses are (another £130) to actually do your refs course.

Must admit, I was surprised that I had to both
  1. Pay for
  2. And attend
an evening course before I could sign up to pay to do the full course.

I suppose it stops the tyre kickers, but is it another barrier to entering the "trade?"

Must say, when I did the actual refs course it was very good - much better than the entirely classroom based course I did in '99.
 
RefJef said:
Down here in sunny Somerset, we had to pay £10 to go on a "pre-referees" course, too.

You pay your tenner and go to an evening (approx 2 hrs?) where you talk about referee-ing, what it involves etc. and where and when the courses are (another £130) to actually do your refs course.

Must admit, I was surprised that I had to both
  1. Pay for
  2. And attend
an evening course before I could sign up to pay to do the full course.

I suppose it stops the tyre kickers, but is it another barrier to entering the "trade?"

Must say, when I did the actual refs course it was very good - much better than the entirely classroom based course I did in '99.
Click to expand...


I am with you, Finding it frustrating as well that we have not heard a thing. I also had to pray for a safeguarding workshop and a new kit, so I was thinking today that the initial outlay is about £200!
 
That would be an unorthodox pray.

Dear (deity of choice)

Thank you for the food we eat, the health we enjoy and uncle Micky getting out of a prison stretch on a technicality.

Please keep giving us our daily bread and also a safeguarding children workshop.

And if you have time, I need a kit.

Amen


:D
 
Done, my course in Oct 14, double jumped on promotion, and now a level 5 going for level 4, just been offered a place on the FA Core! as long as you're dedicated you can still achieve anything you want in the game.
 
I sure hope not Dan, I was lucky that the Junior league paid for people to complete the course. I took it last year at 33. it's taken just over a year to do 5 games with my 6 and call back event next week after a break as I Run my sons teams.

Finally back into it I'm just curious if I get fit how far I could go realistically and how the pay changes as a hobby. So if anyone can advise that would be awesome
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top