@Padfoot
On the core development group I would not know because I'm not in one I have not been recognised or even asked to be put into core program so I don't even know if my rdo even looks at the reports
I was replying to his thread I don't know what my rdo does at my county fa accept for helping referees when in need and the other jobs he does that I'm not aware of
If you can't be bothered to get such a simple thing as sock tape correct, especially when being observed, it sets a poor tone right from the start. It shows a lack of attention to detail and is laziness on the part of the referee not to get it sorted.
Its an easy win, its been around now for ages, just get it right.
But its not exactly inspiring when you see GKs in the PL/Champs with same colour shirt as referee - 2 or 3 times every week it happens.
If they can't be bothered to apply LOTG in that regard, then surely sock tape comes under the spirit of the game umbrella at grassroots level?
Paul, when you are refereeing the Champions League you do the job right and don't worry about anyone else. If you can do the job right on your game and deal with the flak that you get for others not doing it right, you're a referee my son (sorry Mr Kipling, but the cakes were exceedingly good).But its not exactly inspiring when you see GKs in the PL/Champs with same colour shirt as referee - 2 or 3 times every week it happens.
If they can't be bothered to apply LOTG in that regard, then surely sock tape comes under the spirit of the game umbrella at grassroots level?
"Spirit of the game" is not there to permit you to ignore the laws.But its not exactly inspiring when you see GKs in the PL/Champs with same colour shirt as referee - 2 or 3 times every week it happens.
If they can't be bothered to apply LOTG in that regard, then surely sock tape comes under the spirit of the game umbrella at grassroots level?
Oh don't get me wrong - I firmly believe that both this and the undershorts law have absolutely no place in the LOTG and are yet another example of how IFAB have no understanding of the game below professional, televised matches.A law is a law - I get that. But you've never debated if a law (outside of football) is justified or correct?
.
I think it's more to do with the current obsession with using the tiniest, simplest possible shinpads. So rather than having good old-fashioned shinpads with a sock-like bit and multiple straps going round the calf, they now basically just stick a bit of curved plastic down the front of their socks. And unsurprisingly, that moves around and so needs to be held in place with tape.Just out of interest, what is the fascination with tape from a players point of view? When did it start?
I played for years and other than a tie up or tape to stop the sock from falling down (which couldn't be seen as the top of the sock is folded over) that was it. In 22 years as a player i never felt the need to start wrapping a load of electrical insulation tape all over my socks. Am i missing something?
That would make sense, it does make me laugh when they turn up looking like Ronaldo playing in Sunday League division 4 playing for Dog and Duck FC and can hardly pass the ball 5 yards.I think it's more to do with the current obsession with using the tiniest, simplest possible shinpads. So rather than having good old-fashioned shinpads with a sock-like bit and multiple straps going round the calf, they now basically just stick a bit of curved plastic down the front of their socks. And unsurprisingly, that moves around and so needs to be held in place with tape.
"Spirit of the game" is not there to permit you to ignore the laws.
We all know the top tier referees do lots and lots of things wrong. Doesn't give you permission to do so at grassroots.
But also, 'when in rome'. I recently watched a game in my old stomping ground (and in Australia, each region tends to have one FA with it's own RA, under the larger state body. There are some 800 teams and 170 referees in my old area). Even the first grade at that regional level didn't abide by undershorts or tape.
Was it wrong? Yes.
But if that's what's happening, then it's impossible - even unfair - for any one referee to be bucking that trend (and for all I know that could have been an official decision)
Whereas where I am now, even U/12 or so is applying the sock tape law. But it's consistently done, so that's fine.
Of course, the only time I see undershorts/shirts and sock tape ignored at the men's level is when one of our A-League referees are doing them.....sigh....(A-League is our top tier pro comp)
Oh don't get me wrong - I firmly believe that both this and the undershorts law have absolutely no place in the LOTG and are yet another example of how IFAB have no understanding of the game below professional, televised matches.
These things should be subject to competition rules. That way if EPL want it that way, they can. But the Over 45s pub league doesn't have to follow it.
When getting assessed, I always have to contact the assessor prior to the game. I don't know if this is standard practice but if it isn't it should be.
At this point, I'll always ask him/her about their thoughts on sock tape/under garmounts. Since doing this every assessor I've had at Sunday League level has said they're not overly interested however the one time I got assessed before I started doing this, it got picked up immediately on my pre-match. Maybe it was just by total coincident but I have the feeling that assessors are more interested in spotting such a pedantic infringement such as a sock tape rather than preventing at grass roots level.