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Refereeing First Game NEW REF

newref

Active Member
Hi. I'm refereeing my first game this Saturday in the BDFL and just wanted to know:-

Do you need to keep a record of or report sin bins?

Also where do you record substitutions?

Is there any other paperwork I need to be aware of?

Any help would be very appreciated.
 
The Referee Store
Hi and welcome.

Firstly, sin bins are recorded on Whole Game System, this is imperative. As are all other cautions, sending offs and other incidents.

I record substitutions on my match card (the pad in my notebook with scores on etc). I thought this was pointless until I was asked if a certain player played a game. If I hadn't had this information I could've been disciplined by my County FA. Best practice IMO is to write all players on your match card and note them down when/if they come on. I staple my match card to the team sheets and keep for a year just in case any issues arise!

As for other paperwork, not really. Some leagues require a report to be done post-game (fair play marks, captain marks, kick off on time etc), but that's completely down to your league and your appointing officer will be able to advise.

I'm not sure what the BDFL is, maybe if you elaborate someone who is on that league too could point you in the right direction.

Good luck, learn lots from other refs and this forum and enjoy it.
 
Hi. I'm refereeing my first game this Saturday in the BDFL and just wanted to know:-

Do you need to keep a record of or report sin bins?

Also where do you record substitutions?

Is there any other paperwork I need to be aware of?

Any help would be very appreciated.
@Peach is spot-on - the only thing I'd add is that it's worth getting hold of and looking over any league report form you need to fill out before you start, there might be some slightly odd things on there that you need to bear in mind. One league I do requires me to report the name of the club AR's, while another wants me to note if players have been warned before any cautions. Both odd requirements, and both things that I'd have no chance of thinking of doing if I hadn't looked at the form before going out there.
 
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@Peach is spot-on - the only thing I'd add is that it's worth getting hold of and looking over any league report form you need to fill out before you start, there might be some slightly odd things on there that you need to bear in mind. One league I do requires me to report the name of the club AR's, while another wants me to note if players have been warned before any cautions. Both odd requirements, and both things that I'd have no chance of thinking of doing if I hadn't looked at the form before going out there.
Warning before caution?
Que?
Is that only when you caution or just any warning you give in advance of a caution?
 
Hi and welcome.

Firstly, sin bins are recorded on Whole Game System, this is imperative. As are all other cautions, sending offs and other incidents.

I record substitutions on my match card (the pad in my notebook with scores on etc). I thought this was pointless until I was asked if a certain player played a game. If I hadn't had this information I could've been disciplined by my County FA. Best practice IMO is to write all players on your match card and note them down when/if they come on. I staple my match card to the team sheets and keep for a year just in case any issues arise!

As for other paperwork, not really. Some leagues require a report to be done post-game (fair play marks, captain marks, kick off on time etc), but that's completely down to your league and your appointing officer will be able to advise.

I'm not sure what the BDFL is, maybe if you elaborate someone who is on that league too could point you in the right direction.

Good luck, learn lots from other refs and this forum and enjoy it.
Thanks for the kind response. BDFL is the Birmingham & District Football League. Matches are played on Saturdays. Might seem like a silly question but does the home team submit the team sheet to the relevant county FA or is it the ref?
 
Warning before caution?
Que?
Is that only when you caution or just any warning you give in advance of a caution?
No idea why. Next to each caution/send off I have to pick from "No Warning Given", "Warning Given" or "Warnings Given". Absolutely no idea what they do with that information!
 
No idea why. Next to each caution/send off I have to pick from "No Warning Given", "Warning Given" or "Warnings Given". Absolutely no idea what they do with that information!
Maybe its aimed at effective identification of persistent offending, but I'm inclined to think it's a waste of effort
 
Maybe its aimed at effective identification of persistent offending, but I'm inclined to think it's a waste of effort
It has occurred to me that it's maybe meant to allow the league to spot inconsistencies if a caution is reported as PI without any warnings, but even if that is the case, I don't then know what they would do with that information. It's good practice to warn a player he's getting close to the line on PI, but it's not mandatory and a failure to do so doesn't invalidate the card, so it's all a bit pointless. But meh, it defaults to "no warning given" and it takes barely any time to change it on the rare occasion I both to, so it doesn't upset me massively
 
Any idea what we do with the team sheet then guys?
Sorry, didn't mean to hijack!

As with a lot of things, the procedure will vary depending on the league. I'd try and get hold of the league handbook if you can - if you email whoever gave you the appointment, they might be able to either send you a digital copy, or answer the specific question.

If you can't get hold of anyone and you're given a teamsheet on the day, I'd suggest just keeping hold of it for at least a month. Personally, I just stick all my team sheets in a file and just do a big clean out just before the following season starts. The usual reason for the referee to have a copy is so that any discrepancies (usually around ineligible players) can be referred back to the copy that the referee has taken away. It's very rare (as in, hasn't happened to me once in 5 years refereeing), but you might be asked to clarify a name or send copies to county or the league at a later date.
 
Sorry, didn't mean to hijack!

As with a lot of things, the procedure will vary depending on the league. I'd try and get hold of the league handbook if you can - if you email whoever gave you the appointment, they might be able to either send you a digital copy, or answer the specific question.

If you can't get hold of anyone and you're given a teamsheet on the day, I'd suggest just keeping hold of it for at least a month. Personally, I just stick all my team sheets in a file and just do a big clean out just before the following season starts. The usual reason for the referee to have a copy is so that any discrepancies (usually around ineligible players) can be referred back to the copy that the referee has taken away. It's very rare (as in, hasn't happened to me once in 5 years refereeing), but you might be asked to clarify a name or send copies to county or the league at a later date.
Certainly not hijacking. You’re response is most helpful. Ine more thing. Is it advised to hand the team sheet over to the team for them to fill in the players or should the referee fill it out himself?
 
The League rules state that the home club must give the form to the Referee, filled in by both clubs, at least ten minutes before the start of the game. You fill in the information requested, such as time of kick off, reasons if late, cautions etc then at the end of the game you then give it back because the home team have to post it to the league no later than the Monday. The home club have to provide the form.
All this is stated in the handbook. Competition rules should state that the league have to give you a copy of the handbook so you can find this out. It's worth downloading a copy anyway so that you know who has to change in the event of a colour clash, what to do if a cup game is a draw, how many subs can play etc.
 
The League rules state that the home club must give the form to the Referee, filled in by both clubs, at least ten minutes before the start of the game. You fill in the information requested, such as time of kick off, reasons if late, cautions etc then at the end of the game you then give it back because the home team have to post it to the league no later than the Monday. The home club have to provide the form.
All this is stated in the handbook. Competition rules should state that the league have to give you a copy of the handbook so you can find this out. It's worth downloading a copy anyway so that you know who has to change in the event of a colour clash, what to do if a cup game is a draw, how many subs can play etc.
What happens if the home team does not supply the team sheet? Can the match still go on or must it be put on hold until a teamsheet is found?
 
The match will still go on, but you report the failure to provide a team sheet to the league. At this level you try to play the game whatever, but teams usually have one guy who does almost everything for the club so things get missed.

I would ask the clubs for their team names so you have them for your match record- you need subs’ names but with roll on roll off subs all players are potentially a sub.
 
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