The Ref Stop

Promotion 17/18

aye I also got told that if you are maybe around the 16/17 game mark but marks are good then you can be sailed through to level 6 ... much easier to do the 6-5 with games IMO
 
The Ref Stop
Yeah, the toughest part is the 7-6 because of when most seasons begin & end.

There are 21 weekends between 1st October - 28th February, so you can do one middle a week and get to 20 in the 6-5 part.
 
Yeah, so it's 20 required between March 1st - September 30th.

This weekend took me to 6, and I have games confirmed for Saturday and Sunday next week as well so that takes me to 8. April is going to be a bit more patchy as the season starts to wind down. I'll feel pretty comfortable if I can finish this league season with 12 or 13 done, as then summer tournaments and early September should get me to 20. Though I have been told that if your observations are good enough but you're a game or two short, there is some leniency applied.
April/May are good for getting games in as, certainly round here, there are midweek games to get on to.
Although for 5-4 this year they arent going to count so much as they have set a min 15 on a Saturday.
Weather wont have helped meaning there will be less to get through
 
Hi all - my first observation (7-6) is this Saturday. Also my first game on that league (it's a preferred league for observation so we are encouraged to join it).

Would you believe I'm most worried about equipment/jewellery checks. This is park football and obviously I'm not checking with NARa as they come out of imaginary changing rooms. There are players arriving at all times, changing on the side of the pitch 3 mins before the match etc. Normally the teams are huddled before the match and I go over and introduce myself and do a check but it's not formally organised in a line up etc...do you think the observer will be looking for something a bit more organised and "official" or can I expect a tolerance for the park?
 
Hi all - my first observation (7-6) is this Saturday. Also my first game on that league (it's a preferred league for observation so we are encouraged to join it).

Would you believe I'm most worried about equipment/jewellery checks. This is park football and obviously I'm not checking with NARa as they come out of imaginary changing rooms. There are players arriving at all times, changing on the side of the pitch 3 mins before the match etc. Normally the teams are huddled before the match and I go over and introduce myself and do a check but it's not formally organised in a line up etc...do you think the observer will be looking for something a bit more organised and "official" or can I expect a tolerance for the park?
As long as you check the player's equipment, that'll be fine. The observer will understand and appreciate that you're not able to do it beforehand.

I would get the players to line up and take your time to make sure the observer spots you checking the equipment though.
 
Third observation on Saturday went great, so that's the three for 7-6 all done with no issues. Now just need to make sure I get enough games so I can get onto 6-5 from October!
 
Nice - well done!

I had my second scheduled today and the game was called off (grounds locked up!). Frustrating!
 
Not going to plan, since the start of September I've had 3 observations scheduled and only 1 of the games went ahead (observation was passed). Also had no middle since that game either as all games have been postponed due to teams unable to put a side together. The league only has 2 more weeks of fixtures to play out. Need to be out every week next season to ensure I get the games in as expect postponements over the winter.
 
Can i ask what the rush is to progress through the levels?

No rush...going 7-6 and the RDO has highlighted the need to get as many games in March/April to get the 20 in without risk of weather.

How slow should I be going?
 
No rush...going 7-6 and the RDO has highlighted the need to get as many games in March/April to get the 20 in without risk of weather.

How slow should I be going?
I agree with you. It doesn't seem like rushing to me, just seems to me as though you need to get your 20 games in to go from level 7 up to 6
 
Not really sure how going from 7-6 is "rushing to progress through the levels". You can't go any slower, at least not until someone has created a level 6.5 and not told me ... :)[/QUOTE

That's what I thought haha. IMO you don't want to be regretful of not doing something in 10-20 years time
 
Not really sure how going from 7-6 is "rushing to progress through the levels". You can't go any slower, at least not until someone has created a level 6.5 and not told me ... :)

I was referring to the people who are fretting over not having enough games to go 6-5 from October.....hence a double jump in one marking season......

Do keep up.
 
I don't see it as 'rushing' to do the double jump. The FA system allows you to do it, and it's been recommended by lots of people.
 
I don't see it as 'rushing' to do the double jump. The FA system allows you to do it, and it's been recommended by lots of people.

And generally results in lots of poor level 5's with little experience suddenly massively out of their depth. Who, if they're really lucky, get further promoted to level 4, then experience a massive reality check and come back down to earth with a resounding crash!

Take the time to consolidate your learning and experience.....you'll end up a better referee for it.
 
And generally results in lots of poor level 5's with little experience suddenly massively out of their depth. Who, if they're really lucky, get further promoted to level 4, then experience a massive reality check and come back down to earth with a resounding crash!

Take the time to consolidate your learning and experience.....you'll end up a better referee for it.

Look at it this way. What is the difference in games that a level 6 will do versus a level 5. Certainly down here it is nothing really, the only difference is that level 5s can do middles of supply league non marking decisions. In reality these days levels 7, 6 and 5 will end up refereeing the same games as each other.

Completely agree that 7-4 is a step too far though. That's going from refereeing the dog and duck vs the royal oak on Hackney Marshes to refereeing semi-pro footballers in games where there are paying spectators. That's a hell of a jump in little over than 12 months.
 
What I don't agree with is a candidate going for a 6-5 promotion having one of their observations on an OA Sunday League game. Surely this wouldn't give a good reflection on this officials ability to handle games at a higher level?
 
What I don't agree with is a candidate going for a 6-5 promotion having one of their observations on an OA Sunday League game. Surely this wouldn't give a good reflection on this officials ability to handle games at a higher level?
What's the problem? Worried you might actually have to work with the players? Open Age Sunday League on your own can be one of the toughest refereeing gigs you can experience. It doesn't matter if you're in the right place, it doesn't matter if you give the right decision, you weren't in the pub last night when the CH decided to have his third Sambuca after his 9th pint of wifebeater, so you can't know whether you're talking to a fully functioning human being. If you are, you never know when he might re-introduce his lamb bhuna to the world, on your field or off your field.

That can create a few issues but it can also help you learn so much about your game. Stop being so fecking snobbish about the football you have to referee.
 
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