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Maybe just me but does anyone else sense that the referees are getting in the way of play more than usual, particularly around the edge of the penalty areas?

That's a good point. Based on advice from many years ago I usually head for the corner of the penalty area after a goal is scored and keep a watch for any afters.

Sounds like it worked out well in the end.

As already stated you would have to be there but as you describe it I'd say DFK to the defending team.

I don't think an observer would have been too impressed with my positioning this past Saturday. It was on a pitch I know well with a heavy diagonal slope. I know from past experience that trying to follow the 'correct' diagonal is a killer as it's one of those slopes where you seem to be running...

That's good advice. You may well have already done this but it's certainly a good idea to check out a couple of matches in the area you are targeting and get a feel for whether it suits you.

After a couple of weeks of friendlies tomorrow was to be my first competitive fixture since last October. I've just been informed that the game is off as several players from one of the teams are isolating due to COVID links. Very frustrating, hopefully I'll pick up another game somewhere.

Keep it brief. I've learned that players, at any age or level, aren't interested in a big pre match speech or lecture from the referee. Check the basics such as boots, shin guards, spectacles and any obvious jewellery. I usually add that they're big enough to know what they can and can't wear...

I've never been exposed to Club Marks but even so I'm sceptical how such a process can support a referee's performance or development. The different scores from the losing and winning teams are an obvious downfall in the process. I wouldn't get carried away with the 100/100 either - a perfect...

Very similar for me - last night was my first game since October. Surprisingly it ended 0-0. Both teams were very rusty and started at 100mph and blew themselves out in the first 15 minutes. Quite happy with my own performance. Usually it takes me a few friendlies to get the concentration levels...

Up and down to the buffet table.

I agree with the 'walk before you run' advice in earlier posts. My advice for any young referee is to start at a level you feel comfortable with and work on from there. Being an assistant is often a good introduction but unless you really want to don't get stuck on the line forever - at some...

Having missed more or less an entire season there is some talk locally of arranging summer football. Opinion is quite mixed - some are keen to get matches but others are doubtful they can get their players together over the summer period when they might have other interests.

I'm too much grass roots for my matches to have gate receipts.

I've never seen a 'deliberate trick' clearly defined anywhere but it's one of those things you would recognise if and when it were to happen. A few potential examples might be ... Defender under no pressure gets down to ground level to knee or head the ball back to the keeper (this is what...

At grass roots level in the UK referees do generally get paid on the day and the protocol is almost always that payment is made before the match. There may well be cases where payment comes after the match but I believe such cases are rare as the potential problems are many and obvious to all...

It's never an easy situation and no such thing as a one size fits all answer. Moving a player might be an option but not if he/she is seriously injured.

I'm not sure where this is covered in LOTG but this practice is far too common and accepted and needs to be discouraged. I have friends whose house backs on to a local park. They don't mind the noise, the ball coming into their garden or even the language up to a point. What they do have a...

I've found that refereeing regularly at youth and amateur level my interest in the professional game has tailed off. When I get home on a Saturday afternoon I'm more interested in checking the local league websites for results.

In my area the youth football and referee associations have worked well to control the wearing (or non wearing) of glasses in youth football. The local youth association has made it very clear to teams that standard prescription glasses are not allowed. Only sports glasses are allowed and these...