Search results

Odd season for me, but chock full of learning experiences. Did the fitness test with relative ease second time around (wasn't well enough for my first crack - a bit naive to think I could muddle through it). Observations were all very good, bar one mystifyingly low mark and in top half for club...

Got mine too. See you on 26th Joe! ;)

This has got me thinking about something you hear every week: a dubious claim for a decision that's obviously going the other way, followed by "it's worth a try though, eh ref." Now, seeing as they're pretty much admitting that they know the ball isn't theirs, would anyone consider that an...

Personally, I prefer open age. It's a different experience to junior football and fewer loud parents on the touch line. Easier? No, I wouldn't say so. The players expect more from you, some are very canny in 'playing' the ref and for some, you'll always be at fault, regardless of what happens...

I took the course age 31 after 5 or 6 years of coaching junior football (34 now). I originally did it just to officiate kids football but got the bug and decided to make a go of it. Only in my second season at open age, but I got the double promotion from 7-5 and am now attempting level 4...

Hi Joe, I was lucky enough to go along to the Paris World Cup this July with Manchester FA and can't speak highly enough of the experience. It's a wonderful opportunity to test yourself with a number of different challenges, and you'll be somewhat protected from the politics side of things that...

Blimey, I didn't realise this was you in action Conor. Challenging game, but I think you handled yourself well. Most of the development points have been covered above. Always interesting to see after such a feisty match so many players shaking hands and embracing. It's a funny old game.

The extended highlights of that match are worth a watch. It was a tasty game...

Let us know when that'll be. I'd be fascinated to be on the sidelines, watching a game where the ref gives as good as he gets.

Yeah, she's not even got a Fox 40. :rolleyes:

Enjoy it. I didn't do my ref course until I was thirty and now 3 years on, I can honestly say I wish I'd done it 10 years earlier. Just treat it like you would any other form of professional training - be attentive, willing to learn, willing to get involved, willing to ask questions. Like the...

When I was doing my course, I was appalled by some of the (without exception teenage) candidates who were not listening, messing about and just seemed to be there to ask the tutors what they'd do in the most ridiculous and moronic scenarios they could think of. Some of them obviously thought it...

As I mentioned, he had already had a number of grumbles (plus angrily complaining about the law requiring players to go off after treatment) and had spoken to him a couple of times. Also, the tone of his comment was not in any way amiable, or even exasperated - it was angry, harsh and intended...

Thanks for the interesting replies. As Padfoot says, I'm starting to 'feel' what's the appropriate response to player outbursts, though my post-match reflections suggests I'm still too lenient in that manner. Generally, I feel that my general manner helps in communicating with players/diffusing...

Hi guys, Reading all the (at times heated) discussion on other threads this morning about dissent got me thinking of an incident in my match at the weekend. Open age game, tight affair, score at 2-2. Away striker complaining about certain decisions (and for some bizarre reason took...

This. After asking them to own up to which one committed the foul and getting no response, caution one for the foul and the other for USB.

Hypothetical question (which may or may not have happened to me recently): Red player has the ball about 30 yards from goal and gets a shot away. As he does so, a blue defender challenges and fouls him, but not enough to warrant a card. The shot sails over the dispairing flail of the keeper and...

What about a scenario where you turn around and see two players indulging in a spot of 'handbags' off the ball: some pushing and shoving but not worthy of VC? My instinct would be to stop play and caution the pair for USB (adopting an agressive attitude), but because they're both at it, it would...

Are you referring to league rules, or rules set by the owners of the facility? League rules have no stipulation that I can find, nor was there any notification at the venue as to this (written or given to me by staff). However, due to these events, it may well be something I request in future...

Thanks very much. I'm affiliated to Manchester and officiate in the Manchester League and the Lancs & Cheshire league. Loving my refereeing, particularly the step up to open age.