Search results

Just had an absolutely dreadful OA game this sunday - whinging and moaning from both teams throughout the first half, including one bloke shoving me (completely bottled it, should have been a red for VC, only gave C1) and one mouthy prat who picked up two cards and then decided to come back onto...

Both coming from my last OA game on sunday: 1. How far are you prepared to deviate from the diagonal if necessary? At some points the ball was beyond the far side of the box and while I could see things clearly, on a busier game with more mobile players there might have been an obscured view...

I've just checked back through the law and you're right, it should have been an IFK. The boot was a gnat's fart away from the player's head but no contact, so I might concievably have gotten away with careless play, but I'll keep that in my back pocket for the next time it comes up. Learn...

Take your time! Your first OA football experience will probably be either sunday league football, or step 7 and below of the non-league system. It's a lot lonelier than youth games, and I don't enjoy the adult games I do on my own anywhere near as much as the ones I'm on the line for or the...

I've just had another look and you are right, he looks to his AR to see if there's anything coming and doesn't see it, if you're in that position I suppose you've just got to rely on what your assistant saw and take the flak as it comes.

Just as a learning point, can anyone offer an explanation for this? It looks like the sort of tugging the player that I'd usually give as a free kick in the middle of the park, is it just that it's happened at a difficult angle for the referee? I don't see the ref look to his AR on that side, is...

How is timewasting penalised after the caution? Do you continue with the game or award an indirect free kick to the opposite team? The only possible time-wasting I'm aware of while the ball is in play is when the goalkeeper fails to release the ball, but how do we continue with a corner kick...

While I'm obviously not really qualified to question the decisions made here, the first incident seems a pretty clear penalty - even if we're generous and suggest that the player slipped, he's still grabbed out with a hand to try and stop the attacker. The second incident is a bit iffier, but...

If someone accuses you of cheating, directly or indirectly, i.e. "Are you working this game, ref?", do you give a yellow for dissent or to red? My instinct is that as long as no colourful language is used it should be a yellow, but I remember feeling pretty bloody insulted at the time.

It's a standard letter saying that we have a training evening in March, and then we will be told which matches and roles on the day.

I've just had the letter through the door appointing me to a county cup final! Absolutely over the moon, especially since this is only my first season, so I must be doing something right! That said, how do you prepare for such a big game? Obviously I'll try to keep doing my best improving with...

It takes some doing to stomp on a player's head at that height! It doesn't look like he's deliberately tried to hurt him, but surely having a boot in the air at head height and then connecting with someone qualifies as excessive? I could only imagine giving red in those circumstances.

That's a great idea, I'll keep that in my pocket for next time I'm on the pitch, nice one! I'm planning on applying for promotion to level 6 next season, would you recommend squashing dissent during observed games or just treating it like normal?

Just to clarify, does the use of offensive, insulting or abusing language towards anyone on the pitch count? If a player calls someone in the crowd a lady's part, or calls someone from the opposing team an effing so-and-so, do I still have to show a red card? Does it have to be an instant red...

Do you know Graham Pinney? I went straight into OA after the Nene Sunday League paid for my course, and I dare say I've learned way more there than I would have just working youth games. Adults will test your judgement and you may find yourself questioning decisions you've made, but the most...

A few situations that came up this weekend that I'm looking for clarification on: 1. An incident occurs off the ball and you blow for the whistle as the handbags start, but you did not see clearly who committed any offense, and you have blown before the ball could cross any line. How do you...

In retrospect I should have handed yellows out for a number of incidents, but hindsight is 20/20, and if I get a game like that in the future I know to stop trying to keep players on the pitch and focus on keeping the players safe. At least four cards could have gone out for dissent, before we...

I've had an absolutely dreadful game Sunday afternoon, no football being played by one team - they simply tried to foul their opponents at every opportunity and they were awful to try and work with. With that in mind, what do you do to help clear your mind afterwards and get you excited for the...

Quick question: if you award advantage to a team but they fail to take advantage because they're waving their hands about asking for the free kick and such, do you still play on, even if they lose the advantage?

About three months in all - I know it's early days but I want to get on with things and without someone impartial letting me know what I'm missing, I'm worried I'll stagnate and get stuck where I am. I'm afraid I can't ask you to drive the two hours or so it'll take to get here, but I do...