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Whatever way you look at it these supporters are delighted. They got their 15 mins of fame and got to be on the pitch with pro footballers, even getting into a fist fight with them would make them feel they are somehow of the same level. They were no doubt loving it inside, whereas the OM...

Indeed I am no stranger to 2 games on a Saturday and 3 games on a Sunday, but often U13/13/15 or U12/13/16 etc

So I had a long discussion with the observer this evening. He tried his best to convince me to do them and maintain a positive attitude nd gave me tips to cruise gently through the first 2 and basically use them as a warm up and then get the game mode on in the 17s and 18s.

I actually didn't read the fixtures properly. I have 4 games. U14, U15, U17 then U18

I'm also convinced that because the majority of refs in our league are cranky grey haired 50 somethings, that when I show up being in my 20s they think we're gonna give this guy a nightmare. Been there as a player .. karma is a ...

They don't even make that promise. The fixtures are published and that's that. I have noticed though that I've never gotten any of the favourable matches and it's the same names that pop up to do certain fixture types all the time. I asked in the past to try and get the higher games but never...

That's crazy, but it's the FA's train set I suppose and they call the shots. Not sure how the Bulgarian game is, the Irish game anyway prides itself on being very physical (doesn't stop 100 "in the back ref!" calls every match mind), I'm not sure it's a million miles away from the English game...

I imagined there were a lot more layers than 1-7. That's interesting, thank you!

Being a predominantly youth league they accept there will be a shortage but they get by with the older referees they have who won't be progressing onto any OA leagues, there is a handful of younger referees but not many.

Pardon my ignorance but it's not clear to me from the FA site. Is it that all referees from Premier League to League 2 are level 1? i.e. what is the highest game you could be appointed to as a level 4 or 3?

Funny you say that, I have recently had the opportunity to move back to England (where i am originally from). I feel though that because of my age now making it to the higher levels won't be realistic and I'd have to start from scratch all over again. Here though it is still realistic (but...

I'm 26. I feel I'm running out of time to seriously make an impact in refereeing hence why these observations need to be nailed. Regarding going to OA, there is a "serious" OA league and a not so serious OA league. To get into the serious league you have to be chosen (usually sent off by...

It's all compounded by the observation in the last match, it's going to be the worst possible time to observe me. What gets me wound up even more is that there are a number of midweek evening single U18 games. I got none of those where I can perform at my best and really show the observer how I...

This is exactly it, concentration will lapse and when it does at the wrong moment you can have a serious situation and no AR to turn to

I agree, unfortunately the only option is another league which is pretty much the same situation. What will happen is that if I turn them down they'll be given to another much older referee who doesn't leave the centre circle and is able to handle all 3. They won't have issues finding someone...

I'm surprised it took 1 hour to decide it wasn't safe for this game to be continued, I'm aware of the commercial aspects of pro football but surely it was a seemingly obvious decision. It takes a special kind of stupid to commit assault in a stadium these days where there seem to be as many...

So I have spoken to our league observer, he has told me I have gotten these games because they are confident in my ability to do them and that I need to get rid of the negative thoughts and head out with a positive attitude. Honestly I am not looking forward to it whatsoever. My biggest fear is...

Exactly, I had an U15 girls yesterday, on paper a walk in the park but in reality I still had to have my mental wits about me, a few things happened that had I not been sharp enough on could have resulted in things going south very quickly. I'd have pretty stiff calves after these games for...

Not sure what the setup is in England but where I am it's expected you referee multiple games on matchdays. Usually it is an U13 and U14 or an U12 then an U16, sometimes you get 3 x U13/14/15 games but it's rare. Anyway this Sunday I have been assigned 4 youth boys gamesright after each other...

I laughed way too hard at this 😂 😂 😂 😂 The mystical and elusive "last week's ref" has been found!!!