The Ref Stop

Cup Finals

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RefereeX

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Level 3 Referee
I'm sure this has probably been discussed in the past, but as we're entering cup final season, lets refresh the debate.

Should we, as officials, be paid for officiating on Cup Finals (County Cup OR Otherwise), or should the prestige of the appointment and a memento be enough?

The last county cup final I did was a while ago and we were asked whether we wanted to claim our fee or not, which gave the implication there was an expectation not to, but that it was available if wanted. Many people then decided to donate their fee to the charitable foundation of a local referee (good cause). I followed suit.

I have done other cup finals that I've been paid for, but the majority I haven't been paid for.

(Best one I did was a last minute appointment on a schools FA cup final I got paid £50 for an 80 minute match and got a medal too! It was the first schools game I ever did 😆 )


For what it's worth, I'm happy doing finals knowing that I won't be paid for them, however I do find it odd that there is an expectation that we get paid for every appointment except the ones we've earned on merit!

I don't think I'd be so keen to be 4th official with no fee either, at grass roots level especially.
 
The Ref Stop
RefereeX said:
I'm sure this has probably been discussed in the past, but as we're entering cup final season, lets refresh the debate.

Should we, as officials, be paid for officiating on Cup Finals (County Cup OR Otherwise), or should the prestige of the appointment and a memento be enough?

The last county cup final I did was a while ago and we were asked whether we wanted to claim our fee or not, which gave the implication there was an expectation not to, but that it was available if wanted. Many people then decided to donate their fee to the charitable foundation of a local referee (good cause). I followed suit.

I have done other cup finals that I've been paid for, but the majority I haven't been paid for.

(Best one I did was a last minute appointment on a schools FA cup final I got paid £50 for an 80 minute match and got a medal too! It was the first schools game I ever did 😆 )


For what it's worth, I'm happy doing finals knowing that I won't be paid for them, however I do find it odd that there is an expectation that we get paid for every appointment except the ones we've earned on merit!

I don't think I'd be so keen to be 4th official with no fee either, at grass roots level especially.
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I think you raise a good point. I've never been paid to referee or be AR at a Cup Final, and i've just gone along with it as i've been flattered to be chosen. But yes, I think somebody should be paying us
 
Looks like I am on a mission to reply to all your posts @RefereeX, reality is just bored at work 😉 😂

I'm going to sit on the fence as the trainee 😂 (on reflection, I think I am more on the against side).

FOR - You have the privilege to referee the cup final, albeit off the back of your own efforts, there are hundreds who would have loved the opportunity to ref the final and would probably do it for no fee (not that that makes it alright). Enjoy the spectacle and the £2 plastic medal 😂.

AGAINST - You have given up your day or evening (maybe even left work early or taken leave) to referee the game, there are time and travel cost implications. Depending on the level, the county FA have probably paid for the pitch hire, the host is probably charging an entrance fee, a fee for programs, refreshments etc., some of the players on the pitch may even be getting paid. So why shouldn't you? Nothing is free these days.

I think payment should be the expectation, it is down to the referee whether they take the payment / donate to charity. Maybe even something nice in the programme that the referee has donated their match fee to the local charity to make us appear a little bit more human to the braying crowd.
 
Usually you get a challenge coin or something for doing the game.

End of the day, refereeing is a hobby/sport for the vast majority of people.

If you are chosen for a final, do it. You will remember it forever. Well worth forfeiting £20/£40.

The money in my experience is earmarked for charity. So you sort of give up your day for what football is really about at grassroots.
 
I’ve been paid expenses before and I appreciate that. As a student, running a car isn’t cheap and therefore travel costs are really key to cover.

As for a match fee; I’m willing to forego for the enjoyment of a final - it serves as a nice memory, however I equally understand the debate for being paid.
 
Just doing some googling (because I clearly have no life and nothing better to do) and saw that Sussex FA appoint observers on their county cup finals! Any other counties do that?!
 
RefereeX said:
Just doing some googling (because I clearly have no life and nothing better to do) and saw that Sussex FA appoint observers on their county cup finals! Any other counties do that?!
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Herts FA sometimes use their Junior Cup Final to get together all the Match Day Coaches / Assessors in the County and run a benchmarking exercise ... so that referee gets observed by anything up to twenty people :eek: :)

That said, the multiple assessments don't actually count for anything promotion wise so no real drama.
 
Russell Jones said:
Herts FA sometimes use their Junior Cup Final to get together all the Match Day Coaches / Assessors in the County and run a benchmarking exercise ... so that referee gets observed by anything up to twenty people :eek: :)

That said, the multiple assessments don't actually count for anything promotion wise so no real drama.
Click to expand...
We used to do that with a group hoping to become assessors (now observers) - we took them through the classroom part then the practical . . . watching a local Sunday match. Best one was 50 trainee assessors watching a game, with no penal offences in the first 55 minutes. The ball then hit a corner flagpost, breaking it off around 90cms above the ground . . . and play continued! 50 pads and pens in use😁
 
I view a cup final, even a 4th Official appointment as giving something back to grass roots football and supporting the referee appointment officer. (Over the season, refereeing has given me a great deal of fulfilment & financial reward so giving one match back is not too much of a sacrifice.)

I accept as you go up the levels, a cup final can be watched by numerous paying spectators, so the financial implications change.

Our local junior (kids) cup finals are paying the referees from this season, as so many dropped out when they heard they were not getting paid!
 
RefereeX said:
Just doing some googling (because I clearly have no life and nothing better to do) and saw that Sussex FA appoint observers on their county cup finals! Any other counties do that?!
Click to expand...
North Riding tend to appoint observers to the semi-finals, as it usually the only matches some 5-4 have with assistants in York.
 
ChasObserverRefDeveloper said:
We used to do that with a group hoping to become assessors (now observers) - we took them through the classroom part then the practical . . . watching a local Sunday match. Best one was 50 trainee assessors watching a game, with no penal offences in the first 55 minutes. The ball then hit a corner flagpost, breaking it off around 90cms above the ground . . . and play continued! 50 pads and pens in use😁
Click to expand...
Did one training session in the 1990's (yes, I am that old :old: ) where nothing happened for 60ish minutes then a mass con from nowhere, but on the other side of the field from the trainee observers. Every pen and notebook going like mad, then every checking that they had all seen the same thing....
 
RefereeX said:
I'm sure this has probably been discussed in the past, but as we're entering cup final season, lets refresh the debate.

Should we, as officials, be paid for officiating on Cup Finals (County Cup OR Otherwise), or should the prestige of the appointment and a memento be enough?

The last county cup final I did was a while ago and we were asked whether we wanted to claim our fee or not, which gave the implication there was an expectation not to, but that it was available if wanted. Many people then decided to donate their fee to the charitable foundation of a local referee (good cause). I followed suit.

I have done other cup finals that I've been paid for, but the majority I haven't been paid for.

(Best one I did was a last minute appointment on a schools FA cup final I got paid £50 for an 80 minute match and got a medal too! It was the first schools game I ever did 😆 )


For what it's worth, I'm happy doing finals knowing that I won't be paid for them, however I do find it odd that there is an expectation that we get paid for every appointment except the ones we've earned on merit!

I don't think I'd be so keen to be 4th official with no fee either, at grass roots level especially.
Click to expand...
The normal practice at grassroots is that you will be award a memento in place of your match fee. Yes, under the normal cup rules to claim your expenses, not not a match fee.
 
Russell Jones said:
Herts FA sometimes use their Junior Cup Final to get together all the Match Day Coaches / Assessors in the County and run a benchmarking exercise ... so that referee gets observed by anything up to twenty people :eek: :)

That said, the multiple assessments don't actually count for anything promotion wise so no real drama.
Click to expand...
I hope my county FA don't follow suit! I've just been appointed to the middle of the Junior Cup Final 😆
 
DJIC said:
I view a cup final, even a 4th Official appointment as giving something back to grass roots football and supporting the referee appointment officer. (Over the season, refereeing has given me a great deal of fulfilment & financial reward so giving one match back is not too much of a sacrifice.)

I accept as you go up the levels, a cup final can be watched by numerous paying spectators, so the financial implications change.

Our local junior (kids) cup finals are paying the referees from this season, as so many dropped out when they heard they were not getting paid!
Click to expand...

I completely agree with this sentiment and would have no intention of taking a match fee for a final.

However, I personally believe that doing the thankless job of being a match official is already giving something back to grassroots.

The main reason I got into refereeing (as well as not being able to bend my legs for 2 days after 90 minutes) was because I wanted to give something back to grassroots as it had been so good to me, I didn't join for (or need) the financial motivation, I joined because I love football and want to still be involved as much as I possibly can.
 
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