There's a retention criteria at L4 and above. If your position in the merit table warrants it you are reclassified (demoted) to the level below.
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Retention – Step 5/Step 6 (Level 4)
Merit table positions
Removal from the Step 5/6 League Referees List (Level 4) will be based on the final merit table positions of active Step 5/Step 6 (Level 4) Referees on each respective Step 5/Step 6 League/Pool based on the final merit table of active Step 5/Step 6 referees for seasons 2020/21 & 2021-22.
You will be removed from the Step 5/Step 6 league Referees list if, for the Step 5/Step 6 League/Pool(s) on which you have refereed. You are.
- In the bottom 40% of the Observers Merit Table AND the bottom 20% of the Club Merit Table or
- In the bottom 20% of the Observers Merit Table AND the bottom 40% of the Club Merit Table or
- In the bottom 20% of the Observers Merit Table in any two successive seasons or in any two out of three seasons.
The number of games officiated over the course of the marking season will be taken into consideration when determining referees for promotion or retention.
Other factors
Regardless of the merit table positions, insufficient availability, fitness issues and poor administration will be amongst the other factors that may be taken into consideration when determining if a referee is reclassified.
First year Step 5/Step 6 League Referees area exempt from the Merit Table retention criteria, (except in exceptional circumstances) but not from other criteria such as availability, administration, and fitness.
Removal from the Step 5/Step 6 League Referees List will also result in removal from the Step 3/Step 4 Assistant Referee List."