The new season is now upon us the 2008 – 2009 season, and I can expect lots of games.
Firstly I got my promotion from level 7 to level 6, and I have already taken my exam for level 5 and passed that. Next step is to do well in my assessments, and referee all games well. I have a fitness test to pass and to complete my games. I am looking forward to the season, it will be busy but a good one.
Respect the REF
If you haven’t seen the FA video yet, please click here and enjoy. Remember no referee no football.
Respect Code of Conduct– both on the pitch and on the sidelines.
Young Referee Advice
All young refs need advice, they are setting out into a world where they are in charge of a big game and everyone has opinions.
A few things to do before your first game, the first I would speak to your local .jpg)
I would then advise joining a couple of referee forums,
Forum 1 Forum 2
- Make sure you know who's going to meet you at the game - mentor/coach for support and also the secretary for the home team
- Plan your route to the game making sure you arrive at least 45 minutes before kick off
- Make sure all your kit (especially boots) is clean and your shirt/shorts match each other
- When you meet the secretary greet him/her with a firm handshake
- Try to get your match fee and expenses before the game - don't accept any bluster about you're costing too much - this is a smokescreen, but be ready for it by asking the person who gave you the game to give you details of the expenses you can claim
- Be confident throughout your match preparation - go out for a warm up, do a lap or two of the field of play and then some shuttles to get your muscles warm. It also shows the players that you're taking the game seriously. You can stop off to check the goal nets are pegged adequately and have no gaps or holes.
- Make sure you get two team sheets at least 15 minutes before kick off, check the colours to ensure they are different from each other and you, especially the goalkeepers
- Ask for the match balls and check them for pressure
- You also need to know from the person who asked you to do the game, whether the clubs have to provide their own flags or you bring your own
- Check you have a coin, two whistles (in case you lose one or it stops working), two watches (same as for whistles), two pencils (see whistles and watches), a notebook and your yellow and red cards. You might want to take the team sheets as well if your teams have any players with names with which you are not familiar e.g. players from Eastern European countries
- As the teams leave the changing room, try to check their jewellery and footwear. They should not wear any jewellery and footwear should not have anything dangerous to themselves or anyone else - but don't touch the boots as you never know where they have been
- Find two willing volunteers who will act as your assistants and give them their instructions - these will often depend on local practice. In my area, the Club ARs only do ball in/out where other areas ask them to do offside as well
- Enter the field of play confidently and place the ball on the centre mark before blowing a strong blast on your whistle - practice blowing your whistle before you go to the game - it seems a little strange at first, but you'll get used to it
- Call the captains in, note their names and numbers in your book, do the toss (winner chooses direction and kicks off the second half)
- Count the players to make sure you have a maximum of 11 on each side.
- Start your watches (take two in case one breaks down) and blow your whistle
- When the game starts try to stay within 15m of the ball at all times
- When you give your hand signals make sure they are strong but don't rush them - you have all the time in the world
- Use your whistle when you think you need to
- If the game stops for any reason, try to make sure you keep as many players in view as possible - you might need to do some running backwards to achieve that
IMPORTANT - try to smile through your nerves - it might be difficult but it is meant to be fun
- When you end the first half, hang back and let the players come together or go off the field before you leave
- When you come out for the second half, again carry the ball out and place it on the centre mark - call the team who won the toss to the centre to take the kick off
- Before you do kick off, check if any substitutions have been made
- When a substitution is made operate the principle of one off/one on - the sub doesn't come on until the player he is replacing, has gone off
- If you need to caution or dismiss anyone - tell them why you're doing it, get their name, write it down and show the card
- At the end of the game blow the whistle firmly, accept congratulations and criticism with the same thing - a handshake and a brief thank you
- Get back in the changing room, take a seat, have a shower, grab a beer (should read a refreshing drink if you are under the age of 18) - you've just become a proper referee!!!
One last thing ...
Make sure you do any post match admin - send in your reports of cautions, complete a match record 
card for the league and follow the procedure for documenting your game in your own records
Referee Exams and good refereeing
Well thanks to the post strike I finally got my results from my level 6 exam and hooray I passed them. Now all I need is to continue with some great performances.
Last week I reffed an Over 35's and felt I had a good game, the players said so afterwards which I was glad about. A couple of faults with my game, were the fact I should have booked someone for dissent and the other for excessive foul language, it wasn't aimed at anyone but there were a few too many times. That would be my personal critic of myself. The rest I thought was great, positioning talking, a sending off which no one argued with. So I was happy. I then had the pleasure of reffing with 2 assistants on Sunday, if you haven't done it and you are a young ref, its harder than you think. I am normally on my own but not on this one, and you do forget to look for there help. So whilst i give these two young refs the experience they are helping me improve my game. They had both played a game in the morning and were tired and it showed, but they both did great jobs. Doing the line is harder than reffing, You have to watch who is kicking the ball at the same time as looking to see who is on or offside, whilst watching for incidents and looking for throw ins, all without having control of the game. This weekend I was on the line for my first county game in the cup. This was a game I really wanted as you get a very experienced ref in the middle and, like my two assts I got to watch someone more experienced. Steve the chap I was with was great, very laid back, speaking very sternly too the teams when need be, but with the help of his two assistants there were no major things. We were there when needed and you noticed the ref when needed. That is how it should be, also if your a young ref and need advice the biggest thing i have learnt this year is talking, Steve spoke to the players all game yesterday and then today my lads played against Charnock, and its normally a very high tempered game normally revolving around the man in the middle. Today’s ref was excellent, good positioning and the other big thing he spoke all the way through to the players. It really does add to the refs game, and like all refs he made a couple of small mistakes, and when one of the lads said it to him in a proper manner he agreed, or explained his decision. One of those lads was one of my young assistants and he learnt a lot from the referee, how to handle and control what was a great game. I can only thank him for how he reffed and how he taught my lads, especially the qualified refs in my team it is invaluable. The difference with this ref and the one I have mentioned in a previous posting, is that this ref wants to help and encourage, which is how it should be.
I learnt this yesterday and then read it in Graham poll's book today, Referees are only human and they make mistakes but as long as they make them honestly, then you cannot ask for more.
I have watched and been involved in some great reffing displays this week and last. It is good to see.
Its Good fun Reffing!
MATCH OFFICIALS
We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game.
The behaviour of the match officials has an impact, directly and indirectly, on the conduct of all those involved in the game
Play your part and observe the FA’s Respect Code of Conduct for match officials at all time.
When officiating I will:
* Be honest and completely impartial at all times, irrespective of the teams, players or team officials involved in the match
* Apply the Laws of the Game and competition rules fairly and consistently.
* Manage the game in a positive, calm and confident manner.
* Deal with all instances of violence, aggression, unsporting behaviour, foul play and other misconduct.
* Not tolerate offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour from players and officials.
* Support my match official colleagues at all times.
* Set a positive personal example by promoting good behaviour and showing respect to all those involved in the game.
* Communicate with the players and encourage fair play.
* Respond in a clear, calm and confident manner to any appropriate request for clarification by the team captains.
* Prepare physically and mentally for every match.
* Complete and submit, accurate and concise reports within the time limit required for games in which I officiate.