Officiating in the lower leagues
- Thread starter redandwhiterob
- Start date
FoldingStars
Midfield
Needs to be stamped out from the top, instant yellow cards for shouting at the ref/assistant and only the captain allowed to talk to them unless the ref starts the conversation.
England's future number 1 Jack Butland at the weekend was up for a corner and wiped the keeper out, keeper on the floor blatant foul but Butland goes mental at the ref saying it's not a foul, he'd still be rolling around now if it was the 92nd minute in an older firm that they were winning. Clubs need to be fined and parents banned in the lower/youth leagues if it continues, without referees we don't have a game it's that simple.
England's future number 1 Jack Butland at the weekend was up for a corner and wiped the keeper out, keeper on the floor blatant foul but Butland goes mental at the ref saying it's not a foul, he'd still be rolling around now if it was the 92nd minute in an older firm that they were winning. Clubs need to be fined and parents banned in the lower/youth leagues if it continues, without referees we don't have a game it's that simple.
nowtgoodeverhappens
Striker
And the game will be gone without them. Disgraceful
Coeus
Striker
I'm pretty sure it could be stopped relatively easily, there just doesn't appear to be a will to do so.
bagpiperay
Striker
My first career was in teaching and my first substantive post was at Farringdon School starting in 1973. As I taught P.E. at the time I soon enthusiastically took teams for Saturday morning football. Teachers refereed their own school games including those with little or no experience of playing. I was experienced having played for many teams. I remember boy’s football to be much worse than that playing as an adult. Parents would readily berate and harass over any and every decision. I recall, in refereeing on one occasion, abruptly stopping the game and warning parents to stop the abuse with the potential consequence of me abandoning the game should it continue. Within the past few years, as coach / assistant manager of a Durham U16 Boys team, it was exactly the same attitude towards the qualified referees who would officiate our teams but with parents and opposition teams and players often haranguing the mainly younger or inexperienced officials.
Unfortunately, kicking, fouling, back answering, swearing, walking away from the referees and parental attitudes all undermines their authority. But the officials also have to share responsibility as most often they don’t apply the rules either consistently (eg use of informal totting up procedures, different informal rules inside compared to outside the penalty area) or at all at times for fear of reprisals or being marked low on team feedback.
FoldingStars
Midfield
It could be stopped but the players and media will complain and it'll get ignored again. Then the media will talk about how grass roots referees are quoting and say its a shame. Different obviously but the whole time wasting thing lasted 5 or so games before they got that rule changed back.
Players cheating is the worst thing in the game, VAR would be solved pretty much if players were honest and didn't cheat.
Coeus
Striker
I remember it as a single game for the time wasting, was farcical.
That's just it though, it doesn't appear to be a massive problem for the FA as if you clamp right down on it for a prolonged period, it'll change because it has to.
I'm definitely noticing it more nowadays. I know it can rub people up the wrong way when one goes against us but the whole subject absolutely fascinates me. People bellowing from minute one, hurling abuse when a throw in doesn't go your way on the half way line. These northern league games I'm taking in it's just literally constant. Like I said in my op I'm not expecting smiles and calling the ref sir and that but we are at a point where they are basically treated likes pieces of shit nowadays. 24hr media to blame, years ago the mistakes still happened but they were forgotten about a day or two later where as now the likes of talksport, social media, SSN etc are whipping people up into absolute frenzies. Every contentious decision at the top level analysed to within an inch of its life which in turn feeds down into the grassroots of the game
My boy plays football and cricket. The difference between how parents and coaches behave is night and day. The football problem is plain and simple. It has a minority of coaches and supporters that are monumental wankers.
Was having a bit crack with a ref who was mentoring and assessing a young lass reffing game at Ford hub couple Sundays back. He said they’re losing loads of potentially very good refs because even at under 10s and younger the grief and threats they get just aren’t worth the money
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viccarlton
Striker
Did you speak out and support the officials being abused?
Yes I stopped the game, gathered players and officials together and showed them the error of there ways
viccarlton
Striker
Well done
tunstallhill
Striker
What's the crack for getting into refereeing? I mean from a standing start of being a football fan who works 8-5 every day.
Is there a lot of time consuming courses to go on just to get your foot in the door? I think it would be a great hobby to have If you took out the abuse
Grumpy Old Man
Striker
Can't comment on refereeing, but cricket umpiring involves evening classes on the Laws, followed by exams (written and oral) to get qualified. After that, you start in the lower leagues and progress to higher standard games on the basis of assessments.
I've no idea marra tbh. At a guess I'd say you'd go on a course then start at a very low level. If your good I'd say the potential to shoot up the ladder quickly would be there
AC Mack
Striker
Then they get accused of trying to make it all about themselves, wanting to be the centre of attention etc.
I've seen it a few times at my school. Our PE teacher runs all of our sports clubs and referees our home games (sometimes if the opposition coach/teacher can do it then they'll do a half each).
Last year we played a new school and the parents were constantly berating him, including suggesting he shouldn't be reffing because he's our PE teacher. It's school kids football for Christ's sake.
I'd love to be a referee when my playing days are over, but I could do without the abuse.
I know you say it's changed back re time wasting, but we're still seeing a lot more time added on than in previous seasons. I personally think it's better than it has been.
Same here. I did my level 1 coaching qualification and would have looked into continuing that and/or refereeing, but teaching gets in the way and finding the time can be tough.
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FoldingStars
Midfield
The time is getting added but the players are not being booked for doing it, keepers are still given 4 warnings and then booked in the 93rd minute, book them in the 26th when they start doing it and magically half of the added time wouldnt need to be added.
Confucius
Striker
I don't get it, given the power I wouldn't hesitate in abiding by the laws and brandishing cards. In the same way I'd be a bastard of a traffic cop too. Although I do think in the refs instance, there's a chance you'd get battered for it. Still some people are masochists, hence why I watch Sunderland
He was wearing a ref's top and frantically applauded every decision, whether good or bad. Got the officials autographs after the game and gave them a one man guard of honour as they walked towards the changing rooms.
The Archer
Striker
My lad took reffing at 16 after playing through all the age groups from u7.
He lasted about 4 seasons before giving up, just as he was starting doing more adult games.
He got fed up with the constant moaning and questioning of every decision. It’s not something you notice normally as a player or spectator but as you say when it’s your lad out there it’s never ending.
I used to wear headphones and listen to stuff so I couldn’t hear what was being said but still ending up having words with people a few times.
The sad thing is, he was actually pretty good at it. The FA really don’t do enough to retain promising refs and the more that drop out, the less there are to develop into tomorrows pro refs.
