Reasons to become a referee

blackbelt

Well after an overall disappointing championship which saw the GAA disciplinary system made a mockery of,low attendances,bad weather,poor football,poor atmosphere and referees taking abuse and centre stage due to some incidents,I've decided to put up this thread in an attempt to encourage GAA fans who have been considering taking up refereeing and not to be discouraged by incidents that have gone on in the last few months.

Firstly,refereeing is a great way of increasing involvement in the GAA in the county.Once players are on the wrong side of 40,its the twilight years.However,refereeing is a great way of being involved without the physical stakes.

Secondly,refereeing is a great way of keeping in shape and fit.Those 60 minutes running around on the pitch alone can keep a person nice and trim and is good excercise for the muscles and cardio-vascular system etc.It enhances the bodies flexibility and is good for your health.

Also,refereeing affords you the chance to meet people.I've had great experience before,during and after matches with players and mentors.At the end of a tough week working,it is nice to be able to put on the outfit and referee a good game of competitive club football with a smile on your face and enjoy it.I've made good acquaintances that always offer me a drink/sambo/chat in the clubhouse after a game.

Sometimes you can have a bad day refereeing or a particular match is so hard to referee that it is heated.Refereeing is a test of character in how the referee deals and manages with a difficult scenario.So while it is not always smiles and laughs,its a challenge.

Also,a referee is a person who contributes to their county.All levels from senior to intermediate to junior right down to minor and underage referees all contribute to the GAA scene and without these referees,the county and intercounty scene would not be maintained so to be involved refereeing is an honour.

Refereeing is also good to have on your CV.No joking,employers love to see extrovert individuals with experience.An employer may see that you have the experience of managing and looking after 30+ people and this can only do you favours in getting hired into a position by selling yourself more.

And finally,pocket money.Referees get expenses and it is always nice to have that extra few bob toward the end of the week for doing something that you enjoy but to be honest,the money is the last thing that would motivate me to do what I do.

So these are the reasons to become a referee.While many people will tell you that it is a thankless job,I say bullsh1t.Even after my worst game,I've had players walk up to me,shake my hand and say thanks because players know that the people who ref are responsible for the development of the game and give up their time to make sure that gaelic football and hurling can be enjoyed by fans/players within the county and further afield.

AKK

Here's another reason - opportunity to write your autobiography a la Paddy Russell......

"Final Whistle
Tipperary native Paddy Russell has been one of the leading referees in the GAA. His story is a remarkable one, following his rise from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of two All-Ireland finals. Inspired by the late, great John Moloney, Russell took his first steps in refereeing in 1976. This title reflects on his eventful journey". (Quote from website where it's available for purchase [emphasis added] - Am I allowed post such quotes Moderator? I wouldn't be an admirer of the man or anything so I wouldn't really be trying to advertise it...:P)

So become a referee to become an Irish celebrity and enjoy all the trappings it entails............. Maybe he might even get a spot on Failte Towers next year?

blackbelt

AKK wrote: »

Here's another reason - opportunity to write your autobiography a la Paddy Russell......

"Final Whistle
Tipperary native Paddy Russell has been one of the leading referees in the GAA. His story is a remarkable one, following his rise from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of two All-Ireland finals. Inspired by the late, great John Moloney, Russell took his first steps in refereeing in 1976. This title reflects on his eventful journey". (Quote from website where it's available for purchase [emphasis added] - Am I allowed post such quotes Moderator? I wouldn't be an admirer of the man or anything so I wouldn't really be trying to advertise it...)

So become a referee to become an Irish celebrity and enjoy all the trappings it entails............. Maybe he might even get a spot on Failte Towers next year?

As long as you don't spam/advertise,it will be ok.I'm not in it for the fame although it would be nice to referee a Dublin Championship Final in The Nell or referee in the spectacular Croke Park.:D:D

AKK

blackbelt wrote: »

As long as you don't spam/advertise,it will be ok.I'm not in it for the fame although it would be nice to referee a Dublin Championship Final in The Nell or referee in the spectacular Croke Park.:D:D

Aye. It'd be something else to run out onto Croke park alright. Can you imagine the rush on All-Ireland final day with 82,000 fans roaring (at you probably!!) and cheering? Nice little interview with M. Deegan before the final; he was saying what an honour it was for him and that he'd a few nerves.

Nice thread you've started - about time refs got some good publicity. The GAA really needs to start looking after its referees though. Should be made a priority for next year methinks. Less of the undermining would be a start.

Frilly Keane

You get to keep the ball
Everyone looks good in Black
All the Swiss Roll you can eat

Mr. Incognito

Referees are like Politicians. Anyone that wants the job probably shouldn't get it.

I can see the benefit of fitness, but who wants the hassle of having everyone blaming you for every decision. Go for a run with your dog if you ask me.

People don't respect GAA referees because they apply the rules so inconsistently although they are getting better they're still amateurs and to be honest the GAA rulebook is thicker than Darina Allens's cookbooks.

Money- now there's a perk I can relate to but expenses to travel somewhere to be abused, um ich don't think so.

Also,a referee is a person who contributes to their county.All levels from senior to intermediate to junior right down to minor and underage referees all contribute to the GAA scene and without these referees,the county and intercounty scene would not be maintained so to be involved refereeing is an honour.

Totally Agree. THIS is the reason people should become referees.

Refereeing is also good to have on your CV.No joking,employers love to see extrovert individuals with experience.An employer may see that you have the experience of managing and looking after 30+ people and this can only do you favours in getting hired into a position by selling yourself more

That's stretching it for me. Personally I'd hire the guy that wasn't a referee.

I'm going to put an alternatve perspective that referees are attention seeking egotistical maniacs that didn't have the skill to play the game so they took up refereeing with the "look at me" attitude. Like a child, any attention is good attention. Now, it's harsh I agree, but I personally think it applies to some referees. A good referee doesn't take centre stage- the game does but I've seen a lot of games being ruined by whistle happy referees who think they are conducting some kind of orchastra.

As a person who doesn't like being abused / at risk of assault (as has happened) on a regular basis for pocket money plus expenses I'm going to play the devils advocate and suggest why you shouldn't become a referee:

aidan24326

Reasons to become a referee = 0

I honestly don't know why anyone would want to do it. I'm glad they do and fair play to the lads who ref club games for no more than a weekly wage of insult and abuse, they must have a masochistic streak.

I played club football and hurling in Galway myself for long enough and the abuse refs get at that level is unbelievable, some of it goes a bit over the top. I even saw a ref floored with a right hook to the jaw one day, the player in question got a lifetime ban, unsurprisingly!

It's a nice way to stay involved alright, just wouldn't be for me I don't think.

sslazio11

AKK wrote: »

Here's another reason - opportunity to write your autobiography a la Paddy Russell......

"Final Whistle
Tipperary native Paddy Russell has been one of the leading referees in the GAA. His story is a remarkable one, following his rise from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of two All-Ireland finals. Inspired by the late, great John Moloney, Russell took his first steps in refereeing in 1976. This title reflects on his eventful journey". (Quote from website where it's available for purchase [emphasis added] - Am I allowed post such quotes Moderator? I wouldn't be an admirer of the man or anything so I wouldn't really be trying to advertise it...:P)

So become a referee to become an Irish celebrity and enjoy all the trappings it entails............. Maybe he might even get a spot on Failte Towers next year?

Am I the only one to wonder about the timing of this book release? The Paul Galvin incident happened in May, and 4 months later this book suddenly appears, with an entire chapter devoted to the incident. Hmmmm.

Anyway, anyone who referees GAA matches is a saint in my book, having played football and hurling for 20 years, the abuse these guys get is incredible. There are some who seem to invite dissent through their insistence on making themselves the main attraction, as pointed out by another poster, but the vast majority are in it for the right reasons. They really do make a huge contribution to the association, and they don't get enough recognition for that.

aidan24326

sslazio11 wrote: »

There are some who seem to invite dissent through their insistence on making themselves the main attraction, as pointed out by another poster

That's a fair point I think. Some of them don't help themselves with ridiculously biased decisions. Some of the refereeing decisions at club level can be dubious to say the least. It's understandable that people will get annoyed when you train all year only to lose a game due to a dodgy refereeing decision or a ref mysterioulsy playing 8 minutes of injury time even though there was nowhere near that amount of actual stoppages.

djScarey

We all notice when the ref gets it wrong. It's a great feeling in comparison to noticing when we get it wrong ourselves.

rebel girl 15

The problem is that refs aren't left make mistakes - people think they are God like creatures who never err.

Unfortunately, for any ref to become better, they have to be left make their mistakes, then rectify them in the next game. It takes a while for a ref to become comfortable out there,I know, I did a refereeing course a while back!

homerjay2005

useless interesting fact = homerjay2005 is a gaa referee!! aint done it in a while now as im living in dublin and dont go down home that often, but a few years ago when i was in school and college, i was refereeing to a decent standard (Minor county division 1).

i like it and once i return down home again, i will take it up again. get a few quid for it and i can honestly say, ive yet to have any trouble. players respect me as i talk to them and explain decisions that i have made. if i make a mistake, i will admit it. i sometimes bend the rules a little as i play the advantage.

to become qualified, i had to pass 2 exams and do a fitness test. if i started to tell you some of the crazy rules in the rulebook,u wouldnt believe me. its no wonder you see some baffling decisions in games, as the refs are under pressure to enforce rules that knowbody of the public actually know.

overall, i would advise any strong willed character to get into it, especially at underage level.

rebel girl 15

I find that if the ref explains the decision, it is taken better by the players.

they are getting badly stuck for referees at underage level at the moment.

blackbelt

It is quite a feat that it is actually much easier at the top end of the game than at underage,minor and the lower divisions of junior adult football.

A few months ago I was refereeing a minor match and a player was given a yellow card for a footblock.When I was booking him,he preceded to tell me to send himm off if I wanted.I said ok,flashed he yellow card again and off he marched to the sidelines.I never thought I'd be smiling sending somebody off but it was comical.:D

I've just been out refereeing and one of the teams has a bad reputation.The pitch was in a state and I thought it would be a dirty match but it wasn't.Explaining your decisions will put a lid on things very fast and thats what happened today.The match went off without a hitch.