Im becoming a Referee...

viper.10

Hi all,

Im recently completed a referee's course and im actually booked to ref an underage friendly in a couple of weeks time. I've played a lot of football in my time and recent years but i'm just wondering if anybody out there who currently is a referee has any type of advice to hand out. I don't want to be one of those ref's you cant even talk to, i want to be able have the banter but also dont want to seem a soft touch. Kinda nervous about it all to be honest and also can i still play senior football and ref underage at the same time? I asked members of society at a recent meeting and they said to try and avoid it but they didn't say i defo couldn't?
Any thoughts would be great. Thanks.

Iang87

Good Luck

Lucan Bohs

I ref Go-Games hurling and Gaelic from under 8s to 12.

My main advice would be always explain why you have given a free kick etc against a player and don't take any crap from parents or managers!

Bubblefett

Sounds very cool, good luck!

RayCon

Dont listen to shouts from the line.

Caveman1

Yeah the kids are grand its the parents you need to worry about :pac:
Some of them need to realise that its only a game.

_blank_

I've reffed kids too, it's not easy.

The biggest thing is confidence, be and appear confident in all decisions, don't give things you are not sure of, because if you are not sure, it will be obvious.

Oh wanted to say, well done on giving it a go, I know when I did it they were screaming out for refs, so I assume they still are..

viper.10

Lucan Bohs wrote: »

I ref Go-Games hurling and Gaelic from under 8s to 12.

My main advice would be always explain why you have given a free kick etc against a player and don't take any crap from parents or managers!

Yeah, thats my plan to explain things like free kicks etc. It doesn't take long to do and it can stop the players from getting so annoyed. A ref i know does that and hes very well liked and respected for it. All players comment on him for that point, while another ref i know wont even look at you during the game never mind explain his rulings and if you question him, your as likely to end up in the book as anything else. Theres not a player in the league that can stand him. I'd imagine you've got to use common sense as well and not forget how you felt in your playing days.

viper.10

Caveman1 wrote: »

Yeah the kids are grand its the parents you need to worry about :pac:
Some of them need to realise that its only a game.

Ha. I was warned about the parents as well. A member of society told me that a father might understand the game and how its played and might realise certain decisions you make....but the mothers...jes they are fooking mental. Heaven help you if somebody touches their little johnny and you dont give a free, i can remember my mum...god she would be like an anti-christ after the game if my team lost or if i got even the slightest bit hurt:pac:

viper.10

Des wrote: »

I've reffed kids too, it's not easy.

The biggest thing is confidence, be and appear confident in all decisions, don't give things you are not sure of, because if you are not sure, it will be obvious.

Oh wanted to say, well done on giving it a go, I know when I did it they were screaming out for refs, so I assume they still are..

Yeah, their still pretty short on ref's, well up our way anyway but i'd imagine its the same pretty much all over the country. Everybodys an expert but very few want to take the pitch and give it a go.

oldyouth

Firstly, well done. If we had a sufficient amount of referees, the various leagues could boot out the incompetent ones they know are not good enough to officiate.

Be confident in your decision making
Explain the decision immediately to avoid debate with players
Nip any dissent from the touchline immediately with a quiet word that doesn't embarrass a manager in front of his players.
Show the players that you are fit by keeping up with play
Enjoy what you are doing

And finally,
get you fee in advance and park the car near the exit where it can't get boxed in :P

viper.10

oldyouth wrote: »

Firstly, well done. If we had a sufficient amount of referees, the various leagues could boot out the the incompetent ones they know are not good enough to officiate.

Be confident in your decision making
Explain the decision immediately to avoid debate with players
Nip any dissent from the touchline immediately with a quiet word that doesn't embarrass a manager in front of his players.
Show the players that you are fit by keeping up with play
Enjoy what you are doing

And finally,
get you fee in advance and park the car near the exit where it can't get boxed in :P

or in case i need a quick getaway:)

_blank_

IS it GAA you're reffing, or Soccer?

I've only ever heard of GAA refs being bundled into car boots in Ireland, not Soccer refs.

Mars Bar

Des wrote: »

IS it GAA you're reffing, or Soccer?

I've only ever heard of GAA refs being bundled into car boots in Ireland, not Soccer refs.

the soccer ones don't come back to tell the story, the GAA ones do...

viper.10

Mars Bar wrote: »

the soccer ones don't come back to tell the story, the GAA ones do...

like i mentioned earlier, those mothers are mental and its soccer im gonna be trying out Des

Jimmy Iovine

Are you known around the area? Will any of the players, managers or parents know you by your first name. If so then I'd say to try and nip that in the bud very quickly. Hearing the whole sideline call a ref Muscles/Chap/Eoin etc. isn't exactly the greatest image.

If anyone calls you John (or whatever your name is) then just have a quiet word and ask to be called ref. It diminishes the ref's authority I feel from my own experiences on the pitch.

Guy:Incognito

Blind git.......:)

viper.10

thanks for all the advice and PM's guys. up to me now i suppose:eek:

Leiva

I remember reading that the English school boy Refs have started some new practices this year .

From what i recall there was some very good ideas like gathering both teams together for a few seconds on the pitch for a simple communication , and to build up respect .


Other stuff aswell but i cant remember ...Google might help you .

bobbysands81

viper.10 wrote: »

Hi all,

Im recently completed a referee's course and im actually booked to ref an underage friendly in a couple of weeks time. I've played a lot of football in my time and recent years but i'm just wondering if anybody out there who currently is a referee has any type of advice to hand out. I don't want to be one of those ref's you cant even talk to, i want to be able have the banter but also dont want to seem a soft touch. Kinda nervous about it all to be honest and also can i still play senior football and ref underage at the same time? I asked members of society at a recent meeting and they said to try and avoid it but they didn't say i defo couldn't?
Any thoughts would be great. Thanks.

A few things I found helpful...

Always explain why you gave a free, players respond really positively to this.

I always spoke to players a the start of a game and informed them that any verbal abuse directed at me would result in a booking, I'd explain that they can question my decisions as long as they do so respectfully and I will explain why I made that decision, but any verbal abuse will land them in the book. It is essential to retain discipline in a match and that was my way of keeping things under control.

If things are getting hot and heavy in a game call both captains over and explain that if you have to call the game off both teams could be thrown out of the league.

You will get dogs abuse at times by you'll also find that the fella giving you the abuse is being told to STFU by his team mates.

Trust what your eyes see, many times in a gam you'll be put under pressure by a team who all shout/look for a free. If you didn't see it then don't give it.

Best of luck mate, hopefully you enjoy it.