Post by exref on Nov 21, 2012 15:28:13 GMT 10
I have been a referee in local amateur football in the Sydney area for almost 15 years, refereeing two or three junior and adult games most weekends during the season. Like many local football referees I initially became involved because I wanted to give something back to the game after many years of enjoyment as a player and a spectator. In my case it has also been a good way to remain involved in the game that I love and to maintain a good fitness level, now that my playing days are behind me.
Refereeing has been important to me and I have taken the job seriously even though the financial reward is minimal. Five years ago I passed my Football New South Wales Class One Certificate. To be eligible for Class One a referee must first pass Class Three and then Class Two. Class One entailed attending a series of lectures and seminars, a theory examination on the Laws of the Game and two field tests (games to referee) in other districts each with two completely independent and highly qualified inspectors who were not known to me.
These field tests and examinations are no walk-over and the pass rate is not high. Just to give you a flavour – one of the Class One theory questions was to name at least five criteria that must be met for a corner flag to be legal according to the laws of the game. I had paid attention in lectures, had studied hard and knew the answers.
Every four years even referees with the best qualifications are also required to sit a ‘re-accreditation examination’. I did one last year and am pleased to say that I passed. Again it was not easy – one of the questions was to list the ten direct free kick offences. I listed them all from memory and correctly answered all of the other questions in the examination.
Before the start of each season referees who want to referee the higher league games (up to District Premier League) are required to successfully complete a fitness test. This entails a series of sprints and distance running which must be completed within prescribed times with prescribed rest periods between runs. I was pleased and not a little proud when as one of the older members I again passed the test this year when I ran 8 x 50 metre sprints, followed by a series of longer distance runs within the prescribed times. You will appreciate that a commitment to regular training throughout the year is essential if referees are to meet these fitness requirements.
As a referee I am prepared in so many ways; educated in the laws of the game, trained in ‘man-management’ techniques and trained to a good level of physical fitness. The level of my enthusiasm, my extended preparation for each game and my commitment to doing the job right has become a bit of a joke within my family because I take it so seriously!
I always try to explain decisions and help players by interpreting the finer points of the laws of the game. For instance in a game I refereed earlier this season, during a stoppage in play while we were waiting for the ball to get collected and a corner to be taken, players were appealing for offside:
Player: He was well off-side ref.
Me: Ah that was an interesting one because there was a player in an off-side position but the player that headed the ball came through from an on-side position. See how I look after you lads. I even give you a commentary.
Player: You should be on SBS.
On this occasion – everybody happy!
It is very important to me that I get my decisions right but despite all my efforts and despite the fact that I always do my best to display a friendly and cooperative attitude towards players, almost every week my decisions are met with dissent, aggression or both and often with hatred and ridicule.
Even in ‘park football’ the desire to win from players and coaches all too often outweighs the need to behave with common decency. Over the years I have been regularly abused and threatened and have had to run away from players trying to attack me on more than one occasion. There have been numerous instances in recent years where some of my less fortunate referee colleagues have been assaulted and injured.
In a recent game an adult coach of a senior team made a grab for me and took a swing at me because he didn’t like some of the refereeing decisions that I had made. I took evasive action and he missed. If his gorilla-sized fist had connected with the side of my head as he intended, I would almost certainly have been unable to go to work to earn my living in my ‘real job’ this week. Again I had to run away from him to escape a further attack and injury.
This incident has been reported to the Police. In addition the coach of the other team, myself and others have all completed detailed reports to the Football Association confirming that this coach tried to assault me and would have connected if I had not reacted to avoid him. I have now decided to take a break from refereeing duties for at least the next few weeks. It would be some small consolation for me if we could get justice in this specific instance but I have now decided that I will not return to referee in local football in Western Sydney.
The offending coach will probably say that he was just trying to shake my hand or that his action was justified in some other way. Even if he is given a ban, experience tells us that he will probably appeal to FNSW or to the FFA and be let off to return to the sideline in no time at all and continue to threaten, abuse and if necessary punch referees and opponents in order to intimidate them because he thinks this will enable his team to win more games.
In one incident in our district last season a player was lying on the ground shielding his head with his arms as another player deliberately kicked him in the head. He was kicked with enough force to break his arm. Steel plates were needed in surgery to restore his arm. If the boot had made direct contact with his head he would certainly have been seriously injured and could easily have been killed.
No wonder many districts are shorter than ever before on referee numbers this year. No wonder that players are leaving in droves to follow safer pursuits.
It is well past time to call a halt to this sad saga.
Refereeing has been important to me and I have taken the job seriously even though the financial reward is minimal. Five years ago I passed my Football New South Wales Class One Certificate. To be eligible for Class One a referee must first pass Class Three and then Class Two. Class One entailed attending a series of lectures and seminars, a theory examination on the Laws of the Game and two field tests (games to referee) in other districts each with two completely independent and highly qualified inspectors who were not known to me.
These field tests and examinations are no walk-over and the pass rate is not high. Just to give you a flavour – one of the Class One theory questions was to name at least five criteria that must be met for a corner flag to be legal according to the laws of the game. I had paid attention in lectures, had studied hard and knew the answers.
Every four years even referees with the best qualifications are also required to sit a ‘re-accreditation examination’. I did one last year and am pleased to say that I passed. Again it was not easy – one of the questions was to list the ten direct free kick offences. I listed them all from memory and correctly answered all of the other questions in the examination.
Before the start of each season referees who want to referee the higher league games (up to District Premier League) are required to successfully complete a fitness test. This entails a series of sprints and distance running which must be completed within prescribed times with prescribed rest periods between runs. I was pleased and not a little proud when as one of the older members I again passed the test this year when I ran 8 x 50 metre sprints, followed by a series of longer distance runs within the prescribed times. You will appreciate that a commitment to regular training throughout the year is essential if referees are to meet these fitness requirements.
As a referee I am prepared in so many ways; educated in the laws of the game, trained in ‘man-management’ techniques and trained to a good level of physical fitness. The level of my enthusiasm, my extended preparation for each game and my commitment to doing the job right has become a bit of a joke within my family because I take it so seriously!
I always try to explain decisions and help players by interpreting the finer points of the laws of the game. For instance in a game I refereed earlier this season, during a stoppage in play while we were waiting for the ball to get collected and a corner to be taken, players were appealing for offside:
Player: He was well off-side ref.
Me: Ah that was an interesting one because there was a player in an off-side position but the player that headed the ball came through from an on-side position. See how I look after you lads. I even give you a commentary.
Player: You should be on SBS.
On this occasion – everybody happy!
It is very important to me that I get my decisions right but despite all my efforts and despite the fact that I always do my best to display a friendly and cooperative attitude towards players, almost every week my decisions are met with dissent, aggression or both and often with hatred and ridicule.
Even in ‘park football’ the desire to win from players and coaches all too often outweighs the need to behave with common decency. Over the years I have been regularly abused and threatened and have had to run away from players trying to attack me on more than one occasion. There have been numerous instances in recent years where some of my less fortunate referee colleagues have been assaulted and injured.
In a recent game an adult coach of a senior team made a grab for me and took a swing at me because he didn’t like some of the refereeing decisions that I had made. I took evasive action and he missed. If his gorilla-sized fist had connected with the side of my head as he intended, I would almost certainly have been unable to go to work to earn my living in my ‘real job’ this week. Again I had to run away from him to escape a further attack and injury.
This incident has been reported to the Police. In addition the coach of the other team, myself and others have all completed detailed reports to the Football Association confirming that this coach tried to assault me and would have connected if I had not reacted to avoid him. I have now decided to take a break from refereeing duties for at least the next few weeks. It would be some small consolation for me if we could get justice in this specific instance but I have now decided that I will not return to referee in local football in Western Sydney.
The offending coach will probably say that he was just trying to shake my hand or that his action was justified in some other way. Even if he is given a ban, experience tells us that he will probably appeal to FNSW or to the FFA and be let off to return to the sideline in no time at all and continue to threaten, abuse and if necessary punch referees and opponents in order to intimidate them because he thinks this will enable his team to win more games.
In one incident in our district last season a player was lying on the ground shielding his head with his arms as another player deliberately kicked him in the head. He was kicked with enough force to break his arm. Steel plates were needed in surgery to restore his arm. If the boot had made direct contact with his head he would certainly have been seriously injured and could easily have been killed.
No wonder many districts are shorter than ever before on referee numbers this year. No wonder that players are leaving in droves to follow safer pursuits.
It is well past time to call a halt to this sad saga.