May 2017
So it seems I forgot I had this Blog, pushed it to the back of my mind as a bad idea, but seeing as it's here I may as well update it again.
Life has moved on since my last post, and I'm now a Referee Secretary on just one Sunday League, but now also an active council member of a County FA, "not as busy then" I hear you say; yeah right!
The season is now winding down, and clubs and players are thinking about holidays, and the beer consumption over the summer evenings, not me. Yes a nice holiday to look forward to, but along with the rest of the league committee we. are now preparing for next season. We have to ensure that our league rules fit in nicely with the Standard Code of Rules devised by The FA. This takes around 5 evenings of 3-4 hours each, then we have new clubs to interview, so that we can ensure they match the ethos of the league - it's about quality not quantity. We have a good product, we don't want it spoiled by a team of idiots on a Sunday morning. The odd one gets through, but generally we are pretty good judges. We also have 2 more league cup finals to host. Personally I have already been involved with 15 Youth Finals and 7 adult finals as stadium announcer, 3 adult finals as a match official and one as a Council Member. Three more tomorrow as match official, then one Tuesday on the mic again, then Referee on Thursday! That will make 31 Cup Finals come the end of next week, even shocks me now I've added them up.
Why do I do it? The faces of the kids in the Youth games as the music plays and the teams are led out, it's all about the occasion. We have to make it the best experience possible for all of them as they may never get to another final. The same theory goes to the adults on the Sunday league, best ground we can afford, the music, the online ticketing, the occasion. As a player, (using the term very loosely) I never made it to a Cup Final, until last season as a bit part player for a Sunday League side, and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I'll never get again. So glad that the league do what they do to make it special. All these ingredients make the trials and tribulations of the season so worth it.
As a Referee the occasion comes into it as well, although it shouldn't. What would be an easy card on a Saturday afternoon, or a Sunday morning suddenly becomes a stern talking to, as you try not to spoil the occasion. Many times this comes back to bite you firmly on the backside, as we all know you shouldn't changed your game, you referee the game not the occasion, but it happens. We will probably see that as the Play Off Finals start this weekend in the Football League. No how much you try the occasion is still nagging at the back of your mind.
So back to what I was saying, as the season comes to it's end, I am now looking at recruiting referees for the league for next season, planning our pre season referee's match where the Referees play the Sportsmanship winners, and planning the Referees pre-season meeting. The season is over, now the work starts!
Thursday 7 September 2017
Wednesday 7 March 2012
More Drop Outs!
To my horror, I receive a Kent County League appointment for this Saturday; yes I forgot I had opened the date, so I have to pull out of my U15 Cup Semi Final game at Peckham Town. Ok I think, I have a few referees up my sleeve, but sadly none are available. I am now sitting here with 2 Assistants on the game and no referee!
Another referee lets me know he is not available so at 4pm today I sit down to check my emails, and sort out the games. It's Wednesday afternoon, and yet 2 clubs tell me TODAY what their details are for Sunday, and another tells me he will confirm later in the week!! It's only 3 days away for heaven sake!
Emails sent to all referees on both my lists to cover the games, and all but the semi final are covered.
At around 6pm I sit down to complete the Referee's Marks return to London FA for both of my leagues, stopping only for dinner at around 6-30, I finish this at around 9!!
Let me see if anyone else has responded to my earlier appeal for a referee, but what is this? No offers, but another referee has pulled out of 2 games!! ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!
I am now pulling at my hair, and send out another pleading email. By return the 2 new games are covered again, but I still have this bloody Semi Final! Will try again tomorrow, I can't take anymore tonight!!
Another referee lets me know he is not available so at 4pm today I sit down to check my emails, and sort out the games. It's Wednesday afternoon, and yet 2 clubs tell me TODAY what their details are for Sunday, and another tells me he will confirm later in the week!! It's only 3 days away for heaven sake!
Emails sent to all referees on both my lists to cover the games, and all but the semi final are covered.
At around 6pm I sit down to complete the Referee's Marks return to London FA for both of my leagues, stopping only for dinner at around 6-30, I finish this at around 9!!
Let me see if anyone else has responded to my earlier appeal for a referee, but what is this? No offers, but another referee has pulled out of 2 games!! ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!
I am now pulling at my hair, and send out another pleading email. By return the 2 new games are covered again, but I still have this bloody Semi Final! Will try again tomorrow, I can't take anymore tonight!!
Tuesday 6 March 2012
Is Football My Life?
Well here's me; a full time job, Referee's Secretary of a Saturday league and a Sunday League and then fell into the post of Results Secretary for both as well as I look after the websites of both!
Weeks can be crazy, clubs on the Saturday league have until Tuesday to contact me for a referee, and yet despite me pleas throughout the season to get me the game details sooner, I still get them late. A better week last week however, well up to Friday when a club approached me for a referee. I think not on a Friday!
Anyway the weekend comes, and Saturday I spend at work, a few calls during the day from referees being unable to find their games, and clubs unable to find their referees!
I then finished work at 2 and head for a family party, a few hours of fun, and then back to football. I leave early to get home and do the results. I start checking them at 6 and finish at 7-30pm, still some results outstanding. They just have to send a text, how can they keep doing it wrong!! Each incorrect text adds 15 -20 minutes to the time it takes.
Finally time to sit down a chill!!
Sunday, and a different hat on. Committee member of my Sunday League. I decide to do a surprise check on 2 teams in Catford and take some photos for the website and Facebook page for the league, then head to meet a colleague at another game. It's pissing down with rain, and I get a soaking, but such is my commitment! The afternoon game was a Semi-Final which generally needs a signature check carried out, but I am the only member of the committee that can be bothered to turn up in the rain.
Why do I bother? I'm starting to wonder. Haven't enjoyed refereeing my last few games, now the work of the leagues is starting to get on top of me. I actually dread the mobile ringing now, just in case it is another problem.
What do I do?
Weeks can be crazy, clubs on the Saturday league have until Tuesday to contact me for a referee, and yet despite me pleas throughout the season to get me the game details sooner, I still get them late. A better week last week however, well up to Friday when a club approached me for a referee. I think not on a Friday!
Anyway the weekend comes, and Saturday I spend at work, a few calls during the day from referees being unable to find their games, and clubs unable to find their referees!
I then finished work at 2 and head for a family party, a few hours of fun, and then back to football. I leave early to get home and do the results. I start checking them at 6 and finish at 7-30pm, still some results outstanding. They just have to send a text, how can they keep doing it wrong!! Each incorrect text adds 15 -20 minutes to the time it takes.
Finally time to sit down a chill!!
Sunday, and a different hat on. Committee member of my Sunday League. I decide to do a surprise check on 2 teams in Catford and take some photos for the website and Facebook page for the league, then head to meet a colleague at another game. It's pissing down with rain, and I get a soaking, but such is my commitment! The afternoon game was a Semi-Final which generally needs a signature check carried out, but I am the only member of the committee that can be bothered to turn up in the rain.
Why do I bother? I'm starting to wonder. Haven't enjoyed refereeing my last few games, now the work of the leagues is starting to get on top of me. I actually dread the mobile ringing now, just in case it is another problem.
What do I do?
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