Future of Football at ?Grassroots? level.

[sandiemag]

I have been a referee for a number of years now, refereeing in the local Sunday Morning League and the Sunday Afternoon Pub Leagues.

There has always been the ?banter? from players, managers and supporters on the touchline giving ?constructive? criticism on the decisions made and questioning the parentage of the referee. This is, and always has been, part of the game, within reason of course.

I also referee at a junior level, age ranges 5 or 6 up to teenagers. These games range from 6/7-a-side up to 11-a-side.

This season I have decided to hang up my whistle because of the constant abuse and lack of respect from the touchline. I am not talking about the ?senior? level of football, it?s the junior level that?s the main concern. The verbal abuse from the parents of these children is quite unbelievable. Considering the ages of the children concerned, this could be classed as abuse. I don?t think I need go into examples of the sort of things shouted out, anyone who attends games these days will know what I mean.

I also run a junior team and try to encourage them to give a level of respect of decision making by refs. This needs to be enforced when they are young enough to take it in and allow for real development in football.
Of course, this is not totally a criticism of the upbringing of the children. We only need to watch Match of the Day or any live game on TV to see their ?role models? giving refs severe verbal?s. The ?close ups? are so close, you don?t have to be a particular good lip reader to understand what they are saying. How will youngsters know that it?s wrong when they constantly see it on TV, it becomes the ?norm?.

A quote taken from the FA Website makes a very good point:

?On average, 7,000 referees quit football every year at because of the abuse they receive from players and from the sidelines. Lots of children also pack it in because of the attitude and actions of over-enthusiastic and pushy parents?.

I watched a video on Socceram last Saturday and thought that its sums the whole attitude up perfectly. This definitely should make people sit-up and think, if only for Ray Winstone?s strong performance. For those who weren?t fortunate enough to see it, I have attached the link.

videoPage

I am of an age where I am nearing the end of my active refereeing career, however, I am concerned that there are fewer and fewer young refs coming through the ranks and without young blood, I fear for the future of grassroots football. After all, without referees, games cannot be played.

Having ranted on about the cons of refereeing, I have to saw that I have really enjoyed being a referee and would not have changed my decision to go into it.


What are your thoughts and experiences DK?ers, I will be most interested to read them.

[elhefe]

Ill be honest with you im not a mad footie fan not even in the same league however you are 100% right. If football is to survive then they should adopt the refereeing standards that are applied in Rugby Union. Again im not a rugby fan either, but referees are so well respected it shows in the game. the only person on a team allowed to speak to a referee is the team captain.this will only work if referees decisions are not undermined afterwards (unless there is a gross error) then the referee should be spoken to but not by anyone there on the day. Adopting this i would think just might save the grassroots game. there's an old saying

rugby is a thugs game played by gentlemen
football is a gentlemans game played by thugs

[bugaloo41]

Sandiemag I love my football. Its a huge part of my life.

I am not probably that well equipped to comment on your perspective of the game. I played professional and then after a serious injury junior and amateur but never refereed.

Have to confess that i had a bit of a short fuse but always respected referees. Very difficult job and i am still friendly with a number today. Referees are not immune from any other walk of life though. Some sadly come into the game for relatively easy money. I am speaking about Scotland here but referees can make a tidy sum over a weekend refereeing schools, juveniles and then amateur saturday and sunday to cover their beer costs. some (not all) would rather earn cash than contribute to the development of the game.

i think the standard of football in Scotland is at a real low ebb. i am not sure the standard of refereeing is any better. i am old school. i am of the view too be good at something (for most of us) you have to work hard.

my son played football at a decent level for juvenile clubs and i found the abuse that referees got during that time absolutely disgraceful. this was from so called coaches who are meant to be setting an example to youths as to how to be disciplined and respectful.

i have seen the advert and imo it is very accurate. arseholes with opinions but no respect or dignity. little wonder that players are equally indisciplined.

not sure what the answer is though. refereeing standards need to improve but without a greater sense of discipline at all levels it is difficult to see how that platform is being provided to allow this to happen.

for the good of the game i hope someone finds a solution.


anyway enjoy your retirement when it comes.

[rob6007]

i play in a small 5 a side leauge and i must admit even these guys get a bit of abuse from us all .

i havent played 11s for a while but i was out jogging a while back and stopped at a games of kids playing 11s . no more than 14 and the one that was causing all the bother was the manger of one team .

like in the clip screaming that this kid should have been booked . the kid was no more than 14 and its a game of football theres always going to a late challenge its never all going to be one way .

i watch the nfl a lot and you never hear any1 talk back to the refs . rugby is also a great example .

they should introduce things like this more .

only the captain should talk to the ref then the captain have a word with the player in question . lets be honest if your captain is roy keane you aint going to answer him back .

the ref should be called sir and the players should be fined if the use foul language (or too much foul language) towards the ref .

its got to be started at youth level .its not good for my boy when we watch motd and see wayne rooney goving the ref a mouthfull .

if the ref gives a foul whats the point in moaning about it . the foul is given just get on with the game .

[sandiemag]

Thanks for the great feedback lads, enjoyed reading the posts.

I too played football at Sunday Morning level for a lot of years before refereeing and certainly remember giving the refs some verbals. At the end of the game though, I always made a point of shaking their hands.

I cannot remember anyone at a junior level arguing with the referee when I was playing, unless I?ve just got a poor memory.

I?ve never experienced physical violence myself after a game myself, but a couple of years ago a colleague of mine was attacked by a couple of players after a pub league match when he was in the car park ready to leave. This ended up a police matter and the team was expunged from the league. Thankfully this doesn?t very often and it?s something nobody needs.

On the point of refs being paid, of course there are some who do it for the cash, but most do it for the pleasure, at the lower level anyway.

[elhefe]

totally agree with rob6007 must start with grassroots and work its way up the only problem is it may well be too late to save the game if this is the case

[melloned]

Ill be honest with you im not a mad footie fan not even in the same league however you are 100% right. If football is to survive then they should adopt the refereeing standards that are applied in Rugby Union. Again im not a rugby fan either, but referees are so well respected it shows in the game. the only person on a team allowed to speak to a referee is the team captain.this will only work if referees decisions are not undermined afterwards (unless there is a gross error) then the referee should be spoken to but not by anyone there on the day. Adopting this i would think just might save the grassroots game. there's an old saying

rugby is a thugs game played by gentlemen
football is a gentlemans game played by thugs

Got it spot on there Mate ! I think many Prem footballers , think they are superstars , given thier ?10k-?150K per week wages , while Super League rugby stars earn a max ?2- ?2.5 k per week .
Maybe thier feet are a bit more on the ground ? Personally , a fraction of the lowest wage would do me !!

[elhefe]

Got it spot on there Mate ! I think many Prem footballers , think they are superstars , given thier ?10k-?150K per week wages , while Super League rugby stars earn a max ?2- ?2.5 k per week .
Maybe thier feet are a bit more on the ground ? Personally , a fraction of the lowest wage would do me !!

dont even go there melloned thats somthing that really gets on my f$/%^&*ing goat (pardon my french) way way too much money is pumped into football at the top level and nothing in comparison goes into the grassroots (that is a problem everywhere including Ireland but not to the same extent as the premier league.) people are playing football for money not for the passion and thats where the problem lies. i think this smiley sums up my opinion of all these people a good belt across the back of the head oh i forgot they get that all the time .

you would think im a football nut but i am not honest

[gmb45]

dont even go there melloned thats somthing that really gets on my f$/%^&*ing goat (pardon my french) way way too much money is pumped into football at the top level and nothing in comparison goes into the grassroots (that is a problem everywhere including Ireland but not to the same extent as the premier league.) people are playing football for money not for the passion and thats where the problem lies. i think this smiley sums up my opinion of all these people a good belt across the back of the head oh i forgot they get that all the time .

you would think im a football nut but i am not honest

football is a buisness now not a sport