Quote Originally Posted by Notts78 View Post
The standard of refereeing will never improve whilst a/ grass roots refs get zero support and b/ until all the abuse stops.
Like footballers, referees make mistakes. However, for some reason refs cop it more than anyone else.
Having helped run an u9’s and u11’s teams this season and occasionally reffed games and can honestly say it’s the worst experience in football. Having played football for 35 plus years I have never encountered the **** I got from kids or parents. I did it for free and did to the best of my none qualified referee ability based on how I play the game. Without l a referee we have no game. It’s that simple.
Anyone who thinks it’s an easy gig, I suggest you go to your local kids or Sunday pub team and offer your services. I can honestly say you will regret it.
I like the fact that we don’t have VAR - you know decisions will go for and against you and hope that over the course of a season it balances itself out.
I’ve said this a few times.
If the quality of reffing is poor at the top it’s because the pool to choose from is ever decreasing at the bottom.
Currently only 50% of grassroots football is covered by willing referees, and the number is shrinking.
From bottom to top, refs are treated disgracefully and we all just accept it.
I’ve ref’d plenty of games at grassroots and it’s so difficult.
All things being equal it’s a tough enough gig but football, like no other sport, is full of players/managers/fans that are totally happy to cheat to win. And just like the treatment of refs, we’re all just happy to accept it, apart from the moments it goes against your team. If a player cheats and the ref makes the wrong call, who gets the abuse…the ref. Why do we accept it when no other sport would?
I think all youth academy players should have to ref a certain amount of grassroots games as part of their football education.
I say all this fully aware that I’ve been just as guilty from the Kop, but I do try these days to not join in with berating a ref….I failed last Tuesday!