Quote: bren2k "That's a real shame - and probably one example of many.
I used to be involved in the junior game, and even at that level, watched young lads get absolutely slaughtered by players, coaches and spectators (parents) when they were doing their referee qualifications - and it seems to continue right through to SL level; how many of them have the will to go on become professional referees, I don't know, but I would bet that its very few. Despite the cheating, gamesmanship, player errors and lack of understanding of rules by many spectators and even pundits, it's always the ref who gets criticism. Every Sky game includes audible footage of the ref being abused by the crowd and sometimes players and coaches, all the while, Eddie and co analysing every decision and proclaiming whether the ref was right or wrong, with Cummings gleefully dissecting and pronouncing judgement - much of which finds it way on here as a direct result - wrong or right.
I'm not in any way saying they always get it right - but I remain firm in my conviction that the ones we've got are *not* cheats - they are simply doing their best with a system that doesn't help them; and whilst the governing body tinkers with the edges, coaches and players devise new and more devious ways to cheat, and refs are left high and dry trying to understand how to interpret and deal with thousands of incidents in every game they oversee.
I say it every year - but the RFL need to reset around rules and how the game will be officiated; let every coach and player know what the new standard is; then implement it ruthlessly and without compromise for as many games as it takes to change behaviour - and sod whether it means the opening rounds are penalty-fests - that will be the fault of players and coaches, not referees.'"
All you say is correct but in my lads case that wasn't the issue, he's thick skinned, don't know where that comes from. No it was the lack of organisation ie not knowing where he was to officiate til the last munute. Then turning up there expecting to find his mentor and his kit only for neither to materialise. In his first game he had to borrow an old club top and where the leisure shorts he's arrived in - that's more demeaning than any fan abuse. So it went on, dates for interviews and tutorials cancelled and endless postponements of matches etc.
In the end he did get a kit, one that didn't fit and looked circa 1998 to me. It was diabloical, I knew it wouldn't be slick but we never expected it to be so disorganised, I wouldn't even call it amaturist tbh as it was nowhere near that good.
IMO he'd have made a good ref but at 26 the clock is ticking and I don't see any sign of him hirrying back but then why would he as nobody has bothered to get in touch to see why he stopped attending - incredible!
