Difficult situation for local football referees... (From Barry And District News)

Difficult situation for local football referees...

9:20am Sunday 9th September 2012 in Sport

THE football season on local parks is now under way but with more teams, so presently there are not enough referees to cover all the local matches (writes Terry Allday, Secretary, VoGRS ).

Already higher leagues are emailing their referee base for any additional availability, so it appears the referee shortage is already more apparent this season.

I took time out at the start and went to the Buttrills to overview the matches there. I was quite taken aback to find teams have taken on this season’s law changes so well, and did not notice any players wearing odd-coloured tape on their socks.

However, there were some digressions on the laws – which the referees would be picked up on should they be assessed.

Goalkeepers wearing black shirts are not allowed under law four which states that goalkeepers should wear kit that distinguishes them from their team-mates, opponents and the referee.

The second digression comes under law one and is regarding corner flags which must be a minimum of 5ft high, a non-pointed top and must have flags.

Players and some referees will argue these are petty things, but they’re a transgression never-the-less. If you were the referee officiating on the game and were being assessed then marks would be lost for not implementing the laws correctly.

Basically referees, and players, cannot select which laws or part of the laws they wish to use or disregard.

The problem for referees is, at grass roots level, what do they do?

Should they tell a team before the kick-off that the game cannot go ahead because the are no flags on their corner posts? 22 players plus substitutes kitted up and ready to go, being informed they need 4 triangular flags before the match can kick off? A difficult situation and not one a referee wants to be placed in.

Is it the Vale League’s responsibility that teams must conform prior to the season? I think communication is by far the best method. The next VoGRS meeting is on Monday, September 10 at 7.30pm at Barry Town FC Clubhouse, with guest Keith Wilkshire - FAW Referees Assessor.

Contact the VoGRS on vogrs@hotmail.co.uk or visit their new website www.pitchero.com/clubs/valeofglamorganrefereessociety