General Refereeing of football and hurling

[Lone Shark]

I chose to create a separate thread for this, since it's worthy of discussion while I don't want to bring the other thread away from the more specific incident in last year's under 21. Apologies if it's a little confusing.

While I realise that the recruitment of referees is not exactly blooming, there should be a conserted drive to get in ex-players and just let them at it, over-coaching & over-analysing of how they perform must be a real pain to those that do referee & a major deterrent to those who would like to take it up.

Just to dwell on this point, it's all very well to say that ex players would be best, but I'm not sure about that. Obviously some experience of playing the game is worthwhile, but at what level do you decide that a played has genuinely "played" the game? Must you have played senior intercounty? Senior Club? Is no playing after U-16 okay? All I'm saying is that there is the "playing" the way me and a load of other useless muckers do it, and then there's playing the way intercounty players do - it means different things to different people.

Secondly, you talk of the over-analysing, but I often find it amazing how even intercounty players are often completely oblivious to the rules as they stand. At least one in ten players at county level and one in four or five appear to think that the pickup in gaelic football is legal if the ball is rolling, or that transferring the ball from one hand to another is a foul (only if you throw it!).

I'm not saying that former players shouldn't be referees, but I just don't think we should take it for granted that they won't need all the support and guidance that lesser footballers/hurlers would get.

[Over The Black Spot]

I chose to create a separate thread for this, since it's worthy of discussion while I don't want to bring the other thread away from the more specific incident in last year's under 21. Apologies if it's a little confusing.

Just to dwell on this point, it's all very well to say that ex players would be best, but I'm not sure about that. Obviously some experience of playing the game is worthwhile, but at what level do you decide that a played has genuinely "played" the game? Must you have played senior intercounty? Senior Club? Is no playing after U-16 okay? All I'm saying is that there is the "playing" the way me and a load of other useless muckers do it, and then there's playing the way intercounty players do - it means different things to different people.

Secondly, you talk of the over-analysing, but I often find it amazing how even intercounty players are often completely oblivious to the rules as they stand. At least one in ten players at county level and one in four or five appear to think that the pickup in gaelic football is legal if the ball is rolling, or that transferring the ball from one hand to another is a foul (only if you throw it!).

I'm not saying that former players shouldn't be referees, but I just don't think we should take it for granted that they won't need all the support and guidance that lesser footballers/hurlers would get.

The point I was trying to make was that we should get as many former players as possible into refereeing, I wasn't in any way making any distinction (or didn't intend to if I did) on a persons ability to referee comparitive to their ability as a player. It is the large number of referees who haven't played the game that I was taking issue with. I realise that a lot of this is due to a lack of numbers which has led to referees interchanging between codes where once they were exclusively refereeing one code, at adult grade at least.

The over-analysing I speak of is by the association rather than players or spectators. Let them at it when they start out & see how it goes. I would say the vast majority know the rules but just choose to chance their arm to gain advantage but would have a sufficient grasp to referee a game.

The other thing is that many a non-player has made a fine official in many codes, including the GAA, but experience has to be a help.

[Lone Shark]

Another thing about getting ex players is that they tend to be at or around 40 yeas of age (by definition if they are finished with playing) and by the time they learn the ropes and feel confident in charge of a match, they're already at the stage where they are starting to slow down. Refereeing top level hurling is no easy job at the best of times, much less if you are 50 and not able to cover the ground quickly or enough. (I'm well aware that there are referees in Offaly a little guilty of this, with one in particular I have in mind never stays more than 20m from where he throws in the ball at the start) but it's hardly best practice either.

I can't imagine there are too many refs who have never played the game - or by never played, do you mean never played as an adult?


Incidentally, every club in Offaly is supposed to supply one referee - what are the sanctions/rewards for this rule, does anyone know?

[Over The Black Spot]

Another thing about getting ex players is that they tend to be at or around 40 yeas of age (by definition if they are finished with playing) and by the time they learn the ropes and feel confident in charge of a match, they're already at the stage where they are starting to slow down. Refereeing top level hurling is no easy job at the best of times, much less if you are 50 and not able to cover the ground quickly or enough. (I'm well aware that there are referees in Offaly a little guilty of this, with one in particular I have in mind never stays more than 20m from where he throws in the ball at the start) but it's hardly best practice either.

I can't imagine there are too many refs who have never played the game - or by never played, do you mean never played as an adult?

Incidentally, every club in Offaly is supposed to supply one referee - what are the sanctions/rewards for this rule, does anyone know?

I wouldn't see age be a major problem, many refs keep right on top of the play & still can't tell what's going on. I can't see why we couldn't get a good 20 years out of a fella from 35 (when their winding down on a career) up to 55 (when the eye is still in & they can still get around pretty well).

By refs who have not played the game, I mean fellas who have never played at adult level or played it as a first sport. I play a bit of junior football but wouldn't dream of taking the whistle for a game but it doesn't seem to stop fellas being appointed to referee senior hurling championship.

Regarding each club supplying a referee, I'm not sure of the sanctions but most of the hurling clubs bar 2 or 3 supply refs off the top of my head.

ps - I have a list of the refs who officiate at senior hurling level & my opinions on them but it's not fair to put that kind of thing up here (even if they are paid).