Whistle of the Month - August 2010
Our first Whistle of the Month as chosen by editor Aaron Dine for the 2010-11 season was the article below written by Portsmouth Assessor Co-ordinator Ashleigh Potter which outlines in detail some changes for this season regarding assessments and promotion - a must read for all promotion candidates!
Assessing changes for this season
Since last season the FA have introduced some changes to assessing and promotion that affect level 5, 6 and 7 referees. The key points are as follows:
- For referees aiming for promotion from level 5 to level 4 the average required mark is now increased from 70 to 75.
- Administration can now be taken into account in promotions.
- Level 7 referees must do twenty 11 v 11 games before applying for promotion.
So, what does this mean? Well promotion from level 5 to level 4 is now more difficult because of the higher average mark. However, the FA have not always taken all promotion candidates in the past who achieved an average of between 70 and 75, so in practice there may be little change in the amount of referees getting promoted.
The requirement to get 15 games on Hampshire Premier League and/or Wessex Combination remains and the changes to the Wessex Combination will mean more evening midweek games which will increase assessing opportunities for 5-4 promotion candidates.
With regards administration and reliability, both myself and the local appointments secretaries are invited to feedback details of any promotion candidates whose administration is poor to Hampshire FA. Typical examples of poor administration/reliability would be:
- Failure to close dates
- Changing availability at the last minute (for non-injury/illness reasons)
- Failure to acknowledge appointments
- Non attendance at an appointed game
- Lateness of disciplinary report submission
So there is now more emphasis on what promotion candidates do off the field to go along with what they do on the field. Please make sure you don’t get caught out by your administration.
For level 7 referees the point at which you could apply for promotion to level 6 was having completed 1 full year as a level 7. This has now been changed, so the time limit no longer applies and is replaced by the requirement to have refereed twenty 11 v 11 matches. On this basis around eight 7-6 promotion candidates for this season could not have applied for promotion as they have come straight from youth football. In future promotion applicants will almost certainly have to be refereeing adult football already.
In my view this will make things harder, as the first year in adult football is when a referee would benefit most from the support of being assessed and at present there are not enough assessors to do the advisory assessments that would be required.
On a final note may I inform everyone that one of our Saturday stalwart assessors, Ken Hoad, has decided to retire from assessing. Ken has played a part in the promotion and development of many referees over the years and has been very helpful in my two years as the role of assessor coordinator. I hope all promotion candidates past and present will join me in thanking Ken for his contribution to local football.
If you are interested in contributing to the magazine then please send your articles to the Magazine Editor, Aaron Dine: ajd77@cantab.net