Preparations Prior To Match Day.
This document follows on from a presentation given at an open meeting last September and is aimed at our newer members, people who are new(ish) to refereeing.
This is the first of three; Match Prep 1 - Preparations Prior To Match Day
Match Prep 2 - Match Day Kit
Match Prep 3 - Match Day
Most of this is based on my experience together with my conversations with other match officials. There is no right and wrong here, just good practice and what you are comfortable with.
So, Preparations Prior To Match Day
If you do no other preparations what so ever, make sure you know the when and where and don’t be late. Having said that most people do a little bit more.
You should receive your appointment to a game at least a week before the game. However, sometime things go awry; games are cancelled, gamed are added late, other refs pulling out and a thousand other excuses, so you may get appointed any time up to and including the day of the match. The appointments team will do their best to give people as much notice as possible.
You should accept, or decline, any appointments as soon as possible. Once accepted, the home club will be advised of your appointment and must contact you directly (phone, text or email) not later than Friday morning (for Saturday games) or 24 hours ahead (for other days). If they do not contact you, do not travel. Let the appointments team know that you have not been contacted and leave it to them.
Once you know the appointment I would try and find out as much as I could about the match.
My first action is usually to try and get some context on the game…
Is it an adult or an age-grade game? Is it men’s or women’s?
is it a league game, merit table game, a cup game or a friendly?
What level is the game?
Where and when is the game to be played?
Adult games, male or female, are straightforward. You should know what is expected and what laws apply. Age grade games need thinking about. What age is involved? What law variations need to be used? Remember, you need a DBS to referee age grade. If you don’t have one you must decline the game and tell the appointments team
League games tend to matter a lot to the clubs. It will usually be the Clubs 1st XV and will reflect the prestige of the club. Check the league tables and see how the two sides are doing. If it is later in the season, you can see how they did in their first meeting. How did they do against mutual opposition. League position is not always an indicator, and you may get an extremely competitive game from teams at the opposite ends of a league.
Merit tables games tend to be a little more relaxed, but teams will still want to win. They will usually be 2ndand 3rd XVs. Again check the merit tables and see how they are doing.
Cup games are there to be won. Clubs want to progress as far as possible, especially if the final means a day out at HQ. Games will often be between teams from different leagues but of a similar level. Are there any specific cup regulations you should know about? If you are doing a cup game, you may well be part of a team-of-three. Make sure you liaise with the rest of the team.
Friendlies are usually played when there are no league or cup commitments. Teams will want to win for pride and for bragging rights. Sides may be a mix of 1st, 2nd and 3rd team players. Sides may rest players, especially if they have niggling injuries, or try new combinations. You may get players playing down the sides. As a result play may well be less cohesive.
In all cases, is the game a local derby? Is there any “history” between the two sides?
Don’t take any preconceptions into a game with you but be armed with all the information.
What level is the game? Your approach to a level 6 league game will be different to that for a level 10 friendly. Think about how you are going to approach the game and how strictly you are going to handle certain situations. Remember skill levels vary; what a player does accidently at level 10, may well be deliberate at level 6.
What are the team colours? Visit the respective club websites and try to determine the playing colours. Is there any clash? What colour are you going to wear so that you don’t clash. When you get the game confirmation from the home club, ask what the colours are for both teams. If there is a potential clash point this out and remind them that it is the home teams’ responsibility to have a alternate kit available. If you arrive to find that there is still a clash, you will need to find a way to deal with it.
Where and when is the game to be played? The game will usually be played at the home club’s ground, but not always. When you get the game confirmation make sure they confirm the venue and the kick-off time. Is it a grass pitch or an artificial surface? Check how to get to the club and how long it will take to get there. This is especially important if you are on an exchange game as it is unlikely that you will have been there before. Check the route even if it is one you have travelled many times, there may be road works or road closures. Route finders and satnavs are wonderful things, but not always to be relied on. Make sure you know and agree the kick-off time. What is given on the appointment may be wrong or the time may the changed, you don’t want to be late. Changes are common when Internationals are on the telly.
If you are handling an age grade game or a game with players of a different sex to your own, make sure that you know what the changing room arrangements are. If you are part of a team-of-three, do you need segregated facilities? It is the responsibility of the home club to provide suitable changing and showering facilities for match officials, but this is not always possible, especially at clubs with older buildings. You may need to travel already changed and you may not get a shower afterwards.
If the clubs and teams are known to you, then all these preparations are so much easier.
So, match confirmed, context sorted, colours sorted, time and place sorted.
Get your kit bag sorted and then you can sit back and relax.
Good Luck
Timothy Wilcox
29 July 2024