Referees Newsletter - Last update - 22nd November 2011
General notices:
Closed dates 2011/12 – New email address
We have now set up a new email address for closed dates within the CFA. Please send all closed dates to the new address at closeddates@sheffieldfa.com
Please also close the dates with all relevant competitions you officiate on.
Charge of contact details 2011/12
If you have a change of contact details could you please send these to Julie Brookes by email julie.brookes@sheffieldfa.com
Social networking sites
Social networking websites have now become a part of everyday life and are accessed by many people from all walks of life. It is an individual’s right to use such sites as they wish, within the bounds of legal acceptability.
However, as match officials, there is a responsibility to conduct one’s self in a professional manner, both on and off the field of play. Inappropriate use of these sites may leave a match official open to criticism, comment or ridicule, even if the matter is of a personal nature. Inappropriate comments regarding refereeing issues or other issues on such sites which could bring football, referees or S&HFA into disrepute may make it necessary for S&HFA to take action against the match official in question.
Please therefore think carefully before posting on such sites. The FA would not wish you to jeopardise your position as a match official by making inappropriate or ill founded social comment or use of such sites.
The latest information and updates from Sheffield & Hallamshire FA are available from:
www.facebook.com/shcfa
www.twitter.com/shcfa
Referees changing rooms – Incidents of theft
There has been a large increase of club changing rooms being broken into and items being stolen during games. These also include some of the better facilities in the area.
Please do not take valuables into the changing rooms with you. Items like money, credit cards and mobile phones should be left in your car. Car keys should be handed to someone at the venue if possible. Please report all matters of theft to the police as soon as possible.
Referees suspended
The S&HFA have just suspended a referee for 4 months with a £100 fine for assault on a member of the public whilst at a game. Another referee has been suspended for an attack on his Assistant Referee during the half time break and we have also had to charge a referee with allowing racist comment to be made during a game without taking the appropriate action. This is the third time a referee has been suspended this season.
It has always been a misconception amongst clubs and some referees that Sheffield & Hallamshire FA does not sanction referees in the same way as some players are punished for misdemeanours. This is not true!
As a referee you are under the same rules and regulations as clubs, players and coaching staff and you will be dealt with accordingly by the discipline department. Let this be a warning that referees can not do exactly what they want.
Similarly, it is a standard FA regulation that a referee must be charged if he makes an incorrect decision on points of fact. For example if you were to dismiss a goalkeeper for abusive language whilst the ball is in play and he was positioned in his own penalty area, the game would be restarted by an indirect free kick, not a penalty kick. If instances on these points of fact occur, it has serious repercussions for both yourself and the actual game, even the possibility of the game having to be replayed. Therefore you are strongly advised to keep up to date on the finer points of law.
Referees Complimented
The following officials were complimented by a club/Referee for their performances during October – Wayne Escreet (Rotherham), Andy Forrest and Chris Fuller Sheffield).
Sheffield & Hallamshire FA cup dates – December rounds
- Rosehill Press Association Challenge Cup - Saturday 10th December
- Junior Challenge Cup – Saturday 10th December
- Taylor&Emmet Sunday Senior & Junior Challenge Cup Competitions - Sunday 18th December
Referees kit:
It has come to light that some referees have been wearing coloured referees jersey’s in local leagues. Under any circumstances this is not permitted. Other than in the Football League and Premier League, referees must under FA Guidelines wear all black. If a team is wearing a black or very dark blue kit you as referee must not change and you must report this to the competition.
Retention:
Re- registration tickets 2011/12
Our 5 professional clubs are once again supporting the retention ticket scheme. If you registered prior to 1st June and told us your preferred club you will be sent your tickets two weeks before the allocated game. We will inform you of other games and the postal dates on future issues of referee’s news.
Barnsley v Crystal Palace on Tuesday 29th November 2011
Postal date 15th November
Rotherham United v Accrington Stanley on Tuesday 14th February 2012
Postal date 31st January
Sheffield Wednesday v Bury on Tuesday 6th March 2012
Postal date 21st January
Doncaster Rovers v Blackpool – Tuesday 14th February 2012
Postal date – 31st January 2012.
Sheffield & Hallamshire FA cannot be held responsible for tickets lost in the post.
If you would like to collect the tickets please contact Julie Brookes one week prior to the postal date.
Fitness:
Fitness Training
Andy Hogg will be continuing fitness training throughout the season. Sessions are held on Thursday evenings at either Woodburn Road Stadium or Don Valley Stadium from 6pm.
All referees and levels are welcome. Please contact Andy Hogg or Craig Grundy for further information.
The S&HCFA would like to thank Andy Hogg, Dave Benton and Brian Coddington for their sessions throughout the summer.
There really is no excuse not to pass a fitness test
Training and Development:
Referees Development Programme (RDP)
35 referees attended the Sheffield United v MK Dons game on Tuesday 25th October. The members of the group were there to watch how the officials went about their work.
Letters for the November session have been sent to members. If you would like to join the group please contact Craig Grundy at craig.grundy@sheffieldfa.com
S&HCFA Tutor Training
All Sheffield & Hallamshire FA tutors need to attend continuation training events. These events are compulsory. Please contact Laura Woolcock from The FA to organise a seminar to attend.
Dates are as follows:
Sunday 15th January 2012 – Lancashire FA Headquarters
Sunday 19th February 2012 – Hampshire FA Headquarters
Sunday 11th March 2012 – The Village Hotel, Coventry
S&HFA Assessors Course
An assessor’s course has been arranged for Sunday 18th March 2012 at the HSBC ground in Sheffield. This is a full day course and lunch will be provided. If you would like to book the course please contact Craig Grundy at craig.grundy@sheffieldfa.com.
FA Referees Examiners meeting
A meeting is planned for our Referees Examiners for December.
S&HFA Referees Committee Meeting
The meeting will be held on Monday 12th December at IceSheffield commencing at 6pm.
RAFA:
Sheffield & Hallamshire FA RAFA Event
The annual event was held on Monday 10th October 2011. 80 referees from all districts attended and had a really good night. Steve Stewart did a session on “Have your Say” which gave referees a chance to voice their opinions. This was followed by Jon Moss, Premier League Referee on how to manage difficult situations.
RA Subscriptions
If you have not yet paid your annual fees for this season please contact your local RA as soon as possible.
Sheffield & Hallamshire FA County Cup Sponsorship & partner news:
JustOneStanding – new sponsors of the Senior Challenge Cup
JustOneStanding is a new football-based prediction game which aims to throw a much-needed lifeline to local clubs struggling to meet the ever-increasing running costs.
The brainchild of former Sheffield & Hallamshire FA Senior Challenge Cup referee Jock Waugh and former player and club administrator Alan Strawford, JustOneStanding pledges to reinvest 30% of stakes back into grassroots football.
With JustOneStanding each player places a £10 stake and bets on a series of games from one of the domestic leagues. Players with incorrect predictions are knocked-out until there is JustOneStanding, who will scoop a £5,000 jackpot. Players nominate a club to represent and JustOneStanding then sends out money to them.
So, the more players a club can get to represent them- the more money the club will receive.
JustOneStanding are also committed to helping clubs and organisations develop and realise more long-term ambitions, such as buying new kit or building changing rooms. They welcome applications from good causes struggling to obtain funding.
www.justonestanding.com
Taylor&Emmet LLP
Sheffield based solicitors are into the second season of sponsoring the Sunday Senior & Junior Challenge Cup competitions. They would like to offer all associates of S&HCFA a 10% Discount on a wide range of legal services.
To take advantage of this offer please visit www.tayloremmet.co.uk/offers using the following promotional code 48965.
SoccerScene Magazine
The latest issue of the magazine is available to read online http://free.yudu.com/item/details/403248/SoccerScene-Magazine---Issue-2---September-2011
We take a look at the future of youth football, introduce the FA’s new disciplinary system for the 2011/2012 season and bring you all the action from last season’s cup final and awards ceremonies.
Physio Mark Roe talks to us about ankle ligament injuries, Doncaster Deaf College coach John Nugent talks is the focus of the grassroots workforce feature and S&HCFA historian Chris Eyre goes in search of the County FA’s lost trophies
RAF CHARITY -"Taking football to Africa and beyond”
Brian Jones, the Chairman of the Sheffield & Hallamshire FA is working with the RAF to donate kits and clothing to children in deprived areas of Africa. All S&HFA staff and some clubs have already kindly donated unused kit to the scheme. If any referees have any spare referees’ kit, training tops, jackets that you would like to donate please contact me at craig.grundy@sheffieldfa.com and we will even collect it.
For more details please see latest edition of SoccerScene magazine. Click here to read the latest issue http://free.yudu.com/item/details/403248/SoccerScene-Magazine---Issue-2---September-2011
Referees Kit & Equipment – www.SoccerSceneStore.com
Official Sheffield & Hallamshire FA Errea Referees Kit and equipment is now available to purchase from www.soccerscenestore.com
Referees can purchase this range of products at a special rate with an additional percentage being donated back to Sheffield & Hallamshire FA to support the development and training of referees.