REFEREES are used to issuing cards – but a variation on the theme has produced some very encouraging results for the Save the Ref campaign.
This season, a Referees Report Card has been introduced in all the adult leagues in Huddersfield with the aim of getting valuable feedback from officials and clubs.
The initiative has been fully supported by the Huddersfield FA, the Referees Association and the leagues and, because of adverse weather in December and January, is now set to continue for another couple of months.
David Bolger, the recruitment and retention officer for Huddersfield Referees Association, explained the extension was to help create a full and clear picture of the relationships between referees, clubs, spectators and club officials.
This will enable further decisions to be made on the Save the Ref campaign in the hope of building on the successes achieved since it was launched by the Examiner and the Huddersfield football organisations and leagues back in 2008.
“The Save the Ref campaign looks to have had a big influence on the number of qualified referees officiating on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings,” explained Mr Bolger. “The number of games staffed on a Saturday afternoon is up from 34% to 57% and on Sundays, most weeks we are up from 40% to 100%.
“Maybe we have some distance to go before we can be satisfied that the trend has been totally reversed and that’s why, following the success of Save the Ref last season, a new initiative was required for 2009-10.
“This was implemented with the Referees Report Card being used by all qualified officials for a trial period of three months in the adult leagues.”
Mr Bolger explained how it all works and what the early results indicate.
“The card has been designed as a ‘tick box’ report with space for comments to enable referees to record what actually happened at their match,” he said. “Early feedback from the report cards is very positive with referees comments such as: the game was a pleasure to referee; both clubs a credit to the game and their league; well received by club officials; good attitude from players and spectators; match played in a good sporting spirit; an enjoyable game; good contact by club two days before game (and finally) as it should be, a pleasant all-round experience.
“As can be seen from these comments, the state of the game in Huddersfield is a lot healthier than some people perceive it to be. It seems we have only heard of the bad comments previously. Within the confines of the Report Card, there are far more clubs attracting good comments from referees than not so good.
“Referees are highlighting where clubs are operating in a fair and proper manner, and displaying that they themselves recognise there are positives that will attract more ex-players to take up the whistle.”
