Refereeing a football match might not be everyone’s idea of a fun way to spend a Saturday morning, but it can actually be a really rewarding experience and a good chance to get a bit of exercise too. Not only that, without someone putting their hand up for the role, game day would be total chaos!
No matter what level you play at, you need someone in the middle to make the tough calls and keep everything fair. The referee can have a huge impact on the game, and they need to know when to blow for a foul and when a quiet word is the way to go.
At Raglan Junior Football Club, each team needs to have someone to pick up the whistle and the rule book and give it a go. This season, that means thirty-two refs are needed across the whole club.
There’s a clear pathway for referees in New Zealand, just like for players and coaches. You can start by reffing for your kid’s team on a Saturday and, if you’re keen, you could go on to get a FIFA badge and referee international matches. Peter O’Leary from Waikato is a great example – he refereed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Don’t worry about making mistakes; New Zealand Football provides referee education that helps you learn and get better at making good decisions. It might be nerve wracking officiating your first game but once you get into it, you’ll find that it’s the best place to watch the game!
To learn more about what it’s like to be a referee, meet Olly David, our newest and youngest official. Olly stepped up to be the whistle blower for his little sister’s team, the Jellyfish. We asked Olly a few questions about the experience
Did the players listen to you?
Everyone except my sister
What’s the hardest thing about being a referee?
Being stressed about making the right calls and if the supporters have a go at me
What do you enjoy about being a referee?
The responsibility feels good, and it’s just really interesting in general
If you could make up one rule, what would it be?
A mercy rule where if a team is five-nil down, you can relax the offside rule for them
Think you could follow in Olly’s footsteps and become a ref for Raglan Junior Football Club?
Email the club at info@raglanfootball.nz or take a look at the resources on the Waibop website :
