The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Serious pressure
of new referees over the last two years saw 80 people attend the Foundation Course but now just six of those people have stayed refereeing.
“Some people will say that the age profile was maybe too young but the clubs are the people sending the people to us. We don’t mind what age they are but maybe we should look at the age profile going forward,” he added.
“One of the reasons for fall off is abuse by some mentors - and I stress some some parents and supporters. They other is they are not getting enough games. Only the clubs can sort that out. Ye can start with the first one, abuse by mentors. If some fellas is acting the maggot and roaring abuse cut it out because if there’s fines and sanctions it’s the club that’s going to suffer. So get rid of them, one way or the other. It has to stop, otherwise we will have no referees.
“The second one, not getting appointments, in the Coise na nÓg the way it is set up it’s the club that appoints the referee, so if you’re giving your senior referee in the club the games we’d ask that you give the under-12 and under-14 games to the new fella coming in. And to give them a bit of support and encouragement. And we’d ask people on social media and that side of things to lay off the abuse.
“If we sit down and do nothing we will be in a worse state next year because we are going to lose a few more. If you are not going forward you’re staying still and by staying still you’re going backwards.
Referee tutor Maurice O’Sullivan said: “We’re heading in a crisis direction. The age profile of the referees we have is obviously increasing and also the number of people staying on as referees is decreasing. A number of years ago we had ten more referees than we have today yet we have many more games today.
“I think it’s very important that every club would have a referee because the players, the mentors, parents could empathise with the situation of the referee. A referee can be a great asset to team mentors by showing them the rules.
“I think players and mentors would be a lot more tolerant of the efforts of the referee if each club did provide a referee and they could identify with that person as someone doing their best for them.”