williams is the master class in mediocre

[dibo]

I think there's too little competition among the top refs, leading to very few truly outstanding refs. This goes all the way down to the grassroots, where people get discouraged from refereeing because when they make mistakes they get absolutely flogged by players, coaches, parents, etc., and because from top to bottom, the referee advancement process is 'sticky' - refs who are past it stay on too long and block out good up and comers.

 

[Capn Gus Bloodbeard]

Personally, I think the problems with refereeing come all the way to grassroots. I've sat in on too many fantastic assessments given after shocking performances (or had assessments which don't come close to reflecting what happened) to have much faith that the right referees are the ones getting promoted.

these days there seem to be a few more referees in the HAL - in the first few seasons Breeze, Shield and Williams had the vast majority of games. There's a bit more variation now.

I know a few years back the NYL was seen as the development ground for up-and-coming HAL referees (capped at 25 years old). I don't know if it's still being used like this, but I think NYL is too far away from HAL in terms of refereeing difficulty and player attitudes. It's been a year or two since I've seen a NYL match, but I always thought a CCF AA4 or O35A match was harder to control than NYL by the looks of it. But I think there are big problems with the assessing and training right from the start. That, and simply who they're looking for - from bits and pieces I've heard from HAL assessors in years gone by, it suggested that personality (arrogant enough to force their own personality upon the game) was often more important than skill - and some of the basic errors in law knowledge I've seen from some top tier referees when I've refereed with them locally has reinforced that. But I guess that ties into the underlying philosophy that refereeing at higher levels is more about 'managing' the game (whatever that means) than refereeing it. If you get a decision wrong but you've got the charisma to get away with anything with a wink and a smile, then who cares, right? And then there's the various ways assessors have been abusing their power at the HAL level.....

For what it's worth, things seem even more broken when it comes to Futsal refereeing.


I think the AR's have largely gotten better though.

Pathways have improved thought. Central Coast used to be a dead end, unless you could be bothered going into Sydney to referee every weekend. These days that's not so necessary, although the sheer abuse and aggression on the coast at all levels could be driving more away (last time I refereed there was in 2010, but that was after about 2-3 years in Melbourne, and I couldn't believe how bad the abuse, aggression and general disrespect had gotten in that time). At least on the coast most games have at least 1 AR, which is good for referee development.

 

[Rowdy]

Sounds like more money is needed to be spent on Development.

'You get what you pay for' comes to mind.

Likewise, Peanuts = Monkeys.

Certainly been quite a few banana-skins spotted around the grounds this season already.

 

[Capn Gus Bloodbeard]

Looks like Gillett gave Williams a run for his money last night ;-)

 

[true believer]

gillett is William's love child

 

[dibo]

Williams (dob 1977) got on the job at 9 then, because Gillett was born in 1986.

Precocious little f**ker.

 

[true believer]

Williams school days

 

[MagpieMariner]

Never saw the movie but I read the book. Thoroughly enjoyable.

 

[true believer]

Williams was woeful again .both sides
Should have got clear penalties.
The mcgown pen was probably close to a red card foul.
He is pure shite

 

[Wombat]

He was at it again on the weekend. Gave a penalty to Nix when their striker fell over his own leg while butchering a shot.