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About the Society
Welcome to the Stockton and District Referees Association website and very warm welcome to the world of football refereeing. The Stockton and District Referees Association was formed in 1921 and is affliated to the Durham County FA. There is in our ranks, a wealth of knowledge and experience with referees at various levels of the game and we can assure that any advice you need in terms of refereeing can be obtained here.
The Stockton and District Referees Association meet on a monthly basis with the Agenda including news from both a national and regional level. The meetings are designed for everyone to socialise and are held on the 4th Monday in every month (except June and July) at Billingham Town FC, Bedford Terrace, Billingham commencing at 7.30pm prompt. Members and non-members are very welcome.
Society News
Updated - 02/06/09
Stocktons RA's next meeting will be held on the 24th August 2009 at Billingham Town FC. The meeting will start at 7.30pm prompt. All members and guests are very welcome.
Stockton RA are pleased to announce the Referee of the Year 2008/09 is:
Mel Hobson
In August 2008 Mel was promoted to a level 4 Referee. He enjoyed his first season officiating as a Referee in the Wearside League and as an Assistant Referee in the Contributory Leagues. Mel also took over the reigns as Treasurer of the Stockton RA and with his enthusiasm and hard work put the branch's financial affairs on a steady footing. Mel is a keen supporter of the RA and is the Society’s DCSRA representative. He has officiated over 100 matches last season and was rewarded with a North Riding Cup Final. WELL DONE Mel on a fantastic season.
Stockton RA’s Young Referee of the Year 2008/09 is:
Thomas Hodgson
This promising young referee enjoyed his first full season officiating as a Referee in Stockton Sunday League and the TJFA Leagues, as well as officiating as an Assistant Referee in the Wearside League and Teesside League. He has been rewarded with taking charge in the middle of the SSL League Cup Final and as Assistant Referee in the prestigious Shipowners Cup Final. Tom has attended most meetings last season and is one of a growing crop of youngsters to be attracted to join our branch. Their input and contribution is a welcomed breath of fresh air to the Society’s meetings. WELL DONE Tom on a fantastic first full season.
The winner of the George Mitchell Quiz 2008/09 is:
Ian Ellis
Ian successfully took part in the highly contested Referees Quiz, compiled and hosted by Tim Smith. The Quiz is held at every meeting over the season and question range from currant affairs, true or false, miscellaneous and Laws of the Game. Congratulations Ian on being this seasons Top Dog.
Durham County Referees Association
Annual County Dinner Sunderland Referees Association takes great pleasure in announcing it will host this year’s Annual County Dinner. They have managed to secure excellent entertainment in the form of the superb internationally recognised comedian Brendan Healey, ably supported by exceptional female vocalist Hayley Morrison. This will take place at Nissan Sports and Social Club on Saturday 24th October 2009 starting at 7:00pm. Tickets are priced at £22.00 anyone wishing to attend contact Tom Tyerman. Posters of the event are available to download *Here*
Ladies & Gents,
Just a quick reminder about that fitness sessions that take place each Tuesday & Fridays up to North Riding County HQ starting at 5.45pm until around 7pm,
Over the past few weeks we have averaged around 10-15 per session and are hoping that more will join us,
We have both Male & Females attending, people from 14 up to 65 years of age attending, Football League match officials attending up to and including new referees
We run 2 groups, so those who are less able than others go into one group and the fitter referees go in another group,
All the training is fun and a great laugh, we always fit in a game off football and other fun and games,
We also do the serious training, sessions such as:
· Speed
· Speed Endurance
· HI Sessions
· Sprint & Recovery Work
As you will see it is all appropriate to the training that is required on match days,
Matthew Dicicco sets up the sessions and we keep record of each individual’s progress over the weeks,
Changing & showering facilities are available each week from 5.15pm,
We start at 5.45pm Prompt,
Please make every effort to come along this Friday and there after and support the sessions and keep yourself in shape!!!
Contact me or Matthew for further info and pass on the word!!!
I look forward to seeing you,
Best Wishes,
Ross Joyce
Referee Development Officer
North Riding County Football Association Limited.
Broughton Road, Stokesley. Middlesbrough. TS9 5NY.
T 01642 717778 F 01642 717776
M 07986579621
ross.joyce@northridingfa.com
www.northridingfa.com
Company Registration Number 4233259
News from around the world
| Referee Howard used to the frontline - 04 June 2009 |
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FA Cup final referee Howard Webb believes the perils of frontline policing have helped him cope with the pressure of refereeing big football matches.
Webb, who is on a five-year sabbatical from South Yorkshire police, has been at the point of guns and knives in his day job. So much for a bit of lip from petulant players.
Although dealing with armed assailants might not be part of a referee's armoury, Howard has a keen sense of perspective.
"Some of the skills you learn from day-to-day policing are really relevant to refereeing," says Howard, who achieved the ideal balance of full control and a low profile during Chelsea's 2-1 win over Everton at Wembley.
"One similarity is that you are dealing with heated situations and trying to get people to see things your way.
"I've had knives pulled on me and firearms, too. That's the sort of danger any policeman can face, not just me. On one occasion, our armed response team got to the scene quickly and suddenly the guy with the weapon had a police rifle aimed at his chest.
"It's so important to stay calm and think clearly. That's been invaluable to me. It's no coincidence that quite a few policemen have become referees.
"Most of my 15 years service has been in uniform, the last eight as a sergeant. I like the cut and thrust of that sort of police work rather than being in an office. It's all frontline stuff."
That's also why Webb, far from being cowed by player confrontation and other flare-ups on the field, has had to curb an instinct to under-react.
"Maybe I would under-assess things at one stage of my career," he said. "I would think 'oh, that's nothing compared to what I get on the streets.'
"But you have got to think of the image of the game and make sure you deal with behaviour when it goes out of line."
Webb believes the FA's Respect campaign has been a step in the right direction. He added: "I refereed 35 Premier League games last season and the attitude of players towards me was excellent in the main |
| International Respect - 06 June 2009 |
Following the impact of The FA’s Respect campaign over the course of last season, English referee Howard Webb has spoken of how he feels the campaign has spread far and wide in the football world after experience as an official travelling to take charge of games overseas.
Both UEFA and FIFA followed The FA by introducing their own campaigns to promote a healthy respect between players and officials and Webb believes that has improved things further.
Currently in South Africa preparing for the Confederations Cup, Webb is a regular official on the international scene and in European competitions and feels that refrerees are often looked at with a different attitude abroad.
“I think overseas, in my experience, the referee is given a higher status,” he revealed.
“That’s my impression, as an Englishman going to the continent to referee a game.
“How their own referees are treated in the various domestic leagues, I can’t really comment, but speaking to other referees on the continent, I am aware that they have similar problems in terms of player behaviour.
“The media can be quite hostile in many parts of Europe too, more so than ours, and I know that they have issues with respect not being shown as well, so we aren’t unique at all.”
Webb officiated in last summer’s European Championship and is hoping to be selected for next year’s World Cup in South Africa, when FIFA are looking to promote their own ‘Respect’ campaign on a world stage.
“It’s probably similar across the world and I know that UEFA and FIFA are very strong in pushing the Respect issues out as well,” added Webb.
“That was something that was highlighted heavily to us before and during the European Championship in Austria and Switzerland last summer.
“The message about protecting the image of the game was really given to us in the strongest terms and the UEFA referees committee wanted us to deal with confrontation, simulation, dissent and the showing of imaginary cards in the strongest way and they are the things on which they want us to clamp down heavily.” |
| 'Getting the big decisions right' - 09 June 2009 |
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The FA recently hosted its Young Referees Conference in Daventry.
249 referees aged between 18 and 25 attended The FA’s latest Young Referees Conference which concerned itself with the development of refereeing skill.
Throughout the weekend-long conference the key theme was ‘Getting the big decisions right’ and the young people present were privy to presentations and demonstrations from some key personnel with the refereeing and FA fraternity.
Gary Lewin, Physiotherapist for the England Senior Team, spoke about the need for referees to look after themselves both physically and mentally as well as providing nutritional advice and information on the management of injured players.
Participants were taken through the fundamentals of the Offside Law before Steve Swallow, a Regional Referees Manager, concentrated on how to cope with the demands of the modern game.
Other aspects covered over the weekend were teamwork, achieving promotion, lining techniques and how to deal with simulation. The FA’s Respect programme was also discussed in depth.
Despite the focus on refereeing theory, practical sessions were very well received, particularly given the pleasant weather conditions in Daventry, and fitness and positioning were the major focal points. David Elleray focused on ‘Vital judgements in the penalty area’ advising referees to remain alert, concentrate and ensure their decision is correct.
On a similar note, the conference was concluded by Select Group referees Stuart Atwell and Howard Webb, who shared their experiences with the conference and offered advice on ‘Getting the big decisions right’, telling the referees to manage each situation by staying calm, being strong and taking control.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding weekend and The FA Referees Department would like to thank all the attendees and guests present for ensuring the conference was such a great success. | |
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