A Day In the Life

I do a light training session which includes a series of high speed sprints at my local football ground which prepares me for my game tomorrow. All my training programmes are supplied by our Sports Scientist Matt Weston and are done using a Polar Heart Monitor.

 

After a light lunch and some rest I wave goodbye to the family and set off to join my colleagues at a Hotel in the city where the game is going to take place.

 

I meet up with my two Assistant Referees and the Fourth Official who on this occasion is one of my colleagues on the Select Group list of Referees.

It’s Pasta for dinner and an exchange of experiences in football which often involves discussing incidents that have taken place in the mid week games, It’s then early to bed in order to get sufficient rest in all part of my preparation.

 

We all take breakfast together and follow our nutrition guidelines which mean avoiding the traditional bacon and eggs in favour of high fibre and fruit.

 

I meet up with my team over a cup of tea and discuss my pre-match instructions preparing us for the game ahead.

 

The people carrier picks us up from the hotel for the thirty minute drive to the ground.

 

We are met at the ground by the clubs Referee liaison officer who is tasked to look after us until our departure after the game. Most clubs use former Referees to carry out these duties.  

I open my kit bag and hang up my kit with my fourth official checking that the clubs electronic scoreboard is put on charge.

 

I will take a walk onto the pitch to have a look at the playing surface and to check the nets, corner flags and that the Technical Area conforms to law.

 

I meet up with the Match Assessor who is a former referee and tasked with looking carefully at my performance. He will at the end of the game carry out a de-brief usually highlighting incidents and decisions that have been made by the team of officials during the course of the game.

I now start to check the buzzer flags, the communication system and start to put on my kit.

I am joined at this time by the Match Delegate appointed by the Premier League. The delegate a former player or manager is tasked to monitor my performance and to carry out a de-brief at the conclusion of the game.

He then over the period of three days after the game discusses the performance of the match officials with both managers before issuing a detailed report and award of a mark.

 

A Security briefing meeting takes place at this time with the Stadium Manager and Police Commander.

 

The exchange of team sheets with the Managers takes place and at this time we check the names of the subs. I am satisfied that the team colours do not clash reminding the managers to be in the tunnel six minutes before kick off.

 

I am now on the pitch with my colleagues going through the warm up plan to ensure that all the appropriate muscles are stretched and the heart rate lifted.

 

I ring the bell to signal for the players to enter the tunnel area with my assistants checking the player’s studs and ensuring no jewellery id being worn.

 

A glance at the Television floor manager who with a thumbs up gives me the okay to blow the whistle and start the game

 

Having showered I now listen intently to the de-briefs and the various points highlighted.

 

Thirty minutes after the final whistle the Managers can now enter the dressing room to seek clarification on any of my decisions.

Having negotiated at what at times could be a minefield of questions we are now ready for the drive back to the hotel and home.

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