The recent spate of wet weather is as frustrating for referees as it is for players, parents and administrators. There are several things we as referees need to do to fulfil our duties as referees.

Firstly, the first point of contact for information on ground closures if the FFNC website. Here you should find information pertaining to ground closures, openings, or venue changes. As a second reference point, our own referees website often has current information pertaining to ground closures. If you cannot be sure after referring to these two sites, then please then contact the releveant club just to be sure. All club contact details are available on our web site, and most clubs offer several points of contact.

The referees appointment mobile phone (0434 856992) should only be contacted as a last point of contact for ground closures. This phone is manned by a volunteer who is also a referee (currently Brian Zakaras), so there is a fair chance he may also be on the field refereeing as well.

We are very aware of the large number of catch up games that are to be rescheduled as a result of the wet weather, so if you can please ensure your availability is accurate, that will help us get officials to as many games as possible.

The new appointments system has had only a few hiccups in recent weeks, which is unfortunate, but it happens. The appointments panel are trying their best to get everyone as many games as possible around individual circumstances, but you must understand this is not always easy. Human error can occur – it is not deliberate. As a few more features of the new appointments program are activated, the amount of these errors will be reduced.

We still have instances of members not fulfilling their responsibility in relation to changing availability by SUNDAY night, either making themselves unavailable on Monday or Tuesday, or not ensuring they are available and wondering why they have not been given games. I reinforce the word responsible – we are RESPONSIBLE referees.

If you are having difficulties with the web based appointments system, please call me personally at home and I will endeavour to assist you.

Thanks

Darren Butcher on behalf of Appointments Panel

Posted on Sunday, June 28th, 2009 at 7:42 am and is filed under Announcements. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.