Referee Association - - #KEEPCALMANDMANAGE 2016

Amazing Weekend put on by the hard working RA-FA Council members. 

Registering on Saturday morning at the Hinckley Island Hotel, I was quite early, but gradually as more and more referee's arrived, I saw familiar faces. That's the thing with the referee world, you might not see someone for a year, but when you greet each other you carry on a conversation as though it's been 5 minutes. 

Once we were registered and had said our hello's, it was off to the practical training sessions. These are sessions that are too good to miss, with the benefits of 'Premiership Referee's', knowledge, and the professional coaches that have given up their valuable time. We were put through real scenario's, and given great feedback on our work. It was a full on couple of hours, complete with fitness tests. 

We then went back to the Hotel to go into syndicate rooms, Again fantastic presentations, handy hints, great knowledge about how to deal with certain situations It's great being able to listen to people at the top of their game talk on a level with you about the business that you want to go into. It's great to see that they are just like you, and it gives you the inspiration to get to the top of your game and become a premiership referee. 

In the evening we had a dinner night, along with a topical quiz. It gave me the chance to dress up, and enjoy socialising with the other course attendee's as well as the top Ref;s. It was a late night (as if you hadn't guessed), but absolutely brilliant. Next day, a good training session allowed us to clear our heads and keep on with the learning. 

This is a weekend for any referee wanting to climb the promotion ladder, any referee with hopes to get to the top. It's Networking at it's best, learning with the best, fitness training, brain teasers and comradeship all rolled into one. 

Make sure you book onto it next year - it's so worth it.See the video of the event on Vimeo below. RA FA - Keep calm and Manage (see if you can spot me - I'n in it for all of 5 seconds)

https://vimeo.com/175206052

Football - Back to Basics

Football - The Multi-Billion pound industry, where the players are the pinnacle of success. With companies from team bus transport, to catering. From betting companies to PR. Where one shot of Beckham can make a pair of socks sell out by the next day.

Where tactics are everything, losing that amazing natural football grit and determination. Where betting companies can employ statisticians who can invariably work out who will score next, who will win the match. Where we have lost that awe of sheer talent - I'm not saying that the top Guy's aren't talented, but once your in those top teams, they literally train that talent out of you, so you will play those set moves.

Where you initially loved Football, lived for football, breathed football. Where every day when you got home from school you ran upstairs to change into football kit and went playing on the field till it was too dark to see the ball. When the excitement of grabbing your scarf and setting off to the match was incredible.

How much fun to throw your jumpers on the ground to mark the goal posts, to have 30 of you from school, scouts, youth club playing on the pitch at the same time. 15 a-side, with no referee, yet no trouble at all - just team work and laughter. No set time each way, in fact probably not swapping sides at all. Playing on a sandy beach, playing in a clearing in the woods, playing on a hillside, with holes in the ground that could swallow your foot - yet no one broke their ankle!!!

I saw this video the other day. There's nothing like nature to remind you of what football IS about - and it's not those billions of pounds???

No matter how high up the football pyramid you go, No matter how many millions you make - NEVER lose sight of what made you love the sport in the first place x

IT'S HERE - Let the season begin

Well that summer went quick???

On Saturday I was back at Nottingham Forest in the morning, refereeing the under 16's team against Fulham. Great match, although Forest had the edge. It was a beautiful day, and when we got there it was obvious from the car-park that the 1st Team were in - one day I will get one of those Range Rovers!!!!!. They were playing at home against Burton, with a kick-off of 3pm, but at 11am, they were out training next to my pitch. At half time for my match the pressure was on, when they finished training but decided to watch my match for around 20 minutes. I reckon I did ok, my Mum was sat with some of the 1st team that were playing that afternoon, and she heard them saying 'She did well' - As I was the only female on the pitch, I'll take that one.

On Sunday it was my first match of the season with Radcliffe. Gorgeous day again, if not slightly too warm. We played Coventry and we played really well. Considering we had only started training two weeks before, we really played as a team. I hit the bar twice before rocketing the ball past the keeper and into the net - I'm almost glad that she didn't get behind it, cos it would have really hurt. 

Hitting the bar again!!!!

It was great to be back to normal again, and I felt great on the pitch. 

Birthday Weekend

Well I just had a great weekend - Again!!! My birthday weekend.

I wouldn't say that people know me well, but here are three of my birthday cards

I was so lucky that I even got a pair of 'New Balance' trainers from the referee's that I was doing the tournament with, and a visit from them all in the evening when I went to town with my mates. What a night, so many fantastic friends met up with me, and we were out all night just dancing and laughing.

One of my best mates is a fantastic Artist, and she drew me the most amazing picture of my dog 'Horlicks' with his paw on a football, how clever. and thoughtful.

I had a busy weekend. I went out with my family walking around a local beauty spot - Carsington Water, and having a lovely lunch at their restaurant.

We also went over to Manchester to meet with my Nana and Grandad. Another passion of my families is Speedway and it was the 'World Cup' at Belle Vue.  It was a great night with Great Britain coming 2nd to Poland in an exciting evening of racing. A friend of my Mum's is the Great Britain Manager, so it was nice for Mum to have a chat with him as she hadn't seen him for a while.

Sunday was also a special day as we all went to watch my Brother in a parade. I was so proud of him, and he looked great. He has worked really hard, and the hard work is paying off.

Anyway, it's great that my birthday is out of the football season, so I can really let my hair down. One week to go now and bring on the new season. I'm brushing up on the rule changes this week, so I'm on top of my game.