Set Refs A University Challenge

Aug 24 2008 Gordon Waddell

They Must Graduate With Honours

MANAGERS v refs meeting at Hampden last week.

Adebate aboutwhether or not full-time whistling is a good idea is in full swing. And one of the SPL bosses throws them a quiz question, I'm told.

Which of the men in black could name the SPL team who, at attacking set-pieces, use an ingenious yet illegal blocking manoeuvre by their centre-halves at the back post to free up space for their runners?

Blank looks all round. And a blank look from me on hearing the poser too, to be fair.

But this was something spotted by the manager in question as he was going over tapes of a rival's games.

And it's as compelling an argument as I've heard for refs to dedicate more time to the game. To make it their job not their hobby.

Because if a manager can spot consistent foul play going unpunished why can't a ref?

And the answer is: they're human. They don't have the time.

I never used to buy the full-time ref thing because I didn't see how spending more time on the game would actually improve the decision-making process.

Sure, you would be fitter but your judgment of right and wrong is what matters, right? Whether you practise it day and night, or make a snap call, right is still right and wrong is still wrong.

I also never used to think you'd be able to persuade the good guys to give up good jobs elsewhere. Most make more dough than they would with a whistle between their teeth.

And you wouldn't get them to do it. Not a chance.

But if you make it their career from the get-go? Different story.

So let's be radical about it.

You can go to university and earn a degree in retail floristry. Apparently.

Or one in astrobiology, the search for life beyond earth. A three-year course.

You can study wine-making, comedic writing, turf management, gambling.

Hell, someone once even told me you got a degree to become a lawyer. I'm not sure I believed them, though.

So why don't we do a degree in refereeing?

They want to be treated like professionals. So let'smake it a profession. Avocation. Let's give them a proper career path, a solid foundation.

And take away the excuses.

A grade one ref at the moment, if he's in a full-time job, does at least a game a week.

Then there's maybe two nights' physical work for 90 minutes at a time - as well as attending local group meetings and national get-togethers.

If you're one of the top bananas you maybe do a UEFA game and the odd international.

So when refs DO get spare time what do you think they're going to do with it?

Lock themselves in the study with the DVDs of that week's SPL matches and a notebook?

Or reacquaint themselves with the missus and the kids, eat a meal at the table with them, take them to the movies?

Match officials are entitled to a life but having that life means they leave themselves no time to analyse, to learn - just to keep up.

But let's take people coming out of school. Let's get the guys who aren't making it as young pros, kids who get turfed out of the system at 18.

Give them incentives. A college or university course would allow them to learn the game from the roots up, analyse the life out of it. It would open the door across the classes.

And once they graduate? OK, they don't start right at the top. Which graduate does?

They should come into their profession on a low pay scale then work their way up.

But if they're full-time they learn more and learn quicker.

They can do more games, take time attending training sessions with teams, speak to coaches, managers and players.

Our referees can be coached in what to look for in matches - like the example they were given at Hampden.

It evens out the patronising idea that if you've never played the game at a certain level you don't understand it.

And if we're talking about being paid up to a grand a game once they get to the top of the business - and they can get through a 40-game season - then it's a healthy living. A job worth aspiring to.