Welcome to the latest edition of the email newsletter for York City & District Referees’ Association.
The next meeting is on Thursday 4 April2013, at York Health Service Club, Haxby Road, York.
The contents this month are as follows:

REFormation – Professor Howard Webb
Meetings – York RA 4 April 2013 (Barry Sygmuta)
RA Matters – Lol Cussons event on 15 March 2013
International Issues – 11 match ban

REFormation

Top Premier League referees receive University of Gloucestershire qualifications Howard Webb donned his mortar board and gown and joined seven of his select group refereeing colleagues at the Park Campus in Cheltenham yesterday. They were there to be awarded with Postgraduate Certificate in Personal and Professional Development after completing a year’s study at the university. For the past two years, Professional Game Match Officials Limited joined forces with the university to provide a course to help develop the best referees in the country. On 14 January 2013 Howard was joined by other top officials Stuart Attwell, Kevin Friend, Mike Jones, Andre Marriner, Jonathan Moss, Neil Swarbrick and Anthony Taylor, at a ceremony to receive their certificates. For Howard, a referee who officiated at the 2010 Champions League and World Cup final, it was a chance to reflect on a job well done. “This qualification through the University of Gloucestershire and our employers is aimed to look at our futures, beyond refereeing,” he said. “What it does as far as I am concerned is it looks at accrediting all the years of expertise that we’ve built up during our years as match officials. “It gives us the opportunity to go forward into careers post-refereeing with a view to showing a future employer what we’ve learned on and off the field of play. “And it’s been great to have the support of the University of Gloucestershire and our employers in giving us this chance.” Howard was an active and serving sargeant with South Yorkshire Police before taking a five-year sabbatical to commit to full-time refereeing. And while he is still pondering whether to go back into policing once his career at the top in football is over, he says that the course has broadened his outlook. At the age of 41, he still has five years on the Fifa international list and as many as ten in the Premier League. Not that it stops him from looking at a career beyond football. “You do have to make sacrifices to be able to perform at the highest level in the Premier League and internationally and professionally speaking it’s the best years of your life,” he said. “Because of that, for me it was a really good opportunity for me to invest in my future and I will further invest both this year and next as well to Masters level and utilise it beyond my refereeing career. “I am keeping my options open. The five-year sabbatical I am on with South Yorkshire Police comes to an end in April and I will look to go back and work with them on a part-time basis from then. If I can be of use as an individual and as a police officer because of what I have done as a referee then that could only be a good thing. I am also hopeful of doing something within the sport of football. “It’s a game I love and I have built up a large range of contacts within the game both domestically and internationally, and I wouldn’t rule out a role in an other sport in an administrative role. “There are lots of doors ajar currently, hopefully this course and the university have helped me to decide which door to go through when my active football career comes to an end.” St George’s Park Premier League Competition Congratulations to Jonny Ham, Brandon Bishop and Glynn Ellwood who are to represent the NRCFA at this competition on 26-28 April 2013 held at The FA complex near Burton-upon-Trent. GLT FIFA update Two GLT systems have been licensed for worldwide use by FIFA, football’s world governing body. The approval means that Hawkeye and GoalRef can now provide their products to leagues and competitions. “This milestone means that the companies now have authorisation to install their technology systems worldwide” said a FIFA spokesman. GLT is due to be used for the first time in December at the FIFA Club World Cup. But both systems will still need to pass one final hurdle before they can be used in that competition, where Champions League winners Chelsea have been given a bye to the semi-finals. “Once a system has been installed in a stadium, the system undergoes a final inspection to check its functionality” said the spokesman for FIFA. “This is carried out by an independent test institute, and the results of this so-called ‘final installation test’ must be successful. “Only a positive final installation test qualifies a system to be used in official matches.” GLT was adopted into football’s rule-book in July this year by the game’s law-makers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB). The FA and the Premier League are keen to use the technology as soon as possible. Alex Horne, the FA’s general secretary, raised the possibility of the Premier League introducing goal-line technology as early as January 2013 following IFAB’s decision over the summer. However, a delay in the licensing process and the length of time needed to install and then gain final approval for all 20 Premier League stadiums has resulted, BBC Sport understands, in implementation now being targeted towards the start of the 2013-14 season. GoalRef and Hawkeye are currently installing their systems in Yokohama and Toyota City in Japan ahead of the Club World Cup which starts in early December. How does Hawk-Eye work? Hawk-Eye’s system works by using six cameras, focusing on each goal, to track the ball on the pitch. The system’s software then uses “triangulation” to pinpoint the exact location of the ball. If it crosses the goal-line an encrypted radio signal is sent to the referee’s wristwatch to indicate a goal has been scored. In line with FIFA’s requirements, the whole process takes less than a second to complete. How does GoalRef work? GoalRef uses a microchip implanted in the ball and the use of low magnetic waves around the goal. The system then detects any change in the magnetic field on or behind the goal-line to determine if a goal has been scored. The process takes less than one second, with the result electronically relayed to the referee. FA Referees’ Courses The format has changed and a Practical Referees’ Course was held at York College in September 2012. Ths was a great success with 11 newly qualified referees. The practical format is over 5 modules – but mentored games are still required. The exams have also changed for the better. The first workshop is an introductory session, following work the candidate has done with pre-study pack information (effectvely learning the basic laws prior to the course) After the course (with emphasis on practical refereeing and application of the laws) the candidate becomes a level 9 referee and has to complete a minimum of 6 11-a-side games They then return for a newly qualified referee’s workshop. Once this has been attended then they become a qualified referee (level 7/8). The lastcourse at York was in February 2013 at York College – Mod 1 (6 Feb), Course (10 & 17 Feb.) and Safeguarding Children (13 Feb.) – all 19 passed and became new Level 9 referees. “RESPECT” Campaign The aims are four-fold. Firstly we want more people involved in the game – players, coaches, spectators, administrators and, critically, referees. Secondly we want better coaches, more skilful players, especially children. Thirdly we want to make it easier to organise the game locally. And fourthly we want to raise standards of behaviour and address abusive behaviour. And as a parent and lover of the game this goal is especially close to my heart. The York Leeper Hare (now Minster Engineering) League is one of 40 Leagues pioneering he FA Charter Standard Programme for 2008-09 season. This will include the “Respect” initiative. This started on 3 January 2009. North Riding Womens FL has also recently joined the scheme.

RA Matters

Lol Cusson Presentation EveningThis was held at St Clements WMC on Friday 15 March 2013. This included live entertainment and food.hosted by the Cussons family. The annual award was made to Graham Bradbury.
York RA Membership Membership for 2012-2013 (£22 / £11 for under 18 / £15 for over 75)…..is due from 1 April….Membership is currently 65. This is down on last season at this time. Remember you are not covered for insurance if you are not a paid up member.

New Referees Another practical course is to be held in York in Aug/Sept 2013. Contact NRCFA if you are interested in doing a course in the future (01642 717778).

International Issues

11 Match Ban Galatasaray winger Engin Baytar has been banned for 11 matches for pushing a referee during their Super Cup win over Fenerbahce. The midfielder, who has made three international appearances for Turkey, was sent from the field for shoving Euro 2012 referee Cuneyt Cakir after his decision to award a controversial equaliser to Fenerbahce in the 65th minute of the match. Brazil W Cup Refs Mark Clattenburg and Howard Webb are among a group of 52 referees from around the globe in line for a place at 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Joining the pair of the full 156-strong open list of prospective referees and assistant referees for the 2014 FIFA World Cup are Stephen Child, Simon Beck, Mike Mullarkey and Darren Cann. Sheffield Rules A handwritten pamphlet from 1858 on the rules of club football is to be put up for sale by Sheffield FC the world’s oldest football club, formed in 1857. The document is believed to be one of the earliest instructions on the sport, and will be auctioned as part of an archive belonging to the club and is expected to fetch up to £1.2m when auctioned in July. The archive is being taken to Paris, New York and Doha before auction. “It reflects the fact that football is now truly a global game,” said Gabriel Heaton, senior specialist in Sotheby’s books department. ‘No hacking or tripping’ The pamphlet introduces laws of the game that still exist, such as the indirect free kick, the corner kick and the use of a crossbar. Another rule states: “Pushing with the hands is allowed but no hacking or tripping is fair under any circumstances whatsoever.” Dr Heaton said although the game was already being played in private schools and Cambridge university, under a variety of different rules, the Sheffield document introduced innovations and removed the game from the elite educational establishment for the first time. Sheffield FC chairman Richard Tims said the decision to sell the archive was a “tough” one, but had been taken to secure the club’s future, the FT reported. Mr Tims said the decision to sell the archive was sparked by the sale at Sotheby’s New York last December of an 1891 document spelling out the rules of basketball for $4.3m, more than double its pre-sale estimate. “If you are looking for a piece of footballing history, this is the ultimate prize,” he said. Postscript: The world’s oldest football rulebook, belonging to the first ever club Sheffield FC, has been sold at auction for £881,250. The handwritten pamphlet from 1857 is thought to be one of the earliest instructions on the sport and was sold as part of an archive of the club. It was sold to an anonymous bidder at auctioneer Sotheby’s which described it as an important historical document. Sheffield FC auctioned off the rulebook to raise money for the club. The pamphlet introduces laws of the game that still exist, such as the indirect free kick, the corner kick and the use of a crossbar. Another rule states: “Pushing with the hands is allowed but no hacking or tripping is fair under any circumstances whatsoever.” FIFA 2012 List (England) The full 2012 list is as follows – new additions Michael Oliver, Sarah Garratt and Jane Sims : Referees: Martin Atkinson, Stuart Attwell, Mark Clattenburg, Mike Dean, André Marriner, Michael Oliver, Lee Probert, Howard Webb, Sarah Garratt, Sasa Ihringova, Amy Fearn plus Marc Birkett and Gavind Sartain (Futsal). Assistant Referees: Simon Beck, Stuart Burt, Darren Cann, Steven Child, Jake Collin, Peter Kirkup, Simon Long, Dave Richardson, Mike Mullarkey, Adam Watts, Jane Sims, Natalie Aspinall, Lisa Rachid and Sian Massey.