Down Club Hurling & Football

[Truth hurts]

I see a number of matches were not played last night due to the lack of referees.

[Square Ball]

I see a number of matches were not played last night due to the lack of referees.

Who would be a referee tbh give the level of abuse they get, need thick skin, but we can't play the game without them. What's the solution?

[johnnycool]

I see a number of matches were not played last night due to the lack of referees.

Who would be a referee tbh give the level of abuse they get, need thick skin, but we can't play the game without them. What's the solution?

In Antrim if you don't have a registered referee at adult level you lose adult home fixtures until you do.

This has happened us in the past and I think our neighbours have lost a few home games over it this year.

[manwithnoplan]

I see a number of matches were not played last night due to the lack of referees.

Under 14 games? How many were not played?

[thewobbler]

There's a dearth of referees no doubt. It would seem there's only 5-6 left on the Newry area juvenile football circuit. f**k knows how we'd survive if losing 1-2 more.

But Wednesdays present the biggest obstacle I'd think. U14 boys and girls football are on the same slot, an age group when middle sized clubs like ours have the numbers to run 2 teams, and all the bigger clubs are running As and Bs (and even Cs).

[Truth hurts]

There's a dearth of referees no doubt. It would seem there's only 5-6 left on the Newry area juvenile football circuit. f**k knows how we'd survive if losing 1-2 more.

But Wednesdays present the biggest obstacle I'd think. U14 boys and girls football are on the same slot, an age group when middle sized clubs like ours have the numbers to run 2 teams, and all the bigger clubs are running As and Bs (and even Cs).

That's not great planning by the fixtures committee.

[clonian]

There's a dearth of referees no doubt. It would seem there's only 5-6 left on the Newry area juvenile football circuit. f**k knows how we'd survive if losing 1-2 more.

But Wednesdays present the biggest obstacle I'd think. U14 boys and girls football are on the same slot, an age group when middle sized clubs like ours have the numbers to run 2 teams, and all the bigger clubs are running As and Bs (and even Cs).

That's not great planning by the fixtures committee.

Both moved U14s to Wednesday too. Last year was lads U16s (less teams) and U12 girls with no appointed refs.

[Truth hurts]

There's a dearth of referees no doubt. It would seem there's only 5-6 left on the Newry area juvenile football circuit. f**k knows how we'd survive if losing 1-2 more.

But Wednesdays present the biggest obstacle I'd think. U14 boys and girls football are on the same slot, an age group when middle sized clubs like ours have the numbers to run 2 teams, and all the bigger clubs are running As and Bs (and even Cs).

That's not great planning by the fixtures committee.

Both moved U14s to Wednesday too. Last year was lads U16s (less teams) and U12 girls with no appointed refs.

Was this not noticed prior to the start of the season?

[manwithnoplan]

There's a dearth of referees no doubt. It would seem there's only 5-6 left on the Newry area juvenile football circuit. f**k knows how we'd survive if losing 1-2 more.

But Wednesdays present the biggest obstacle I'd think. U14 boys and girls football are on the same slot, an age group when middle sized clubs like ours have the numbers to run 2 teams, and all the bigger clubs are running As and Bs (and even Cs).

That's not great planning by the fixtures committee.

Both moved U14s to Wednesday too. Last year was lads U16s (less teams) and U12 girls with no appointed refs.

Was this not noticed prior to the start of the season?

It obviously was, but there are very few nights in the week to play games, and with juveniles often playing two age groups, mentors taking two teams quite often, senior players also helping teams while training and playing themselves, there will always be some nights that leave resources stretched.

[Minus15]

Ladies game nights were changed this year, with Mondays and Wednesdays now having both male and female matches needing referees.

The Saturday evening for ladies football is no more, with that slot being criminally underutilised.

The motivation for change seemed to be largely around accommodation of clubs that offered camogie, but did little to consider clubs with one pitch. A series of mad proposals which got voted through.

It was fine the way it was.

[manwithnoplan]

Ladies game nights were changed this year, with Mondays and Wednesdays now having both male and female matches needing referees.

The Saturday evening for ladies football is no more, with that slot being criminally underutilised.

The motivation for change seemed to be largely around accommodation of clubs that offered camogie, but did little to consider clubs with one pitch. A series of mad proposals which got voted through.

It was fine the way it was.

Ladies footballers generally seem happier to play on Thursday nights as opposed to Saturdays. Given the age profiles of many ladies teams, that is understandable. Maybe one of the juvenile leagues could use that slot instead. Though there will be times that it clashes with other sports played by many underage players. In terms of making fixtures there isn't a huge amount that can be done. It is simply down to a lack of referees.

[johnnycool]

Ladies game nights were changed this year, with Mondays and Wednesdays now having both male and female matches needing referees.

The Saturday evening for ladies football is no more, with that slot being criminally underutilised.

The motivation for change seemed to be largely around accommodation of clubs that offered camogie, but did little to consider clubs with one pitch. A series of mad proposals which got voted through.

It was fine the way it was.

Ladies footballers generally seem happier to play on Thursday nights as opposed to Saturdays. Given the age profiles of many ladies teams, that is understandable. Maybe one of the juvenile leagues could use that slot instead. Though there will be times that it clashes with other sports played by many underage players. In terms of making fixtures there isn't a huge amount that can be done. It is simply down to a lack of referees.

Down LGFA and Down Camogie got together over the winter and devised a fixture schedule which was devised to allow girls to play both codes and not be pulled from pillar to post, this is a knock on effect.

[Truth hurts]

Ladies game nights were changed this year, with Mondays and Wednesdays now having both male and female matches needing referees.

The Saturday evening for ladies football is no more, with that slot being criminally underutilised.

The motivation for change seemed to be largely around accommodation of clubs that offered camogie, but did little to consider clubs with one pitch. A series of mad proposals which got voted through.

It was fine the way it was.

Ladies footballers generally seem happier to play on Thursday nights as opposed to Saturdays. Given the age profiles of many ladies teams, that is understandable. Maybe one of the juvenile leagues could use that slot instead. Though there will be times that it clashes with other sports played by many underage players. In terms of making fixtures there isn't a huge amount that can be done. It is simply down to a lack of referees.

Down LGFA and Down Camogie got together over the winter and devised a fixture schedule which was devised to allow girls to play both codes and not be pulled from pillar to post, this is a knock on effect.

What do you mean by the knock on effect?

[johnnycool]

Ladies game nights were changed this year, with Mondays and Wednesdays now having both male and female matches needing referees.

The Saturday evening for ladies football is no more, with that slot being criminally underutilised.

The motivation for change seemed to be largely around accommodation of clubs that offered camogie, but did little to consider clubs with one pitch. A series of mad proposals which got voted through.

It was fine the way it was.

Ladies footballers generally seem happier to play on Thursday nights as opposed to Saturdays. Given the age profiles of many ladies teams, that is understandable. Maybe one of the juvenile leagues could use that slot instead. Though there will be times that it clashes with other sports played by many underage players. In terms of making fixtures there isn't a huge amount that can be done. It is simply down to a lack of referees.

Down LGFA and Down Camogie got together over the winter and devised a fixture schedule which was devised to allow girls to play both codes and not be pulled from pillar to post, this is a knock on effect.

What do you mean by the knock on effect?

LGFA out the same night as juvenile football stretching the referees pool.

I'm not so sure it was "fine the way it was" previously either. There were more and more clashes between LGFA and camogie than enough throughout the year over fixtures.

[manwithnoplan]

Are the stand tickets sold out for next Saturday's game? Or am I not using the Ticketmaster site correctly....