Referee Safety
By RH
We as Referee’s are all aware of our responsibility for player safety , Law 4 states: “A player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to themselves or another player.”, add to this, on match days we have to continually be alert to player injuries, from falls and cuts to more serious injuries such as broken bones. Then there is the most serious of injuries, how many times throughout a season do you hear “Ref !, head injury”. Now, I am certainly not a trained Brain Surgeon, nor can I diagnose bleeding, blood clots or a build-up of fluid on the brain, for some reason the FA first aid course does not cover this subject, nor do I have any surgical knowledge, my view is if a “head injury” is declared then the player should immediately attend hospital for a professional medical examination. Usually however, the player who has suffered a “head injury” will get up and continue playing, a miracle recovery indeed.
So player safety is our top priority but where do we find Referee safety ?
I am at an age where unfortunately my body has decided it needs a little help to operate at maximum performance and requires a daily, although small intake of drugs, these drugs, if mixed with other medicine’s could have a detrimental effect on my health and therefore I carry a medical card so should I be taken ill the medical services will know which drugs can, and cannot be given, I also carry this card in my notebook while Refereeing.
Approximately 6 months ago I contacted the Kent FA suggesting a Referee’s safety should be just as important as player safety and they (the referee) should consider carrying with them medical emergency details so if taken ill during a game there is information which can be passed on to the appropriate services, unfortunately, the Kent FA have neither acknowledged my e mail or responded.
Even though not approved by the Kent FA perhaps Referee's should consider carrying this information.
So, back to player safety, I have recently purchased a book, “a simple guide to open brain surgery” and once studied I will be looking forward to administering my new found skills the next time I hear the words “Ref !, head injury”
By RH
We as Referee’s are all aware of our responsibility for player safety , Law 4 states: “A player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to themselves or another player.”, add to this, on match days we have to continually be alert to player injuries, from falls and cuts to more serious injuries such as broken bones. Then there is the most serious of injuries, how many times throughout a season do you hear “Ref !, head injury”. Now, I am certainly not a trained Brain Surgeon, nor can I diagnose bleeding, blood clots or a build-up of fluid on the brain, for some reason the FA first aid course does not cover this subject, nor do I have any surgical knowledge, my view is if a “head injury” is declared then the player should immediately attend hospital for a professional medical examination. Usually however, the player who has suffered a “head injury” will get up and continue playing, a miracle recovery indeed.
So player safety is our top priority but where do we find Referee safety ?
I am at an age where unfortunately my body has decided it needs a little help to operate at maximum performance and requires a daily, although small intake of drugs, these drugs, if mixed with other medicine’s could have a detrimental effect on my health and therefore I carry a medical card so should I be taken ill the medical services will know which drugs can, and cannot be given, I also carry this card in my notebook while Refereeing.
Approximately 6 months ago I contacted the Kent FA suggesting a Referee’s safety should be just as important as player safety and they (the referee) should consider carrying with them medical emergency details so if taken ill during a game there is information which can be passed on to the appropriate services, unfortunately, the Kent FA have neither acknowledged my e mail or responded.
Even though not approved by the Kent FA perhaps Referee's should consider carrying this information.
So, back to player safety, I have recently purchased a book, “a simple guide to open brain surgery” and once studied I will be looking forward to administering my new found skills the next time I hear the words “Ref !, head injury”
Association Football and the Armed Forces, by Ivor Groves, November 2014
At a very meaning Full time when we commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of World War I, traditionally when those who gave their lives between 1914 – 1918 and World War II, 1939 – 1945, making the ultimate sacrifice in service of the British and Allied Forces, it is important to reflect the very real situations relevant to the present day, as men and women continue to serve in conflicts such as Afghanistan, Iraq and other regions around the world.
Association Football clubs play a very important part in fundraising for the Royal British Legion and it’s welfare work, with many Match Day collections raising a huge amount from Professional and Amateur clubs around Britain each year, many clubs wearing special shirts to support the Poppy Appeal during the lead up to the Remembrance week.
Each year, the army, the navy, and the Royal Air force compete in inter service competition rivalry, the Army Cup was first introduced in 1889, the Armed Forces have been very instrumental in taking football around the world.
In 1872, the Royal Engineers Regiment based at Chatham, Kent, contested the first football Association Cup final, being defeated one- nil by Wanderers Football Club. Ten years later, the navy introduced football to Korea.
Munitions workers formed a football club known as Dial Square in 1886, later becoming known as Royal Arsenal and then as Woolwich Arsenal, the move from Woolwich to North London ensuring the rest is history as the club became the leg Legendary Arsenal FC.
The famous 1914 Christmas truce football match took place between the Allied Forces and the German troops in “no man’s land” at the Somme. In 1915, an England XI played the Rest of the World at Rubleben POW camp in Germany, many footballers having their careers cruelly cut short during conflicts.
The 1915 FA Cup Final was known as the “Khaki Cup Final” as Chelsea and Sheffield United played out a match watched by thousands of soldiers in the crowd.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club were top of the Scottish league at the start of World War I, but many of their players volunteered to do their duty by joining the 16th Royal Scots Regiment, sadly seven players lost their lives and the club marks their loss in Edinburgh very year on Remembrance Day.
Ten players from Leyton Orient FC, then known as Clapham Orient, served in the 17th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment.
Preston North End’s Deepdale ground was used as a prisoner of war camp during the Second World War.
Football continues to play a part in Forces life in the modem era, 3000 footballs were given to children in Afghanistan in 2006 as a “token of peace” by the third Para Regiment.
Ivor Robert Groves
November 2014
Association Football clubs play a very important part in fundraising for the Royal British Legion and it’s welfare work, with many Match Day collections raising a huge amount from Professional and Amateur clubs around Britain each year, many clubs wearing special shirts to support the Poppy Appeal during the lead up to the Remembrance week.
Each year, the army, the navy, and the Royal Air force compete in inter service competition rivalry, the Army Cup was first introduced in 1889, the Armed Forces have been very instrumental in taking football around the world.
In 1872, the Royal Engineers Regiment based at Chatham, Kent, contested the first football Association Cup final, being defeated one- nil by Wanderers Football Club. Ten years later, the navy introduced football to Korea.
Munitions workers formed a football club known as Dial Square in 1886, later becoming known as Royal Arsenal and then as Woolwich Arsenal, the move from Woolwich to North London ensuring the rest is history as the club became the leg Legendary Arsenal FC.
The famous 1914 Christmas truce football match took place between the Allied Forces and the German troops in “no man’s land” at the Somme. In 1915, an England XI played the Rest of the World at Rubleben POW camp in Germany, many footballers having their careers cruelly cut short during conflicts.
The 1915 FA Cup Final was known as the “Khaki Cup Final” as Chelsea and Sheffield United played out a match watched by thousands of soldiers in the crowd.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club were top of the Scottish league at the start of World War I, but many of their players volunteered to do their duty by joining the 16th Royal Scots Regiment, sadly seven players lost their lives and the club marks their loss in Edinburgh very year on Remembrance Day.
Ten players from Leyton Orient FC, then known as Clapham Orient, served in the 17th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment.
Preston North End’s Deepdale ground was used as a prisoner of war camp during the Second World War.
Football continues to play a part in Forces life in the modem era, 3000 footballs were given to children in Afghanistan in 2006 as a “token of peace” by the third Para Regiment.
Ivor Robert Groves
November 2014
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to the fullest extent such liability can be excluded by law. The material contained in this website is provided for general information purposes. All images and contents on this site are copyright and must not be copied or reproduced without permission. These website pages may contain technical inaccuracies and typographical errors. (c) Ashford (Kent) & Weald Referees' Association 2013 - 2019. Site created and maintained by R Howlett - [email protected]