Refs actually get paid squat to ref in comparison to other sports, most do it for less than minimum wage.

Also if u dont like the ref standard then become a ref urself and show what u can do better or keep being a whinger in the bottom levels of knox domestic.

Also a hint making the ref angry isnt going to make the ref give u better calls during the game......when will people learn??

During the big junior tournaments in vic it is good to see VJBL send officials to review the performance of refs, often filming games.
It is a real pleasure to see good performances by refs. Perhaps more of us should go out of our way to compliment them when this happens.

Actually - as a follow up - to those interested in ref matters. To what extent is there support for refs - particularly experienced refs - to provide educative advice to junior players? Say on the sidelines, or during breaks?

Do people think there is virtue in refs picking up good practice from a different ref tradition, in rugby, where the ref will voice his/her concerns as the play unfolds eg "watch the reach ins" or screens that turn into shepherding.

I believe in AFL, that the umps will brief the coaches on what they are looking for; or how they will interpret a particular rule.

My sense is that junior players are often not coached properly; and genuinely wonder why they cop the fouls they do. Bewilderment leads to frustration and aggression.

Enjoyed refereeing with one of the city's top lawyers. He use to joke that he was losing around $300 an hour doing league men games.

@Red84,

Regarding this: 'I believe in AFL, that the umps will brief the coaches on what they are looking for; or how they will interpret a particular rule.'

'My sense is that junior players are often not coached properly; and genuinely wonder why they cop the fouls they do. Bewilderment leads to frustration and aggression.'

I have quite often questioned those who manage the officials about their point of emphasis, as a coach it is good I believe to be on the same page as often as possible.

I do however find that while coaches can get frustrated with their players at times, it is always easier to coach kids on court when the officials are also on board with the coaches and call the continued contact, especially at the young junior age level.

Hard to coach young kids when they are all hands in, no room to move or dribble, being pushed off the ball and such contact is just ignored, so while I agree with you on this point I would just like to point out that when coaches and officials can get on the same page it really helps everyone.

Junior refs should be "coaching" all players in how to follow the rules, and thanking players for their displays of good sportsmanship (such as calling the ball out if they touch it last).

I've reffed basketball, Aussie rules and soccer (soccer very badly btw). I’ve always reffed that way. Communication is key. In basketball, I’ve sometimes called a violation out of bounds, when minor contact by defensive player leads to ball going out off offensive player. Only if the contact wasn’t enough to warrant a foul, but did disadvantage the offensive team. I have been questioned about this, but gave the defensive coach the option of Changing the call to a foul.

In Aussie Rules, I’ve reffed Auskick games at half time in AFL games. In Auskick in my area, trying to mark with 2 hands (ie practicing a skill young kids need to learn) is supposed to be rewarded with a mark being paid. As kids get older, we just expect them to get closer to a real mark to pay it. At the AFL half time games, I monitored to see which kids hadn’t had a kick. Towards the game’s end, I tried to pay a free kick to the kids who haven’t had a touch. Parents want to take their kids to play at the Gabba, Metricon or even the MCG, to have their 6m 7 or 8 year olds be able to say they had a kick. Denying a young kid an experience like that is wrong.

In junior sport, we’re not playing for sheep stations. We’re here for kids to have a good time with their mates and develop skills, teamwork and sportsmanship. Everything else is secondary until you get to around 15 or so. Then the kids know who’s good and should have developed the maturity to handle not being “the winner”. Perhaps parents need to learn this too. They should be modelling respect for the people who are in authority and make their games possible.

Sample (across 60 games) of my rep league shows that on average fouls for the home teams are 11.05 per game versus away team 11.5 per game. No discernible difference at all. One centre had 4 fouls per game less for the home team which suggested some favouritism, but when I looked at the average for that team playing away it was about the same. None of this is statistically sound b/c the sample for each centre was only 5 or 6, but was nonetheless pleasing to see. Would be interested to know if VJBL had run the stats across the rep leagues to identify any anomalies that should be looked at further ...

Each time I see this topic title I think it's the name of a new outreach program for referees.

we should start a discussion around the refs who have left Knox and the reasons why.I have it on very good authority from a parent of an ex referee of a competition held among current referees to see who can evict the most number of people from a stadium on a weekly basis - Domestic competition.
Twin brothers are very active in this area and keep all progress in a book for reference.