Match Day Kit.
This document follows on from a presentation given at an open meeting last September and is aimed at our newer members, people who are new(ish) to refereeing.
This is the second of three; Match Prep 1 - Preparations Prior To Match Day
Match Prep 2 - Match Day Kit
Match Prep 3 - Match Day
Most of this is based on my experience together with my conversations with other match officials. There is no right and wrong here, just good practice and what you are comfortable with.
So, Match Day Kit.
You have your appointment, the game is confirmed, you know the when and where, but is your kitbag ready?
Kit bags and their contents are a personal thing, Each referee will carry slightly different stuff in their bag but there will be a lot of commonality.
The basics will be obvious…
· Match Shirt(s), I would recommend taking two or three of different colours.
· Match Short.
· Match Socks.
· Base layers or thermals, especially useful on freezing January afternoons.
· Track suit top and bottom and possibly a hat, especially mid-winter.
· Boots, always useful!
· Whistle x 2.
· Watch x 2.
· Scorecard and wallet.
· Short pencils x 2 or more.
· Coin for the toss.
· Sanction cards.
· TJ Flags
· Shower kit and towel.
· No.1s for afterwards.
· ICE Information, just in case.
Other things that I used to carry…
· Spare laces.
· Spare studs and stud spanner.
· A pencil sharpener.
· Vaseline.
· Vicks vapour rub.
· Rehydration tablets.
· Asthma inhaler.
· Plasters.
· Strapping.
· Drinks.
· Spare whistle.
· Spare coin.
· Spare pencils.
· Spare score cards.
· Spare sanction cards.
· A small note pad.
· Bottle opener (essential for any kit bag).
At games I would carry a small waterproof bag pitch side which contained my half times drinks (don’t rely on clubs to provide anything other than water), my spare whistle, spare pencils and a scorecard (my card once disintegrated during a heavy downpour), spare sanction cards and my inhaler.
I would always wear two watches. One would run the stop-start match time and the other total elapse time (always useful if you forget to restart you match watch).
I would usually travel changed with my no.1s in my bag. If you do this remember to pack your undies!
The pencil seems a simple enough thing, but they can be tricky. The lead can easily break, so always carry a spare in your shorts, with extras in your bag. I came across one inexperienced referee who ran around with a full-length pencil in his hand. Don’t do this, it is dangerous to both you and the players. Always use short pencils that will easily fit in your pocket.
What people carry in their bags will vary from person to person and possibly from match to match (a hot early or late season game will vary from a freezing mid-winter game). So decide what you need and have everything ready the night before the game.
You are ready to go.
Good Luck
Timothy Wilcox
30 July 2024