The IFAB are meeting on 2 July 2012 in Kiev to analyse the results and hopefully make a decision.
AGMHeld on 10 May 2012 -
Glynn Elwood and Sam Bayley voted onto Committee (replacing Toiny Kennedy and Mike Parkes).
New Life MemberAt the AGM
David King was voted as a new Life Member of the Association. Honoured to say the least.
FA Cup Final RefereeCongratualtions to
Phil Dowd was been apoointed to referee the final on 5 May at Wembley between Chelsea and Liverpool. The 49-year-old was assisted by Stuart Burt (Northamptonshire FA) and Andrew Garratt (Staffordshire FA) along with Fourth Official Michael Jones (Cheshire FA) and reserve assistant referee Simon Long (Cornwall FA).
RA General ManagerThe Board has appointed
Phil Joslin as General Manager of the Referees’ Association in succession to Arthur Smith. Phil is currently employed as Referee Development Officer for Lincolnshire and spent most of his career in industry.
He has been a referee for 33 years and was a National List Referee and FIFA Assistant Referee; he is now a Level 3 FA Regional Coach.Throughout his refereeing career, Phil has been an active member of the RA and is passionate about the development of referees. He is currently President of Newark Referees Society.
He is well known to York RA having visited in the past. Our congratulations go out to Phil.
RA Board ElectionsFollowing the recent round of voting,
Bart O’Toole, Arthur Smith and Paul Field have been elected to serve on the Board of Management for a period of 3 years and will take office on 14 July 2012. John Wilson of East Yorks CRA was unsuccessful along with 2 other members.
Cyber Bullying in Northumberland (U13)Football officials have called in online protection experts after players as young as 12 in Northumberland used social media sites to bully opponents.
The Football Association move follows incidents, including one under-13s match in which online threats spilled over to on-field violence.
The FA has called in the government's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) for help.
The Northumberland branch of the FA said the issue was a "major problem".
Steward Leason, Northumberland FA development manager, said: "We are getting more and more examples where it is happening. It is happening in society generally, and some youngsters are bringing it into football."
March DinnerThe annual dinner took place at Park Inn, York on
Saturday 24 March. The guest was
Steve Ovenden (ex-Yorkie) - 82 members and guest attended. The award to the Young Referee of the Year went to James Unwin and the Chairman's Trophy to Peter Cook (who was also awarded the FA Junior Cup memento).
The numbers Board Draw was won by Mike Parkes (second Paul Ballantyne and third Ian Hotchkies).
Lol Cussons Award Night
This event was held at St Clements Club on Friday,
2 March 2012. The inaugural event was a good night and the second one was also a good night; I am sure those referees who attended enjoyed the evening.
The recipient of the award was
Mike Parkes, and my congratulations go out to him. Well deserved.
Extraordinary Life of German Goalkeeper LutzHe was locked up in a Singapore prison, he was declared dead on the pitch, he was signed by 25 clubs in 13 countries and he is still the only professional to have played in all six of Fifa's confederations.
Lutz Pfannenstiel's football career is like no other.
Along the way the German keeper, now 38, went from the youth team at Bayern Munich to Brazil, New Zealand, Malaysia, Finland, South Africa, Canada, Albania, Namibia, Armenia and Malta, via Nottingham Forest and the "crazy gang" at Wimbledon.
And he is now travelling the world again as an international scout for Bundesliga club Hoffenheim.
IFAB March 2012 meetingFollowing the IFAB meeting on 3 March 2012 in Surrey some minor modifications to law were made, including clarification of a drop ball being kicked directly into goal from an "uncontested" drop ball.
The main issue was Goal Line Technology (GLT) and two of the 8 systems are being trialled further - Hawk-Eye (used in tennis) and GoalRef (magnetic ball). A decision on GLT will be discussed at the IFAB meeting on 2 July 2012 in Kiev (see
Law Amendments page for details).
Euro 2012England has drawn France, Sweden and Ukraine in the group draw for Euro 2012 in Poland/Ukraine (8 June 1 July).
Eire has drawn Croatia, Spain and Italy.
The 12 referees have also been chosen by UEFA and they include Howard Webb and Craig Thompson (Scotland). Full teams will be announced in due course, including additional assistant referees.
Olympics - FootballThe football for the Olympic football tournament has been launched. Following the British theme and cockney slang it has been named The Albert.....yes, the Albert Hall.
Meeting VenuesFollowing the unacceptable noise levels and disruption at the October meeting the Committee has been busy looking at alternatives. The December meeting was held at York Health Service Club, White Cross Road, Haxby Road, York, YO31 8LR (
April and May 2012 meetings will be held there also).
Facebook - York RAWhy not become a member of the York RA Facebook site and keep upto date with events with other members.
You can start some discussion going or post your thoughts on match incidents.
Please post sensibly and responsibly, otherwise you will be deleted from the list of members.
In the search type "York Referees Association" to find the link.
York RA membershipWe reached a membership for 2011-2012 of
72.
Don't forget that you are not covered by insurance until you have paid your subs.....and you need to be a full member to take part in the FA incentive scheme. These are now due for the new season - £22 (£11 for juniors).
Map of local clubs on "leagues" page....find your way.
If you are interested in becoming a referee and live in the York area, then drop me an email using the "mail form" facility on this site. Courses are held throughout the year.
If you would like to subscribe to the email newsletter, just send an email and you will be added to the distribution. The latest edition is now on the site (newsletter page).
"Referees' Utilities" page for practical help and advice, including a link to FIFA's interactive "Offside" presentations and misconduct forms; plus some useful local links.** York RA meeting on 6 September 2012 ***** note venue at York Health Service Club, Haxby Road. ***Don't forget the RA Shop below for your kit and accessories: 
