Always the chant that football fans come out with when things aren't going their way, however, I really wonder how many of those chanting would be able to fulfil the fitness requirement to be a PL referee. This doesn't even take into account the knowledge of The Laws of the Game and their interpretation and the fact that all referees at the top level have put in a lot of work to get to where they are.

This is the fitness test that will have to be passed to even be considered for appointments:

Repeated sprint ability test: 6 x 40m sprints - maximum 6 seconds to do the sprint, max 60 seconds recovery time between each sprint during which they walk back to the start of the 40m sprint area. If they fail 1/6 they are given an immediate 7th sprint, if they fail that, they fail the test.

Interval Test:40 x 75m runs/25m walk (equal to 4,000m) Max 17 seconds per 75m run, max 20 seconds per 25m walk. If they fail to reach the walking section once they get a warning, twice and they fail the test.
The time between the end of Test 1 and the start of Test 2 should be 6 to 8 minutes maximum.

Optional Dynamic yoyo test (as in by the PGMOL if they use it not the referee if it is used): 16 different coloured cones 20m apart in a set zig zag formation. Set run time between each cone (can't remember the exact time but it's a matter of seconds) Level 18-8. Total distance covered 2,040m. Failure to reach cone in time once is a warning, twice is a fail.
Optional yoyo intermittent test (as in by the PGMOL if they use it not the referee if it is used): 6 cones A at zero, A-B 5m apart, B-C 20m apart. Run 20m B-C, turn, Run 20m C-B, walk 5m B-A, turn walk 5m A-B Level 18-2. Total distance run 1800m. Failure to reach cone in time once is a warning, twice is a fail.

Pace for both set by audio file they must keep in pace with.

Then there are the various medical tests on top, including testing bmi which has to be below a certain number (can't remember the number)

They have obviously passed the tests, fitness & medical, or they would not be refereeing. At that level the test is repeated 3 or 4 times during the season at St Georges Park during their 2 day biweekly training to ensure they are maintaining their fitness.

4 years old now but a good indicator.

I'm not fit to referee

I wouldn't be fit enough

I can blow a whistle ...








Thats about it ... ooooh hang on a minute ... Dynamic Yo-Yo ... I used to like my Yo-Yo

I've never once thought the chant was aimed at the actual physical fitness of someone (i still don't), it's about their aptitude or lack of

I am fit to referee, but I’m not a referee

Thought there might be one for running backwards just like Brian Glover in the fabulous 'Kes'.

I appreciate the points you are making Ashington but Jon Moss and BMI!

CleggHall wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 24, 2021 4:06 pm

I appreciate the points you are making Ashington but Jon Moss and BMI!

It's been said the reason Jon Moss awards so many free kicks is simply to allow himself a breather from time to time

I think the true answer Ashington is not many. I know they regularly go through rigorous tests, sometimes at short notice, the majority I believe are extremely fit and work hard to keep it that way. Some of them make it look easy but I certainly couldn’t have done it.

CleggHall wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 24, 2021 4:06 pm

I appreciate the points you are making Ashington but Jon Moss and BMI!

He has to meet the criteria, just the same as every other referee. Jon has, like myself, a large bone structure, however, from memory they measure the ratio of body fat as well as the BMI and this is all part of the process.

Ashingtonclaret46 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 24, 2021 4:52 pm

He has to meet the criteria, just the same as every other referee. Jon has, like myself, a large bone structure, however, from memory they measure the ratio of body fat as well as the BMI and this is all part of the process.

Absolutely. I’d they don’t pass it they stand down, Then you get Mike Dean who has a trimmer bone structure but I’ve seen him on occasions with a bit of tyre yet I’ve been told he’s a lot fitter than some might think.

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 24, 2021 3:57 pm

Thought there might be one for running backwards just like Brian Glover in the fabulous 'Kes'.

This gentleman would pass the test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjynbUNlvWU

Have two relatives who were referee's. One was quite a regular at Burnley games, also did Man Utd, Liverpool....youth and U23s. I went along on occasion. Difficult job for anyone and you have to have thick skin. I've got some stories to tell about some of our coaching staff of the time and players relatives and even a 15 year old Man Utd prodigy standing out as a star player in an U23 game but that's for another time.
They certainly have to be fit and on it. No mean feat.

People thought this chant was about athletic ability?

While we are at it I have to confess that at no time has a Rovers Manager asked me to play for them and I very much doubt I’d be able to beat them any day either.

The sprints are well difficult.

How often do the current refs get re-tested?

I am fit enough to referee.

Hard to believe Moss and Eltrigham (sp) from the Tochdsle cup tie are capable, the latter hardly moved out of the middle of the pitch.

If I can't run as far as John moss, I'll kill myself!

Think I'd make it but it would be tough. Very tough.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 24, 2021 3:45 pm

b697871c22465f897ab37f224318cb4b.jpg

I wouldn't be fit enough

Isn't that Jon Moss

BenWickes wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:51 pm

...Difficult job for anyone and you have to have thick skin. I've got some stories to tell about some of our coaching staff of the time and players relatives and even a 15 year old Man Utd prodigy...

I qualified over 40 years ago, though I doubt that I refereed above 40 or 50 matches at a schools/local league over a five year period - I and another guy had primarily done the course/got the certificate just to be able to inspect pitches and call-off the local league's matches when needs be in winter; I'm not sure if he ever refereed a game at all. I doubt I could've met those fitness metrics even then, but I know about the growing a thick skin - my girlfriend wouldn't entertain coming to a match when I was refereeing. I do though find that even now, I'm far more tolerant of the referee, whatever the level than the vast majority.

I clearly don't have the eyesight for it nowadays either, though Turf Moor would be a good source for referees in that regard: I watched the Brighton game from the Jimmy Mac lower and was amazed to discover that everyone around me could see everything that was happening - far better than the referee did - most especially when play was down at the Cricketfield End; not just the fouls and handballs, but they'd got the corners/goal kicks and even the offside decisions sorted too; I hadn't thought that the ref was too bad that day, but he was obviously appalling when play was down at the other end, i don't think those that could see agreed with him once.

Ashingtonclaret46 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 24, 2021 4:52 pm

He has to meet the criteria, just the same as every other referee. Jon has, like myself, a large bone structure, however, from memory they measure the ratio of body fat as well as the BMI and this is all part of the process.

Why does his large bone structure make his belly wobble?

Grumps wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:10 pm

Why does his large bone structure make his belly wobble?

Perhaps because, after refereeing 573 matches in his league career, he has had a belly full of fans, who have contributed nothing, telling him how the job should be done.