The first blog after the referee conference is the story of GAA referee David Coldrick. Don’t know him? I didn’t either. But it doesn’t matter. Just follow one of his tips: “You can learn from refs in all sports.”
In the blog below you’ll find some advice from David Coldrick, 7 lessons I learned during the conference in Dublin.
GAA is two sports by the way. Hurling and Gaelic football. Coldrick referees the latter. Here’s a video impression of what the sport is about:
Lesson 1: don’t rush career
Referee David Coldrick is a famous Gaelic football referee who officiated the All-Ireland finals in 2007 and 2010. I was pretty young when I got my first one in 2007, but I think I’ve learned my apprenticeship. But my advice would be: don’t rush to the top. There is something to learn at every rung of the ladder.”
Lesson 2: learn from other sports
“You can learn from referees in all sports”, David Coldrick says. Gaelic football players from Ireland play for example matches against Australian rules football teams. Those matches are played with international rules and Coldrick got the chance to officiate it. “I got the opportunity to learn from the refs from another game and work with my colleagues from Australia. There’s always two referees, one from each country, on the pitch during an international rules match.”
Lesson 3: show your human side
Would you talk with media as a referee? David Coldrick does. “No, I don’t comment on specific incidents, but I’m always available for Gaelic football questions in general”, he says. “All sports need media for profiling and promotion.” That’s why he agreed to be part of the documentary Men in Black. “There is a huge amount of communciation between players and refs. People don’t see that. This documentary shows the human side of refereeing.”
Only aired in Ireland yet, would love to see that myself. Check below the trailer of this documentary.
Lesson 4: Prove yourself each year
It’s not guaranteed you’ll have another great season after you got a final previous season. “Prove yourself each year even if you got the final last year because of a good performance.” Coldrick says that referees shouldn’t be too easy-going, but always try to to your very best.
Lesson 5: make your head clear
Mental toughness, a difficult thing for referees. The GAA referees are amateurs and do have a job in daytime. Coldrick showed video’s of a game where he made a wrong call. “My head wasn’t where it should have been”, he admits. “It was a hectic day at work.” What I learned from that is that every referee needs to find a way to make his head clear before a game. Try to find a habit that makes you focus on the game or find a person you can call.
Lesson 6: learn from your mistakes
David Coldrick is happy he got the chance to have refereed to All-Ireland finals and will always find the motivation to try and get another one. During the meeting in Dublin he also told about the lows of his career, with a few video examples of mistakes he made. “I know refs are their own harshest critics”, he says. And to become a better ref, he adds: “You need to reflect on poor decisions and check what you need to do to stop making them.”In Gaelic football video footage is shown during the game, but when there is a bit of controversy, the screens go black.
Coldrick’s description of the moment he realises he possibly made a mistake, is fantastic: “The hum of disapproval went around in the stadium.”
Lesson 7: be able to change
Every referee might have a different way of whistling, but Coldrick says you need to be able to referee in different ways. “Your style needs to adapt based on the game”, he says. Let it go or keep it short when necessary. “You need to be able to change that quickly. Control can die if you can’t change extremely quickly in style”
That was for me a great speaker I learned a lot from.
I got a two questions for you to comment on below:
Before the match: How do you clear your head before the game?
After the match: How do you reflect on the decisions you made during a game? Tip: write things down and learn from it!
David Coldrick: 7 lessons for referees: The first blog after the referee conference is the story of GAA refere… http://t.co/NElauKvDvB
RT @dutchreferee: David Coldrick: 7 lessons for referees from all sports http://t.co/qbFX25at6G
@GrundySarah @RefConf First story is online: “David Coldrick: 7 lessons for referees from all sports http://t.co/qbFX25at6G“
@nswrugbyrefs & just published story from Gaelic Football ref David Coldrick: 7 lessons for referees from all sports http://t.co/qbFX25at6G
@RefsAssociation Dublin was great. Just posted first blog about @RefConf The 7 lessons I learned from David Coldrick http://t.co/qbFX25at6G
@EddyHYUFC Good place for a Guinness indeed. Now back and posted first blog: http://t.co/qbFX25at6G
@tomas_connolly Thanks for retweet about the conference this weekend. 1st story online now http://t.co/qbFX25at6G
@Daany_duncan Thanks for retweet about the conference this weekend. 1st story online now http://t.co/qbFX25at6G
@Officials101T Thx for RT about conference this weekend. 1st story online now with tips from gealic football ref http://t.co/qbFX25at6G
@pauljcooper1 Thanks for retweet about the conference this weekend. It was great! 1st story online now btw http://t.co/qbFX25at6G
@Stephentheref Thanks for retweet about the conference this weekend, Stephen. 1st story online now http://t.co/qbFX25at6G
@dutchreferee No problem Jan and will try and make the next one.
@DerekTomney Hope the first story on the blog doesn’t disappoint you, Derek. http://t.co/qbFX25at6G
@dutchreferee Thanks Jan , Shall be an Interesting read ! apologies I couldn’t make it
RT @dutchreferee: David Coldrick: 7 lessons for referees from all sports http://t.co/qbFX25at6G
“Referees, don’t rush to the top. There’s something to learn at every rung of the ladder” http://t.co/4K8lp6hOHS
David Coldrick: 7 lessons for referees – http://t.co/GqyVKgJ960 http://t.co/GqyVKgJ960
@dutchreferee no double jumps. Miss out on experiences
RT @dutchreferee: “Referees, don’t rush to the top. There’s something to learn at every rung of the ladder” http://t.co/4K8lp6hOHS
RT @dutchreferee: “Referees, don’t rush to the top. There’s something to learn at every rung of the ladder” http://t.co/4K8lp6hOHS
RT @dutchreferee: @nswrugbyrefs & just published story from Gaelic Football ref David Coldrick: 7 lessons for referees from all sports http…
@dutchreferee fantastic read I will get your address as I have a GAA DVD to send you…..you never know the GAA Refs can teach a thing or 2
just published story from Gaelic Football ref David Coldrick: 7 lessons for referees from all sports http://t.co/qKNEG0g8jF” excellent!!
RT @dutchreferee: @nswrugbyrefs & just published story from Gaelic Football ref David Coldrick: 7 lessons for referees from all sports http…
Great article by @dutchreferee from the @RefConf
David Coldrick: 7 lessons for #referees
http://t.co/CZymCquIH3
@dutchreferee Good job Jan. You gained a lot of fascinating insights on the weekend. I am curious – Are you going to try some other sports?
RT @dutchreferee: “Referees, don’t rush to the top. There’s something to learn at every rung of the ladder” http://t.co/4K8lp6hOHS
RT @Officials101T: Great article by @dutchreferee from the @RefConf
David Coldrick: 7 lessons for #referees
http://t.co/CZymCquIH3
“Make your head clear before a game.” More lessons from David Coldrick: http://t.co/4K8lp6hOHS
RT @dutchreferee: “Make your head clear before a game.” More lessons from David Coldrick: http://t.co/4K8lp6hOHS
RT @dutchreferee: @RefsAssociation Dublin was great. Just posted first blog about @RefConf The 7 lessons I learned from David Coldrick http…
@Global_GAA Learned more about GAA at @RefConf. Great sport! My story with lessons from David Coldric for referees: http://t.co/4K8lp6hOHS
@GAALive Learned more about GAA at @RefConf. Great sport! My story with lessons from David Coldric for referees: http://t.co/4K8lp6hOHS
RT @dutchreferee: @GAALive Learned more about GAA at @RefConf. Great sport! My story with lessons from David Coldric for referees: http://t…
@hoganstandgaa Learned more about GAA at @RefConf. Great sport! My story with lessons from David Coldric for referees http://t.co/4K8lp6hOHS
RT @dutchreferee: @GAALive Learned more about GAA at @RefConf. Great sport! My story with lessons from David Coldric for referees: http://t…
First of all, all the best for 2015, Jan.
Second, congratulations to the new design of the website, it looks more “dynamic” 🙂
Personally I have an xcel document with all my games and a few hours after them I usually write down 3-5 positive points and 3-5 points for consideration. If I recognize that I have a systematical point for improvement (a point that frequently occurs), I know what I should focus in the next game. But important: I never keep in mind too much, since you can become confused if you pay attention to 4 or 5 points.. This strategy helped me to improve step by step and is even essential as referee observers are usually not attending amateur matches in my region, which is a pity.
Good points, Niclas. Missed that reply of you unfortunately. I do write some notes in an Excel file, but I also keep my card stats in there as well. I might make one file just to be able to put in my learning points there.
Not many referee observers here too.
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