Guest blogger: Simon Tilkin Part 3 – Referee in Belgium 2023-11-10
Guest Blogger Simon Tilkin, football referee in Belgium
Hello, Simon from the referee blog YungRefLife here. After my two previous guest blogs at Spintso, I was asked to do another one to talk about last season and the first months of the new season. A lot has happened during these months, so I'm glad to share with you.
Last season (2022/2023), I started officiating first-team matches (adults and seniors) in the fourth regional division, where I learned a lot about managing players, match control, tactics, and handling difficult situations. I had the opportunity to officiate some top matches, derbies, and of course, some "normal" matches. I think my official debut in the fourth division was the most fantastic: the first match after the winter break, against the team that was second in the table, the inauguration of the new stadium for the home team, with over three hundred spectators – a lovely feeling! It was also an amazing match: ten goals, respect from both sides, so I was very happy after the match. Weeks and matches went by, and I was observed twice in total, so at the end of the season, I also had the opportunity to make my debut in the third division. Two weeks later, I received a phone call from my association informing me that I had officially been promoted to the third division. A pretty fantastic end to this season. And to top it off, I was chosen as 'Referee of the Year' in my referee association KSOVA a month later, a great honor!
During the summer break, I resumed my training to prepare for my very first fitness test and theory exam at the end of August. First, I participated in some training matches and cup games in early August. Unfortunately, I suffered a knee injury during my fourth match, which meant I couldn't officiate for two weeks, and I had to do the physical test at the end of September. Fortunately, I had already passed the theoretical test, and I quickly recovered from the injury. But it was really not fun to get injured just before the fitness test, especially after two months of hard work. Anyway, I'm glad it's better now.
I started officiating again in late September and had a few enjoyable matches. Since I'm in the third division, I mostly work with assistant referees. I officiate these matches with buzz flags and a communication system because I believe communication is the key to making the best decisions during the match. We are a team, so we must officiate the match as a team. That's why it's important to make clear agreements about the use of flags and the system before the match, so everyone knows what is expected of them. The communication system also contributes to my own focus since I cannot be distracted by the sound in the arena. I am only focused on the events on the field.
I am also a satisfied user of the Spintso S1 Pro watch. It's a very nice and reliable watch, practical to use for training before your fitness test. I especially like the interval settings, which were good for practicing before my fitness test but also for general interval training. The watch is also practical to use in different types of matches (youth matches, regular matches, etc.). Additionally, the watch includes a pedometer, which is good for measuring your steps and distance. Overall, I can really recommend it!
And finally, my goals for this season are to be promoted to the second regional division, but we'll see what happens. As long as I have fun every match, that's still the most important thing for me. I wish everyone a great season. See you soon!
