The much maligned species of match referees and the assistants that run the lines are in danger of becoming extinct, if present trends continue.
Last week, a Soccersouth Premier League match in Queenstown had to be postponed due to lack of match officials, and it is a worrying trend according to Soccersouth referee development officer Linda Ritchie
‘‘Not so long ago we had enough referees to do Fletcher Cup [reserve league] but now because of retirements, holidays, and family commitments, fewer senior officials are available and, as a result, some SPL games will be played this season without assistant referees [linesmen],'' she said.
‘‘We are running a course at the moment, and have had a reasonable intake of people wanting to become referees, but they are not interested in the senior game and mostly want to do junior and school football.
‘‘Criticism from spectators can make the officials job less than pleasant and, as a result, fewer people are interested in refereeing at senior level.
‘‘It's a worldwide trend, and even in places like the UK, and Europe there are shortages and at present a campaign is on the go to respect the referee.
‘‘Unless there is a change here locally, the likelihood is that club-based volunteers will have to run the lines in senior matches,'' Ritchie said.
At top level, referees such as Otago's Brent Best who holds Fifa qualifications, has enjoyed officiating all over the world, and is this weekend in Auckland for the New Zealand Football Championship finals.
Aiming to emulate Best is Otago's youngest referee Callum Alexander, who started when he was 15-years-old and, after four seasons, now regularly referees at senior level.
‘‘We need more Callums,'' Ritchie said.
Today, in the only SPL 12.45am kick off at the Caledonian Ground, referee Jeff Clamp will officiate alone in the Grants Braes-Otago Youth game.
Neither side has won a game so far and Braes must start favourite since half a dozen of the youth side are not available due to school tours, in some cases overseas.
In Queenstown, coach Steve Henderson's team may be more organised after last week's layoff, and will have to be up to scratch to compete with a strong Caversham side still smarting after last week's loss to Roslyn Wakari.
Roslyn can hardly relax either, travelling to Sunnyvale at 2.45pm to play Kevin Scoullar's unbeaten Green Island side, which has yet to concede a goal this season.
Dunedin Technical flexed its muscles last week crushing the Youth side, but should get more of a match from James Vaughan's University side at Tahuna Park at 2.45pm.
Mosgiel's late match at Memorial Park against the unbeaten Spirit FC from Invercargill should attract strong local support as import Colin Favley plays his first match for the Plainsmen.
