Positive feedback for referees' radio link

Ian O'Riordan talks to James Darcy, coaching and referee co-ordinator at Croke Park

The trial radio link-up system between referees and linesmen at recent football and hurling matches have been well received, according to association officials. By equipping the referee and linesmen with a linked microphone and earpiece the intention is not just to improve the standard of refereeing but also to speed up the substitution process.

The system was used on an experimental basis in three recent games at Croke Park, including last Sunday's Leinster football final between Dublin and Kildare.

Last summer a more basic system for linking the officials was introduced, whereby the linesman could contact the referee via a buzzer on the end of his flag. With that system now in use across the board, the association was looking to make further improvements.

According to James Darcy, coaching and referee co-ordinator at Croke Park who has been monitoring the system, the intention is to improve communication between the referee and his linesmen. "Most of all it allows the referee to concentrate that bit more on the game," says Darcy. "And it takes away some of the worry about having to cover everything that's happening on the field.

"There are still some occasions where the umpire had difficulty trying to get through to the referee, even though the linesman would have picked up an incident. It's also going to improve the information about off-the-ball incidents and substitutions."

First to try out the system was Monaghan referee Pat McEnaney, who was linked up with the earpiece and microphone at the Dublin-Meath football semi-final. One of the reasons McEnaney was chosen was he had experienced the system in Australia as an International Rules referee.

"The system is still in its infancy and it's only being used with the more experienced referees," adds Darcy. "But the feedback has been very good. And there does seem to be a mood to go with it."

The National Referee Committee will examine the feedback at their next meeting next month. But with certain criticisms over aspects of refereeing this summer, including the timekeeping, the system may be fully implemented before the end of the championship.

So far the fourth official hasn't been included in the link-up, but there are plans to do so. The idea then is the fourth official will inform the referee how much time is left in a match - though ultimately the decision of how much time to play remains with the referee.

Even with the noise level within the new Croke Park setting, the microphone link has been effective: "The system did work very well on Sunday," says Darcy, "and seems to be getting better each time. But we don't want it to become a hindrance for referees either."