Will this become more regular occurrence in the future? It would be interesting to hear what posters think of how it will effect the games if at all.Will the lads be less boisterous and behave differently towards their opponents and the ref herself or will it make any difference at all.
Should it be encouraged or are we better keeping the sexes to their respective games?
Refereeing is a difficult and often thankless job so it will be interesting to see how it developes.

SLLY (Dublin) - Posts: 463 - 08/01/2016 21:07:17    1815405

Very quiet on this thread, I wonder why, if they're good enough they will command respect!

KerryKillers (Dublin) - Posts: 711 - 09/01/2016 13:21:11    1815444

Makes no odds to me. Think in general ladies will be more rigid in rule enforcement, so should have more consistency which can only be a good thing. Excellent to see it.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/01/2016 14:04:07    1815448

The game needs new refs..weather male or female doesnt matter..

tommy132 (Mayo) - Posts: 601 - 09/01/2016 14:52:38    1815452

Players will be less inclined to go berserk at a female ref if she gets a call wrong (at least i would be anyway) so from that point of view its an advantage.
otherwise I dont see what the big deal is.
As someone said we need all the officials we can get.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 09/01/2016 15:47:06    1815461

08/01/2016 21:07:17 SLLY (Dublin) - Posts:404
Will this become more regular occurrence in the future? It would be interesting to hear what posters think of how it will effect the games if at all.Will the lads be less boisterous and behave differently towards their opponents and the ref herself or will it make any difference at all.
Should it be encouraged or are we better keeping the sexes to their respective games?
Refereeing is a difficult and often thankless job so it will be interesting to see how it develops.Yes it will be a more regular occurrence in the future like in all sports/sporting organisations. I don't see it changing any players/supporters/coaches behaviour on the pitch or side line at all. People wont behave much better IMO. Why should the sexes be confined to their respective games?
09/01/2016 14:52:38 tommy132 (Mayo) - Posts:74
The game needs new refs..weather male or female doesnt matter..Yes WHETHER male or female the organisation needs new referees.
09/01/2016 15:47:06 joncarter (Galway) - Posts:2184
Players will be less inclined to go berserk at a female ref if she gets a call wrong (at least i would be anyway) so from that point of view its an advantage.
otherwise I dont see what the big deal is.
As someone said we need all the officials we can get.What gives you the idea players will act differently towards female referees?

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 09/01/2016 18:51:11    1815501

Royaldunne's comment on consistency is interesting. I happened to see her ref a minor game between Fermanagh and, I think, Antrim. She had a very good first half but her decision making in the second half left a lot to be desired. It was her first game and the pressure from the home crowd may have got to her.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 09/01/2016 20:23:11    1815532

It will be like everything else,there will be good ones and bad ones I'd say.
Maybe mike the refs up all the time and it might do away with some of the intimidation tactics you get from some well known ref chasers.Some women might set out to prove a point too and end up making a bags of things.

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 10/01/2016 09:23:03    1815558

Very quiet on this thread, I wonder why, if they're good enough they will command respect!

KerryKillers (Dublin) - Posts:108 - 09/01/2016 13:21:11 1815

I wonder why too KerryKillers . Maybe it's a little too sensitive a subject for a lot of HS posters. Might upset the PC brigade if the wrong opinion was given. Or maybe they just don't have an opinion.

SLLY (Dublin) - Posts: 463 - 10/01/2016 13:27:16    1815584

Recently read an article were female athletes discussed the difficulties in peaking for an event and timing of their periods and cause and effects , it was enlighting for them to discuss what in sports terms is a taboo subject , they didn't hide behind the subject matter and were open , what I remember were a few thoughts I'd share one they felt to perform at the highest level they took control of cycle and were quite critical of fellow competitors who didn't and complained afterwards , in our context I'd be of the opinion don't care if it's a man women or Martian as long as they are ready and able to perform and up to task

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 10/01/2016 15:21:42    1815587

I'd say the reason the thread is quiet is because none of us care about the sex of a ref any more than we care about their race or religion

Count_Awesome (Kildare) - Posts: 736 - 10/01/2016 15:32:05    1815588

It's ridiculous.

worple (Roscommon) - Posts: 339 - 10/01/2016 15:33:42    1815589

I'd like to believe that count_awsome and I'm sure in a lot of cases that's true but SLLY has a point also!

KerryKillers (Dublin) - Posts: 711 - 10/01/2016 17:01:23    1815604

Yes WHETHER male or female the organisation needs new referees.

Pathetic.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 10/01/2016 20:15:36    1815667

I'd say the reason the thread is quiet is because none of us care about the sex of a ref any more than we care about their race or religion

Count_Awesome (Kildare) - Posts:717 - 10/01/2016 15:32:05 181
Possibly ,but then again Count you havn't much experience of senior football female referees no more than you have experience of African or Hindu refs but that doesn't mean you can't have an opinion on how it might impact on the games. Thats what the thread is about,people's opinions on how a new development might impact on players ,managers and the association in general.
It's fine if you dont care too,but others might.But,let's start with female refs if that's ok.

SLLY (Dublin) - Posts: 463 - 10/01/2016 21:13:10    1815688

Yes WHETHER male or female the organisation needs new referees.

New year, same Ormondebannerman, ridiculing people over their spelling/grammar.

CroiGorm (Dublin) - Posts: 1547 - 11/01/2016 08:33:56    1815698

A referee should be appointed based on their ability to referee. Nothing else should be considered. Well done to Maggie, Farrelly!!

supermon (Monaghan) - Posts: 1073 - 11/01/2016 10:18:58    1815725

I think its a fair question.

I always try to control myself during games and not annoy the ref but sometimes I can get overwhelmed.
I honestly believe if a women is in charge that players would be alot more civil to that official.

Whether that is right or wrong is not the question.

dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 11/01/2016 11:58:00    1815754

Have to say I agree with Jon Carter that players would be less inclined to lose the cool with a female ref.

I think it is a good thing, but agree that any ref should be judged on their ability alone.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 11/01/2016 12:20:58    1815771

I don't really see what difference the ref being male or female would make. Its like asking would you rather a male or female teacher/mechanic/chef - Id just like the best one please. The fact that she has been able to reach this level shows the type of progressive organisation the GAA is and is just another reason to be proud of it.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 11/01/2016 12:21:53    1815772