The ideal age for a ref?
When I played Sunday League football some twenty years ago we had all types of referees and by that I mean from eighteen to eighty! Some were barrel shaped while others looked like they needed a good meal!
The younger ones were out to impress, you could tell the ones that would make it to a decent League level and those it was a 'great idea at the time,' overall the standard was good for the standard of football we played.
The question of how old or indeed young should an average referee be has to be asked?
Should he or she be the same age roughly, give or take five years, as the teams that they are taking charge of?
Or is it a case of there being a little order with experience?
If they pass their referee exams at twenty five then why not put them straight into a Premier League game?
Let's face it though, at the age of fifteen how many kids are going the say, "I want to be a Ref!"
I doubt there is such a thing as a 'referee scout' that looks for young and upcoming officials.
The main thing is it really doesn't matter what age they are; without them the game couldn't and wouldn't be played.
Another reason I don't think young people ref at a high level is the older more experienced players wouldn't like a 'newbie' telling them off!
Fitness levels are also a factor, if the person with the whistle can't keep up then that causes problems.
It’s a balancing act that isn't quite right yet. One thing for sure fans will always dislike refs and always feel the official has given them a kick in the balls.