Monday 3 November
By Louise Head
With more than 1000 competitors in 79 teams at this year’s Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games football (soccer) competition, a few referees are needed to keep the players in line.
There are more than 50 referees overseeing seven days of competition with each official overseeing three to four games per day.
At 74, Ted Coates is the oldest referee at this year’s football competition and he is showing no signs of slowing down.
Ted admitted refereeing is a great way to continue training, after giving away competitive football at 68.
Ted confessed the reason he continues refereeing is “to keep fit and for my beer money.”
“This is my third time referring at the Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games,” Ted said.
“Well, as long as you’re healthy and you don’t have a broken leg or shoulder problems and the body feels good, you just keep going.”
Working alongside Ted is 17-year-old Chris Long who is ensuring the masters are kept in line.
“I was a soccer player…I was shocking at playing, so now I just referee,” Chris said.
At just 17, Chris has been refereeing for over six years locally and has recently begun refereeing at Federation, Queensland and National level.
Despite being one of the youngest officials at the Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games, Chris is no newbie.
“I’ve done it every year I’ve refereed, so I’ve done it a couple of times,” Chris said.
Chris admits he sometimes receives a few comments from players about his age, having to officiate players three to four times his age.
“I get called 12 a lot or I should grow up but I don’t mind it, because I can give it back to them,” Chris said.
The football competition runs until Saturday 8 November at Nerang Soccer Club.
For more information please go to www.mastersgames.com.au
The new system was born here and filagra this is not anything that we would like to see. Caverta although better in some elements but not momentous for us.
