Not for the first time I’m on my own here – because I’ve always thought that part-time Hewer was better than some of the full-time SL refs
He may well be - but that still doesn't make him a good referee!
He was poor yesterday.
Fair comment sunny, but a long time ago I played at a reasonable level and discovered that there were good and not so good referees. But then I experienced the same differences in abilities between “qualified” people during my normal working life.
I’m not clever enough to resolve the problem of ensuring we have plenty of good referees , do you have any suggestions?
Pascal can referee and give my services. 👍
With you Former Chemic, competence in most things falls on tbe individual. They will all go to the same courses and their standard will come down to who works hardest to improve and refine their decisions.
I have had numerous bosses who made hasty decisions and then refused to change them, even when it was obvious that they were wrong. Refereeing requires rapid decisions with no time to change. A good ref will view videos and see his errors, a poor one won't bother. I wonder if occasionally watching a video alongside the coaches of the teams would help improvement?
What is particularly annoying is a poor vifeo ref, where everyone can see what has gone on, but he can't!
Must say that the ref for the Bradford game did respond to his touch judges which was a refreshing change.
Regarding VIQI, I'm a contributor and happy to support my club. However, I'm very disappointed that they still don't see fit to publish their accounts to "members", rather than a statement of how much they've given to the club (and then claim they are being transparent by doing this).
I raised this point in the survey they held a while back, but they've obviously decided it isn't necessary. Not even a comment about expenditure to reassure me, other than the payments made to the club. I expect to be kept better informed about what their other expenses are and I can't help being suspicious if they don't feel that I should know this.
I think they need to do better. We're talking about over half a million pounds, so not small sums. I'm sure there are other contributors who feel the same way and if they want to give us a reason for stopping our donation, then this may well do the trick for some.
Regarding VIQI, I’m a contributor and happy to support my club. However, I’m very disappointed that they still don’t see fit to publish their accounts to “members”, rather than a statement of how much they’ve given to the club (and then claim they are being transparent by doing this). I raised this point in the survey they held a while back, but they’ve obviously decided it isn’t necessary. Not even a comment about expenditure to reassure me, other than the payments made to the club. I expect to be kept better informed about what their other expenses are and I can’t help being suspicious if they don’t feel that I should know this. I think they need to do better. We’re talking about over half a million pounds, so not small sums. I’m sure there are other contributors who feel the same way and if they want to give us a reason for stopping our donation, then this may well do the trick for some.
I'll be honest, I signed up when we nearly went to the dogs but I stopped last year because of this. I had little idea where my money was going, 2 or 3 emails a year isn't enough for me to be content in doing this with a quick overview of money handed to the club. I'm not criticising what people are doing, the concept is great and the money raised over the last 3 years is awesome - seriously wonder where we'd have been without it. I had no input or visibility of anything so at a time where I need to curb my outgoings, this was one of them. I stopped the direct debit and had no communication to ask why.
I'm still a season ticket holder and buy kits for my lad, so I'm more than comfortable with how I support the club.
I must be too trusting but I've seen too many accounts that appear 'spot on' but are a pack of lies.
If you are going to be ripped off by an expert you probably won't find it because he will be way ahead of you!
I must be too trusting but I’ve seen too many accounts that appear ‘spot on’ but are a pack of lies. If you are going to be ripped off by an expert you probably won’t find it because he will be way ahead of you!
No ones suggesting they're getting 'ripped off' - in fact everyone is paying in knowing they get no return other than peace of mind they're doing their bit to help the club.
A member of VIQI is on the board, what does that mean to the members? What input do the members have or feedback for that matter? Not a lot from what I can see.
Concept = brilliant. A few changes and a bit more transparency and I'm sure the members will grow.
Not for the first time I’m on my own here – because I’ve always thought that part-time Hewer was better than some of the full-time SL refs
Correct. And worrying if another ref is retiring. There aren’t many of them.[/quote
A dire shortage, top grade refs also running the lines as we have nobody else.
Regarding VIQI, I’m a contributor and happy to support my club. However, I’m very disappointed that they still don’t see fit to publish their accounts to “members”, rather than a statement of how much they’ve given to the club (and then claim they are being transparent by doing this). I raised this point in the survey they held a while back, but they’ve obviously decided it isn’t necessary. Not even a comment about expenditure to reassure me, other than the payments made to the club. I expect to be kept better informed about what their other expenses are and I can’t help being suspicious if they don’t feel that I should know this. I think they need to do better. We’re talking about over half a million pounds, so not small sums. I’m sure there are other contributors who feel the same way and if they want to give us a reason for stopping our donation, then this may well do the trick for some.
I think VIQI has got confused in what it is (which isn't all its own fault). It's traditionally been a way of providing funds to the club, but as it is now a shareholder in the club it really ought to represent its members much better than it does.
https://www.viqi.co.uk/viqi-charter
"On behalf of VIQI members, VIQI Ltd currently holds 250 shares (of 2250 issued) in Widnes Rugby League Club Ltd (known as Widnes Vikings) – Company Number 11853608. As agreed with the Widnes Vikings Board, a board member from VIQI will sit on the Club board, representing the interests of VIQI members (currently Jason Shaw)."
"VIQI will always be an autonomous organisation, answering only to its members, while maintaining the best possible relationship with Widnes Vikings, in order to achieve our common goal – to operate a competitive and successful club, that we can all be proud of."
How is VIQI answerable to its members?
The VIQI board should be elected by its members - the very members who pay into the scheme which validate its existence.
I don't doubt that Jason represents the best interests of the members when it comes to choosing the right time to put money in to the club; but perhaps VIQI should relinquish its shareholding in the club if all it wants to be is simply a vehicle to raise money to help fund signings and such like.
. I don’t doubt that Jason represents the best interests of the members when it comes to choosing the right time to put money in to the club; but perhaps VIQI should relinquish its shareholding in the club if all it wants to be is simply a vehicle to raise money to help fund signings and such like.
That makes some sense, to me at any rate. I sometimes feel that there are some who would like to be Board members without investing much and that doesn't sit right. No doubt they are honest and well intentioned.
I have invested in VIQI since its start. I trust its administrators and am happy for them to invest where appropriate. There will be times when decisions are made that cannot be shared outside the Board room.
. I don’t doubt that Jason represents the best interests of the members when it comes to choosing the right time to put money in to the club; but perhaps VIQI should relinquish its shareholding in the club if all it wants to be is simply a vehicle to raise money to help fund signings and such like.
That makes some sense, to me at any rate. I sometimes feel that there are some who would like to be Board members without investing much and that doesn’t sit right. No doubt they are honest and well intentioned. I have invested in VIQI since its start. I trust its administrators and am happy for them to invest where appropriate. There will be times when decisions are made that cannot be shared outside the Board room.
There lies the problem, members should know everything and like mentioned earlier an unelected person is running the scheme but worse still gaining a place on the clubs board has stopped members joining and caused donators to pull out.
Even the governing of our country is voted for after a few years. Like James said we are not dealing with a few quid here.
. I don’t doubt that Jason represents the best interests of the members when it comes to choosing the right time to put money in to the club; but perhaps VIQI should relinquish its shareholding in the club if all it wants to be is simply a vehicle to raise money to help fund signings and such like.
That makes some sense, to me at any rate. I sometimes feel that there are some who would like to be Board members without investing much and that doesn’t sit right. No doubt they are honest and well intentioned. I have invested in VIQI since its start. I trust its administrators and am happy for them to invest where appropriate. There will be times when decisions are made that cannot be shared outside the Board room.
There lies the problem, members should know everything and like mentioned earlier an unelected person is running the scheme but worse still gaining a place on the clubs board has stopped members joining and caused donators to pull out. Even the governing of our country is voted for after a few years. Like James said we are not dealing with a few quid here.
Simple answer then if you're not happy don't subscribe!
. I don’t doubt that Jason represents the best interests of the members when it comes to choosing the right time to put money in to the club; but perhaps VIQI should relinquish its shareholding in the club if all it wants to be is simply a vehicle to raise money to help fund signings and such like.
That makes some sense, to me at any rate. I sometimes feel that there are some who would like to be Board members without investing much and that doesn’t sit right. No doubt they are honest and well intentioned. I have invested in VIQI since its start. I trust its administrators and am happy for them to invest where appropriate. There will be times when decisions are made that cannot be shared outside the Board room.
There lies the problem, members should know everything and like mentioned earlier an unelected person is running the scheme but worse still gaining a place on the clubs board has stopped members joining and caused donators to pull out. Even the governing of our country is voted for after a few years. Like James said we are not dealing with a few quid here.
Simple answer then if you’re not happy don’t subscribe!
I'll take that as you cannot defend this one and nothing more to add to the debate and you have hit the nail on your head with your comment but as defender of everything do you really not want people to donate, shame on you my friend.
Fair comment sunny, but a long time ago I played at a reasonable level and discovered that there were good and not so good referees. But then I experienced the same differences in abilities between “qualified” people during my normal working life. I’m not clever enough to resolve the problem of ensuring we have plenty of good referees , do you have any suggestions?
Perhaps I should have written "inconsistent" rather than "poor" - however an inconsistent ref really is a poor one - the players (and fans!) no longer will know whether similar circumstances will be treated in the same way for each side.
As for plenty of good referees, like you I don't have a perfect solution but if they are paid well using Performance Assessment, trained in consistency, listen to their TJs, have a run through their performance after each game, get fit themselves, listen to (constructive) feedback from coaches - perhaps that's a start.