I know the season doesn't start for another two months, but there's not another thread to post any MLS refereeing news pertaining to the upcoming season. Just wanted to point out that Alex Prus just confirmed via Facebook that he did not attend the preseason camp and therefore will not be refereeing in MLS in 2012. Big loss for the league.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments That was pretty well known that he would be retiring. He has been given more assignments as a clinician and potential ref coach. I also don't think he could pass the fitness test anymore.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments Alex is in Bradenton renewing his coaching A license. He will take the fitness test at one of the RTSs.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments Any news from mls camp???? who failed the fitness test? Any new faces from us soccer and CSA? Any way to see a list of people who attended?
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments The MLS Referees and Assistant Referees were in the same camp with a group of about 50 referees and assistant referees who did not do MLS games last year. There has not been a decision made about who from the second group will actually get assignments this year. It won't be many. USSF is talking about that group as, essentially, candidates for MLS officiating, who may take three or four years before they get a MLS assignment. Everyone on the referee portion of the candidate group who gets an assignment will only be a 4th in 2012.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments Deciphering this a little bit... were people who only did 4ths last year in the former or latter group? More directly... will there be any rookie whistles this year?
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments There always are rookies. How that will play out is what is currently happening with the P.R.O. that is being formed with new management. Not sure they have that worked out yet. Could affect who and what.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments Don't want to start an argument, but I was pretty sure there have been one or two seasons where no referee got their first MLS whistle. I'm thinking the middle-to-latter part of last decade, right before expansion; the pool was pretty stagnate at that time. A lot of guys were coming in to do 4ths, but not breaking through. If ManiacalClown is around, maybe he knows the answer for certain.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments Those in the no previous MLS experience group who actually get a MLS assignment this year will not get the whistle. Clipboard only, no matter what their badge or experience. Those who did 4ths only last year were in the non-rookie group. How many of them get a whistle this year is yet to be determined. The Professional Referee Organization (PRO) does not have a head yet and it is expected to be at least six weeks before there is someone in place. I think "at least" is the key part of that sentence.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments who is the "CZAR" for MLS referee assignments in 2012? also, what will Silva do this season?
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments As stated in two post earlier there is no one in charge yet. Silva is heading up the youth development for USSF. No one knows who is assigning Pro leagues and what is going on yet. USSF and MLS just expected that referees would just fill in until everything was settled. That ain't happening.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments I know from the CSA side of things there are two new faces: Mathieu Bourdeau (Referee) and Andrew Foster (AR).
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments I thought that they worked MLS games as 4th and AR in Canada last year.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments They both worked NCC matches, but neither were MLS officials. I guess Foster working MLS is where we were getting the Foster becoming FIFA rumors.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments Is there any way to get a hold of the National Referee test if you are not a National Candiate or National Referee? I'm only a 6 so I'm not able to access the test on game officials.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments Nope, no way. All completely on line. Only one year they sent the test out to those who attended National Camp that year.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments If you want to learn the things you need to know in order to pass the National Rules Test, study Week In Review.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments Are any practice tests available for the lower levels? I'm taking whats about equivalent to the 6 next month and I'm looking around for an actual test to do, rather than just plain review.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments Laws of the Game, Guide to Procedures, FIFA Interpretation of the Laws of the Game, USSF Advice to Referees. Much more important that you read and understand all of these documents than that you know what was tested last time.
Re: 2012 MLS Referee Assignments Without resurrecting the "Screwing with the Program" thread - has there been any actual update re changes in MLS ref staffing for this upcoming year? Mind you, I'm asking for anything definitive that's actually been put out by MLS, USSF or others - not looking for unsubstantiated rumors, gossip, fears or hypotheticals. Thx