Building Strong Foundations

[USSF REF]

TMIC No. 11 (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/blog.php?b=2364).

I would be interested to hear some ideas on new ways to teach new comers how to ref, in addition to the laws.

[o5iiawah]

Well, im still what a lot of people would consider a newcomer. The poster of the blog must be from FL because thats exactly how my experience was. Take the test, get 90/100, get a badge and all of a sudden, im a ref.

I started out on craigslist and lo and behold a guy who ran a U11 kids league needed a few volunteer refs. usually in his league he had some of the coaches show up early or stay and ref the games that way but we all know how well coaches do with the laws.

The long and short of it was I basically started out reffing in the center solo or with a dual. There you learn proper positioning and where to stand to make the right calls. He tipped me off about a one-time tournament that was going on, A U18 mens church tournament that was very compeditive. Did 5 games that day and made $100 for my trouble from 10-4. Now he wants to hire me for some of the other leagues that he runs later on in the spring. He's an older guy who has been around a lot of games. Says he reffed a few Mexican premier league games at the citrus bowl in Orlando back in the day.

Anyways, I'd say that finding the right assignors is key because without him I'd be cold-calling assignors who probably dont want a novice 8 who has never done a game. Its been a blessing having someone give you experience with criticism who wants to see you grow as a ref because lets face it, simply memorizing the laws isn't enough to be a "ref". At least now I can call other assignors for games, say I worked for so-and-so and that I've done 25 games, 20 in the center.

Im not gonna lie, during the tournament one of the kids in his 20's, a really good player asked how long I was reffing and I told him 3 weeks. He said 'Damn, you're pretty good for that experience level'

and it felt good. better than learning the hard way.

[blech]

***
Im not gonna lie, during the tournament one of the kids in his 20's, a really good player asked how long I was reffing and I told him 3 weeks. He said 'Damn, you're pretty good for that experience level'

and it felt good. better than learning the hard way.

I'm not sure I would have answered that question at all, let alone honestly, had I been in your shoes. Congrats on getting started. Stick with it and don't forget you've got a number of people here who can offer support as you move along.

[Alberto]

My advice would be to contact your state association and get aligned with a USSF accredited or affiliated league. Start out with youth games and work your way up from there. You should be careful from the liability aspect about refereeing matches in unsanctioned leagues. The USSF liability insurance does not cover those matches and you are also not supposed to them. Same is the case with dual system of control. It is not recognized by the USSF.

[Wahoos1]

1. USSF needs to develop a mentoring program that allows older refs to keep a foot in the game in ways other that trailing the offside trap by 30 yards. Some system where they get newbies on game one and then are "assigned" with them for the first 4-5 games. Walk behind the new AR and talk about position, details on the rules, keep the fans/coaches off their backs.

2. Our local league has begun a system of putting newbies on the U14 Challenge league (a step above rec, but still pretty slow, unintense soccer) with an experienced ref in the middle. Pretty good start.

3. Teams are going to struggle and have trouble with poor refs. The sooner the clubs figure this out and begin to work to develop refs as much as they work to develop players the better the system will be. Keep the coaches/parents off the backs of the new refs. Set a zero tolerance rule for such.

[mutinywxgirl]

FL has something like what you are talking about - I think it's going to be a state decision, not USSF.

[andymoss]

We started an academy program earlier this year and quickly realized that there as many new(ish) and aspiring adult referees as there are youth, so we expanded it out.

It is working well and have already had a number of 8s - 7 and 7s to 6 who were otherwise content with the status quo.

[NHRef]

Our local league, has for years, done a pre-season jamoboree, they got refs etc. Last year, someone had the idea to turn this into a "ref camp" from the refs point of view, its been GREAT.

Saturday is the younger games, they take refs of 1 year or less. For many this is the first time on the field since passing the test over the summer. The refs work in 4 man teams: CR, 2AR and a senior ref (usually an instructor or assessor or grade 7+). The refs do the game, get in game feedback, after game feedback and Q&A. If needed the Sr. Ref will even go on the field with teh CR and chase him around teaching him to move etc. They also often times invite more senior grade 8's, to come help.

Sunday is the older 11 v 11 games and this is open to all refs. Same deal, 4 man teams and usually something more interesting happens in the games, teams try offside traps, tricks, dissent etc.

It's been really great, especially for the first year refs!

[seanT]

I think the course is too long. Or at least tends to emphasize the wrong things. It should not take 2 full days to get folks ready to ref.

The idea of the rec ref (grade 9?) is a sound one and should be used more.

I think a little training, a little practice, a little encouragement and on-field learning while doing younger/slower players would help folks get established.

Didn't USSF have some kind of accelerated certification for young players for a while?

[USSF REF]

I think the course is too long. Or at least tends to emphasize the wrong things. It should not take 2 full days to get folks ready to ref.

The idea of the rec ref (grade 9?) is a sound one and should be used more.

I think a little training, a little practice, a little encouragement and on-field learning while doing younger/slower players would help folks get established.

Didn't USSF have some kind of accelerated certification for young players for a while?

I don't agree that less training and preparation is really what the program needs to ensure confident, successful referees. Being a referee is not an easy job, so why do we train people like it is?

[flyfishhi]

1. USSF needs to develop a mentoring program that allows older refs to keep a foot in the game in ways other that trailing the offside trap by 30 yards. Some system where they get newbies on game one and then are "assigned" with them for the first 4-5 games. Walk behind the new AR and talk about position, details on the rules, keep the fans/coaches off their backs.

2. Our local league has begun a system of putting newbies on the U14 Challenge league (a step above rec, but still pretty slow, unintense soccer) with an experienced ref in the middle. Pretty good start.

3. Teams are going to struggle and have trouble with poor refs. The sooner the clubs figure this out and begin to work to develop refs as much as they work to develop players the better the system will be. Keep the coaches/parents off the backs of the new refs. Set a zero tolerance rule for such.

We have attempted to address this issue by creating a separate referee organization. The goals of our group are to help develop referees through continuing education and mentoring. We try to assist the new referees where possible and of course try to get them to come to meetings and learn more than the course can address.

We all know that becoming a better referee is a continuous process. Each game can be (if you want it to be) a learning experience to make you better for the next game.

I think the biggest challenge is to give the referee a place to hear ideas on how to improve their performance, correct their mistakes and reinforce their good practices. Too many of our referees get their performance evaluations only from players, coaches and fans, all of which have a biased, sometimes blatantly skewed perspective on good and bad performance.

http://www.koolaurefs.org/

[NHRef]

Locally we seem to have moved to an all day Saturday, all day Sunday, take the test at the end of Sunday schedule. that's asking a lot of teenagers: sit still for 8 hours Saturday, 6 hours Sunday, then take a 100 question test, which you need a 75 on.

When I originally took the grade 8 class we took the test a week later.

A recent class I taught had 5 failures. they immediately asked, well most of them, when they could take the test again. I checked, got the rules and re-tested them about 3 weeks later. 4 of them showed up, they all passed with only one grade below 85.

Just let the material sit in the head a bit and give the brain a chance to rest after listening for 16 hours.