Why should I upgrade to Grade 7?

I guess it depends on what you want to do. It may be different in Michigan, but around here you don't get a sniff at senior men's amateur or even u-19 games unless you're a 7 or a "rising" 8.

That's not to say that there aren't a bunch of 8's who could ref circles around some 6's I've seen.

 

Grade 7 is a stepstone to Grade 6, but other than that there isn't much to it. About the only thing I can think of is it guarantees you U17+ games at a youth tournament where the assignor doesn't know you.

 

As the French say .."au contraire". You get evaluated for EVERY game that you do. You may have yet to receive a formal assessment, but you can't walk onto the field without being evaluated.

If you have lingering doubts, or seek some sort of validation, take the bull by the horns and request an assessment.

 

Your assignor "tells" you every week. You wouldnt be doing all of those Over (whatever) games if he/she didnt feel comfortable placing you for those matches. Your most important evaluator, regardless of grade, is your assignor. Barring a shrtage of referees to do these games, you wouldnt be doing them unless you had the confidence of the person that put you on the match.

On a side note, tournaments are generally a good place to be seen. Sometimes by assessors, and usually by referees that are more senior than yourself. Take advantage of what's out there. Sounds like you have a bright future.

 

Around here, being a 7 or 8 does not necessarily mean that you will get the U-19 or amateur adult games. But being a 7 does have its benefits, including the following:

If no one knows you, as soon as they find out that you are a Grade 7, you get the benefit of the doubt and presumed to be an experienced and better referee. Some Grade 7's dispell this presumption shortly after taking the field.

If you are a Grade 7, assignors will be more prone to award better games to you. You may get that final at the tournament. Once you are a Grade 6, you may get some low level professional games, and these are great experiences. However, you have to be a 7 to be a 6.

If you are a Grade 7, many will give greater credibility to what you may opine. Others will believe that you are trying to blow smoke somewhere.

If you are a Grade 7, you will have had to pass an assessment to be upgraded. This is an outside evaluation of you as a referee on a challenging game. You may think that you are a better ref now (and you probably are), but an outside evaluation would confirm that.

But the most important of becoming a Grade 7 is the sense of accomplishment and the confidence it engenders. You had to have the required experience, the ability to pass the fitness test, to pass the written test, and to pass an assessment. Once you become a 7, you have accomplished that and you should be proud of meeting those national standards.

I say, go for it.

 

I asked the same question to the socref-l mailing list about a year ago. The responses were right in line with what jc508 said, but if you want to read more about it, read the thread here.

 

I wasn't going for an upgrade until Mass. began restricting invitation and attendance to advanced clinics based upon grade.

Now I'd like to get my State badge to lend further cred to my instructor and assessor activities.

$$$ may be a reason for some folks to upgrade. I am aware of some tournaments that pay based upon grade.

 

There are also some tournaments that you won't even get into as a referee unless you are at least a grade 7 -- like many of the college showcase level tournaments. And some of those, even though they REQUIRE a grade 7, you really better be a 6 in order to get any decent assignments.

So if you are interested in travelling and doing some high level tournaments, that'd be another reason to upgrade.

 

Ummm, you're too late ...

Recert in Michigan is almost over - only one or two more weekend clinics available. There may be latecomer clinics in the new year, but they will charge excess fees for those.

You would have already had to complete your fitness test and passed an assessment at a game rated as sufficient for the grade, in addition to passing the test, in order to be eligible to upgrade this year.

In Livonia, you probably know who Jeff C is. I'm sure he can give you specifics for who to contact for upgrading next year. Because it is almost a year-long process. The Michigan Ref Committee promotes upgrading, but that doesn't mean it's an easy process. Google for their website, if you don't already have it.