[Jon Stratis]

FYI - for week two the number of refs was increased. Instead of the head ref + 4 refs, there was the head ref + 5 refs + an alternate/sub.

Also, a small nitpick... FIRST doesn't appoint refs. They're all volunteers, organized by the head ref and the Volunteer Coordinator.

Part of the problem with increasing the number of refs is the limit on touch panels on the field. There are only 5 available - one for the head ref, and 4 for the other refs. As I understand it, the panels have two screens - one for scoring, and one for fouls. Part of the problem comes in with switching between the screens - you have to take your eyes off the field for a few seconds to get to the right screen and put in the right input.

At LSR, the refs handled it by having two of the positions act as dedicated scorers, and two of them act as dedicated foulers. They called scores and fouls over the radio to each other and recorded them. Frankly, the system seemed to work pretty well.

Another aspect to the problem - if you have a "scoring ref" for blue, he's probably going to be down by the blue goal, and thus unable to easily see the blue pedestal on the other side of the field.