[JVN]

Jeez guys! Maybe it's time everyone learned a little bit more about what FIRST does to train it's refs.

There is a referee manual given out by FIRST to every ref before competition. This manual contains almost everything a ref needs, including "The Game" section from the manual. It focusses on DQ's and penalties. They are also refferred to the competition documents themselves, and all the team updates. As the season goes on, the ref manual is updated regularly from these updates.

The ref's are also given "Cheat sheets" of important things they should watch during each stage of the match, and all the various calls they need to watch for.

The most important part is the ref meeting on thursday night at competition. This is where the Head-Refs familiarize the other (volunteer) refs with how things will work. They go over the rules again. They talk about any controversies expected to occur. They also look for weird scoring situations. (Example: most ref meetings spend about an hour just looking at various box placements and stack configurations, determining EXACTLY what is legal and not.)

The head-ref's are all INCREDIBLY familiar with the rules. FIRST is very careful when choosing a head-ref, and makes sure they have someone familiar with every facet of the game. These head-refs also regularly communicate during the 6-weeks of competition, such that things stay as consistent as possible from week to week. They painstakingly over-analyze the game rules, to try to make things as clear as possible for all those invovled.

Refs are there to make competition a FAIR and POSITIVE experience for everyone involved. They donate their time and energy (it's more than you think... try it sometime...) for YOU, the "colored shirt" participant in this wonderful competition.

To imply that many refs did not read the rules, and therefore "screwed" teams is unfair, and insulting to those who are volunteering.

FIRST does EVERYTHING they can to make things fair, and to make sure everyone involved knows the rules.

Remember:
Just because YOU think it was a bad call, doesn't mean it actually was!

Referees call things as they see them. Their interpretation of what happened is the only one that matters, because their rulings are final!

Cut the refs some slack guys...
They are out there working for YOU, and many of them, are members right out of these forums. Members right out of participating teams.

I'm proud to wear the stripes.
~John