[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by waialua359

The point made that just because its week 1, doesnt mean that the rules understanding by everyone, including referees and its consistency is a "learning process" is an excellent point! Its not fair for any team who competes during week 1.
Thus, the original point by Madison for a more complete training and understanding of rules prior to competition, I believe, is a way to improve the "issues" at regionals, especially during week 1.

Listen,

If a referee or umpire is trained for the NFL or MLB or you name it they can go back and look at "tape" and be trained with the aid of prior game's. Are you going to show the referees in training weeks before the regionals begin tape of 2008's game "FIRST Overdrive"????? The answer is obviously no.

Unfortunately with FIRST there is going to be a learning curve REGARDLESS of what happens. Regardless of what happens, at week 1 regionals, the refs are seeing the game played for the first time too. As much as this sucks, it is FIRST and its why we need to sometimes make sure we aren't overreacting.

Even if the referee knows the rulebook through and through, its very easy to miss a call or to call something that is borderline....

I'm in no way condoning poor officiating, but I do see how hard the job is that these people do....and its a job they are not being paid to do...