I don't think I'm violating any referee confidences by responding here. One other difference between FRC refs and soccer refs (of which I am both) is the training structure. The FRC head ref (Aidan) trains the event head refs; they in turn train the rest of the refs at the event.
Quote:
Originally Posted by the programmer
Here are my suggestions:
1. Give the referees an "Advice to Referees Page" which not only describes the rules but their appropriate interpretations, applications, and proper positioning and mechanics.
|
Been there, done that, more or less. Aidan prepares several presentations for conference calls.
Quote:
|
2. Standardize their procedures between regionals.
|
Again, a qualified, being done. Just as there are some soccer refs who have their own ideas and refuse to change, there are a few FRC refs who have a more difficult time accepting that their interpretation of the rules when they first read them were flawed. There is a private forum for head ref correspondance, in which interpretations and procedures are thrashed out, with direction from Aidan.
Quote:
|
3. Have new referees spend a year as field reset to understand the flow of matches and how things work on the field.
|
Most refs earn their stripes by working in other jobs. I personally was a queuer (from which I believe you get a better perspective than field reset), pit admin, and lead queuer before becoming a referee.
Quote:
|
4. Create a test that's available to both referees and teams.
|
All referees have to pass a test on the rules and their interpretation in scenarios. While you can take the test more than once, you get a different selection of questions each time you take the test.
This doesn't make a perfect referee, any more than the USSF classes make a perfect soccer referee. A good referee has to do more than just study for the test. Referees have to stay on top of all the rules and team updates. Sometimes people do miss things. Unfortunately sometimes referees don't study enough and cannot apply the rules correctly. We all feel the pain when that happens; none of us like it. But of all the referees I've met, I can't say that I ever met one who didn't want to try to strive for perfection - or at least moving closer to perfection.