Referee not knowing the rules

[Laaba 80]

It's important to realize the difference between not knowing a rule and making the "wrong" judgement call. In my experience, every time a ref has actually messed up (disabling our tower when our alignment device but not minibot broke the plane before 10 seconds, or not counting our colored discs) we made them aware of the issue and they corrected it. Mistakes happen. Judgement calls on the other hand almost never get changed. It is very hard to make a decision on what you saw that quickly, while knowing that either way someone is going to be unhappy. Ask any sports fan how many times a ref has cost their team a game, and those are professionals.

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

So, anyone out there (not directed at anyone in particular in this thread) who has a problem with the way the refs work... Step up and volunteer to ref yourself (after you graduate, if your still a student)!

I actually volunteered to ref in Minnesota back in 2011, but was turned down and told I need to be out of college.

[Navid Shafa]

Originally Posted by Laaba 80

I actually volunteered to ref in Minnesota back in 2011, but was turned down and told I need to be out of college.

I know college-aged ref's were present at several regionals this year, perhaps that was an old rule?

[Alpha Beta]

Originally Posted by Navid Shafa

I know college-aged ref's were present at several regionals this year, perhaps that was an old rule?

Head ref in Kansas City was a college student this year. He graduated high school in 2009 and served as a field ref for the years inbetween. I suppose it has a lot to do with who you know, and how well.