Let's hear it for the Refs !

[bdaroz]

Originally Posted by rich2202

IMHO, each seasoned team (teams at least a few years old) should be required to put a Mentor through Ref Training. All the Refs would be required to ref a few practice matches. It would give the Head Ref the option to sub-out a Ref if a Ref is not up to the challenge. The trained Mentor gives the Team a different perspective on the game.

BTW: I also think that every team (including rookie teams) should put a Mentor through Robot Inspection certification, and have to complete the inspection checklist for their team's robot before Stop Build. It would help to identify problems in advance, and guide building of the robot next year (make certain things more easy to inpsect).

I completely agree with both of these. I'd really like FIRST to consider not making the ref/inspection training materials "hidden" or secret (or whatever non-public status that have now). And who knows, perhaps they'll get a few more volunteers out of the process as well.