So, I was wondering, does anyone know if there are any requirements to be a FIRST referee? Do they have to be a certain age, or anything?
I believe Sean Roberts was allowed to be a ref before he was 18. I think you are supposed to be 18 though?
Cory
It’s pretty much common sense really. As long as you’ve been around the competition for a long time, and your team isn’t participating at the regional, and most importantly the FIRST people know that you know the game really well, and will judge the matches objectively, then you can be a ref.
I think the biggest requirement is that the FIRST people know you, and understand you will do a good job of it.
Lots of FIRST participants got to be ref this year… JVN, Steve Kyramarios, Ashlee, Bill gold, Mark White house, Dima, Sean Roberts…
So… could I do it next year, you think?
Talk to the regional director at the competition you are going to. Ultimately he/she decide who will be the volunteers and refs at their competition.
There is a volunteer sign up area on the FIRST website that is set up every year. You can volunteer for any events that you like. The regional Volunteer Co-Ordinator then assigns people the jobs. You can volunteer for just 1 job or many, 1 regional or many. The Head Refs I believe are chosen by FIRST but I could be wrong.
Jeff,
What will your “FIRST-status” be next season?
Are you going to be a High Schooler, or on to College or what?
FIRST has recently (2002 and 2003 seasons) begun allowing FIRST participants to ref. For the most part, I believe they prefer (adult) mentors, especially from current Team-members. I don’t actually know for certain.
FIRST will most likely be expanding to more regionals next year (30+?) and as such, will NEED more qualified refs. If you want a shot at it, you should DEFINITELY volunteer. If you have any ties to a regional nearby you can directly volunteer (that’s what I did this year) or else you can go through the FIRST website (as was mentioned above).
When FIRST uses current team members as refs, they usually prefer it if they are not at a “local” regional. They try to keep team rivalries and friendships out of the equation as much as possible.
Again, this is all just what I believe the common practices are. I’ve only seen this process from the outside.
Something you should consider:
Being a ref is a HUGE responsiblity. As in sports, refs often take a lot of flack for their calls. Even if you make the RIGHT call, it doesn’t mean it will be well liked, or well received. Jeff- you are well known in these forums, and well respected. You are also very visible. This would make you a “target”. Be prepared.
I greatly enjoyed reffing. It was one of the most fun, and fulfilling experiences I’ve had in this competition. You get to see everything from a new perspective, and it’s enlightening (to say the least) 
.
If you think you can handle it. Go for it!
Let me know how/if I can help.
~John
Ref - NH 2003
Head Ref - Seattle 2003
*Originally posted by Ken L *
**It’s pretty much common sense really. As long as you’ve been around the competition for a long time, and your team isn’t participating at the regional, and most importantly the FIRST people know that you know the game really well, and will judge the matches objectively, then you can be a ref.I think the biggest requirement is that the FIRST people know you, and understand you will do a good job of it.
Lots of FIRST participants got to be ref this year… JVN, Steve Kyramarios, Ashlee, Bill gold, Mark White house, Dima, Sean Roberts… **
White Horse is a former member of 814, and he reffed at both of the regionals we went to…
*Originally posted by Alaina *
**White Horse is a former member of 814, and he reffed at both of the regionals we went to… **
If by White Horse, you mean Mark Whitehouse. He was not activly on a team this year.
I was a scorekeeper at SVR, and I don’t think he actually did anything as a ref. 
In reality, the way it is structured, only the head ref has any power. Do you have any complaints?
Wetzel
Refs are people too!Thanks for the advice, John. And thanks for the compliment… I’d like to think I’m well-repsected here :D. To answer your question, I’ll be a college student next year, but I probably won’t be directly involved with a team. That’s why I was interested in being a referee. I think it would be an interesting experience, and give me the excitement of being on the field and involved. Plus, I’ve been disappointed with a few of the referees, and I think given my knowledge of FIRST and rules and such, I could be a pretty good referee.
*Originally posted by Wetzel *
**I was a scorekeeper at SVR, and I don’t think he actually did anything as a ref.In reality, the way it is structured, only the head ref has any power. Do you have any complaints?
Wetzel
Refs are people too!**
I wouldn’t necessarily say that the head ref was the only person with power at SVR. I had the privilege of refereeing with that particular head ref at Sacramento, and it was quite the opposite of what you described. He trusted us that we knew the rules and could enforce them properly, without the need for too much overseeing. I believe (and have heard from others) that Sacramento and Silicon Valley were very well refereed events.
*Originally posted by Wetzel *
**If by White Horse, you mean Mark Whitehouse. He was not activly on a team this year.I was a scorekeeper at SVR, and I don’t think he actually did anything as a ref.
In reality, the way it is structured, only the head ref has any power. Do you have any complaints?
Wetzel
Refs are people too! **
Yeah, I meant Mark Whitehouse…I just heard someone call him White Horse once and I think it’s funny…
No…No complaints from me…
I thought Sacramento was incredibly well referreed and SVR even better. The only gripe with Sac was the whole bins sliding on floor thing, which wasnt the refs fault at all.
Cory
*Originally posted by Bill Gold *
I wouldn’t necessarily say that the head ref was the only person with power
you’ve obviously never been to a UTC regional. yikes.
*Originally posted by Solace *
**you’ve obviously never been to a UTC regional. yikes. **
You’re right Jake, I haven’t been to UTC. I was referring to Sacramento and Silicon Valley.
The head referee at SVR which I had the honor of refereeing at was great. He was consistent and asked us all for our input all day long to make sure he was being as fair as possible.
*Originally posted by Jeff Waegelin *
**I’ve been disappointed with a few of the referees, and I think given my knowledge of FIRST and rules and such, I could be a pretty good referee. **
That’s one of the reasons I got started with reffing in the first place. We all have had calls made against us that we disagree with, sometimes it helps to see things from the other side. 
Good luck to you! Your situation is almost identical to Ogre’s, and he reffed in Philly this year. You shouldn’t have much trouble getting in.
As for comments that only Head-Refs have any power… well.
When it comes time to make the hard call, the head-ref has final say. However, (in my experiences) every ref has a responsibility on the field. Everyone is watching SOMETHING, because the more sets of eyes focussed on the field, the more likely you are to catch something. The head-ref trusts the other sets of eyes. For example, in the event of a robot getting flipped, if the head-ref did not see the flip himself, he will consult with another ref “Was it legal?”.
UTC is always a highly competitive regional.
The officials there do the best they can (just like every regional).
I’m not sure what the meaning of the above comment is.
Solace- what did you mean?