WVSA Referee Program
Referee program and related issues
By
Oct 20, 2008, 16:12

In the last few weeks I have had contacts about a few issues that need
to be addressed:

1. Two youth referees assigned to a match, refereed the game using a dual (2 man system) when the third referee did not arrive for the game. A reminder that no games sanctioned under USSF or WVSA are to be refereed using a dual system of refereeing. Approved systems of refereeing are Diagonal System of Control (3 certified referees, center and two AR's), (a referee a certified AR and a Club AR), (a referee certified and two club AR's), (in the
absence of a certified referee, a club referee agreed on by both coaches who then has all the powers and authority of a certified referee)

There is no two man system under any circumstances.

2. Many of our referees are youth between 12 and 17 years of age and many of the adult referees have very limited experience less than a year. Referees like anyone else make mistakes, most of the mistakes are honest mistakes, Instructors get an 8 or 16 hour window to train new referees depending on the grade class they are taking, then a 4 hour recert class each year after that. Beyond that the feedback that most referees ever get is from Coaches, parents (fans) and players in the form of good job or from a disgruntled person who yells, screams,
threatens, verbally abuses the referee. I would ask that all adults consider that when they are dealing with a youth referee consider how you would feel if someone treated your child the way you just treated the youngster who was refereeing your Childs game.
Everyone's goal should be that everyone involved have a safe, fair, fun, game and go home having had an enjoyable experience, all comments should be positive in nature to all involved players, coaches, fans. If you do not have something nice to say refrain from saying anything, if a player makes a mistake the coach should train the player in how to keep from making that mistake again, if a coach makes a mistake they should learn from their mistake, if a referee makes a mistake what will they learn if all they get is some screaming at them that they are the worst referee they have ever seen. We have a referee attrition rate of nearly 60% every year which means that most never get the experience needed to become competent referees. If there is a mistake made perhaps we can ask or suggest that the person making the mistake ask someone else to clarify or guide them as needed.

3. I have observed and been told about referees who stand in the center circle and referee games, I saw a high school age referee that in the first half never moved beyond the center circle, at half time I ask if they were injured and of course the answer was no, then I ask if they could outrun the younger players they were refereeing and again of course the answer again was yes, the second half was a much better game for the referee and players.

All referees should do the best job they can with any physical limitations they have and should also strive to improve their knowledge, understanding and application of the Laws of the game.

4. I had someone tell me he was a referee and could have done the game better than the youth who was assigned, I checked the registration and the person in question has not been certified since 2005, they said they were told by the local organization that they could still referee games.

All referees must recertify each year to be eligible to referee.
No exceptions!!

Thanks to all

Les Baldwin



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