Question Number: 19808

Law 5 - The Referee 8/24/2008

RE: MS / JHS / HS and College College

Bill Fisher of Allentown, Pennsylvania USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19800

As a follow up to the yellow card + 5 minutes question . . . there is a growing view amongst referees who work both HS and College games (which overlap in the Fall)that they will just not pursue HS match assignments. This fallout is particularly sad, because the strength of the officials who do not work college matches drops off dramatically, in our part of the world. The unintended consequences of this 'Hockey penalty' rule that the best officials will just not be there, and the quality of the contest management will suffer.

It is the opinion of these 'stronger referees' that this is in 'Official training problem' not a rule problem. Perhaps the PIAA should create a proper referee training course. Maybe this course should include sections on the 1) laws of the game 2) spirit of the game 3) traditions of the game and 4) man management, among other things.

Are there training programs for state / HS officials available in other states that PIAA could use as a model?

Frustrated,

Bill Fisher

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Where I'm located it is required that all referees expecting to work high school matches must be at least a USSF Grade 08 and be recommended by at least two current referees. The RA meets bi weekly and conducts a 1 hour training session each meeting. We have an ongoing assessment program to ensure referees meet standards and enforce the high school rules. There are about 175 referees in the association and their abilities range from currently on the professional list of referees to those that have a hard time on a competitive U-19 Boys match.

Many of the schools desire the dreaded dual system of control and that really rubs me the wrong way. Those schools get what they pay for, the referees mentioned last in the preceding paragraph with a whistle in his mouth...

Regards,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 19825