Question Number: 27157

Mechanics 2/6/2013

RE: Adult

Julian Osborne of Cambridge, Ontario Canada asks...

Does anyone have any experience using the Ref's Call Electronic Beeper Flag set from Official Sports? Is it any good or a piece of junk?
Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Julian
Unless you are in the Pro / Senior ranks I would ignore the electronics flag market. They all can be temperamental and reports on them are mixed.
I guess with any piece of technology there can be trouble free ones and then there are ones that need attention etc. They certainly would have very limited use with club assistants and many show scant regard for even the ordinary flags.
Also many assistants at the lower levels are unfamiliar with them and they needs a good deal of advice in their use during the pre game.
Here is a dated blog on the Ref Call product
http://refblog.com/?e=200
The only ones that I ever used were the Signal Bip ones and they were provided.

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

This isn't answering your question exactly but I echo the above comment about ignoring them unless you are the higher levels of the game. It is paramount that you learn how to communicate and manage a match without them first because technology can always fail. If you know how to function without them then their failure is no big deal but if you've become dependent on them you are in big trouble. I went Emeritus in 2005 and was a National Referee for 14 years. In all that time I never used them as a center ref and only occassionally as an AR when the center ref wanted them. In today's professional game I would most certainly incorporate them but, again, only after having ensured development of the basic communication and game control skills. All the best,