Question Number: 30593

Mechanics 7/11/2016

RE: AYSO, High School, Club Adult

Kevin Churchill of Camarillo , CA USA asks...

I am the referee admin for a large AYSO region managing over 300+ referees. I am looking to purchase a a referee headset communication system to teach, train and coach our higher level referees but also as a real time teaching tool using a remote speaker on the touchline for beginning referee the basics of the laws of the game. Do you have any advice or suggestions?

Thanks,

Kevin

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kevin
There are a number of options. At the higher end of the scale are match kits as used by the pros. They are not cheap even at the entry level.
http://www.refereestore.com/blog/vokkero-soccer-referee-radio-communication-systems-product-review/
http://www.refereestore.com/ref-comm-yapalong-3-user-complete-set/
They certainly work as intended for referees.
The alternative is to go for regular two way radios and adapt therm for soccer. Simply google brands like Motorola, Cobra, Midland, Baofeng Pofung to see examples of two way radios. Sound quality will not be as good yet they do work in a variety of settings including sports. Some require push button activation which may be okay in a training environment and some are not secure. Sound quality can vary and be a bit iffy.
Whether they are a good idea or not I am not so sure. The normal method is to let the referee get on with the game and make notes of key incidents so that they can be reviewed afterwards. There can be a real danger of influencing the referees decision in real time making which can be unhelpful. Most of the best teaching moments that I have encountered has been at half time or at the end of a game when a particular problem happened or the referee / assistant had some trait / action that needed correcting. A discussion with a two way interaction is best. If one looks at the highest level the use of video is the method used and there is a meeting to discuss major incidents in the game with solution proffered as to how to improve / change. The UEFA referee development programme uses two videos, one in each half to record the game and then review afterwards.