Question Number: 14943

Other 3/5/2007

RE: Rec Under 15

Linda of Suisun, California USA asks...

I would appreciate advice on referee scheduling and mentoring (rec level).
Last year, I volunteered to do the scheduling for the older age groups in our rec division. In a moment of weakness and/or insanity, I agreed to schedule referees for all of the age groups for our 2007 rec season.
1) Do you have advice on systems that work best for this task (software, spreadsheets, etc.) and do you know of other resources to check out for information/suggestions?
2) Do you have suggestions for helpful mentoring practices for either youth refs or novice adults?
My experience last year suggests that the more I know about each of the referees and what works best for them, the more likely it is that the games will be covered and all parties will be satisfied, but the greater number of games and referees this coming year will require more than that.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Hey Linda, Howzit? Well, scheduling referees -- first FSYSL needs to offer some compensation to them, did I just say pay them again? Nah, couldn't have. I've been saying that since 1994 and no one seems to think that's of any importance. So be it.

Mentoring: Linda, we have talked about this before. Debbie and I have offered classes for you and your referees in vain. What's needed is referees who desire to improve their skills. The very few in your club, who are already skilled, migrate to where there is some compensation for their efforts. The ones remaining succumb to the desires of the parents, coaches and spectators who scream when something happens they don't like. After that they refuse assignments so no matter which method of assignment you use be it volunteer, computer or Ma Bell so there's going to be difficulty in covering matches. My records indicate I have qualified somewhat less that 500 referees since '94 -- your club has about 50, or less, active referees. There's a story in there someplace...

I'm sure my colleagues will have something more positive for you.

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

Oh boy....Well. I echo Ref Fleischer's comment regarding pay. In the western world, or at least us horribly selfish capitalists, it is the common belief that money/compensation for one's time, is the most efficient form of saying thank you -- thereby associating value with that time and expression appreciation as well. In other parts of the world, perhaps opening one's home, offering 2 laying hens and a rooster or even a fatted calf is the norm to communicate the element of value/gratitude to the person performing a service.

I know for myself, that I will volunteer my services on occassion, to market my name and my ability to teach, referee, and mentor (or to help out as a special favor)...but the Hoelscher household is not a "non-profit" enterprise. I have bills, fuel, food and the like to pay. I am certainly not going to continue my volunteer work when: 1) I get treated worse then the proverbial runt of the litter by those for whom my valuable time has just been volunteered and 2) I can go else where and get paid to do the same thing -- and still great treated like aformentioned runt.

It is my understanding that there are those who believe that referee compensation should be kept at a minimum (if at all) for Youth State Cup Matches (the State will remain anonomous) because the referees should feel "appropriately" ingraciated to whomever, that they were even "lucky enough" to be picked to be there.....hmmmmm that's very odd.

The cold hard reality is that valuable referees and valuable compensation to said valuable referees goes hand in hand. Until your association really understands this, you are in for a very difficult and probably inconquerable battle.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Linda,
my heartfelt advice through experience on assigning matches is unless you are well compensated or have a sadistic streak or masochist tendencies FLEE! FLEE the village and never look back!
Mentoring you must pick the few who will achieve the best use of those willing to donate their time and match them up. You need to have the referees constantly monitored game by game with input from all who watch not just assessors as you will send the assessors out to help those who apparantly need it and or request to be upgraded. LImited numbers, limited time, limited budget! UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES sacrifice FAMILY to meet the drain this job will have. I did it in three communities over ten years while their is much to enjoy it will test your confrontational, controversial and conversational skills. Cheers