Assignor clinic and other tidbits

If anyone is interested in attending a referee assignor course, the info is posted on the La referee website www.referee-la.com the contact info and costs are there. This is a USSF required course to assign referees for any LSA/USSF affiliated club. A one day course, its actually quite entertaining for most of the day.

Location is TBD at this point pending where most participants are coming from. We'll try to be as convenient as possible.

There is also information on an instructor's clinic as well. This is NOT an open course. By invite only.... but if you have an interest, you should make that interest known to the SDI.

An entry level assessor course is also being planned for the summer and participants must have been or currently be a Grade 07 referee. Grade 8s are not permitted entry into the course. Contact the SDA if you have an interest and meet the criteria.

And lastly, the dates for the annual testing have been posted and those dates should be placed on your calendar if you are a grade 7 or above or planning to upgrade from grade 8.

[furriner]

I am told that in other states there is a requirement for 8s to retake the test also. Perhaps LSA should be looking at this to increase the competency of refs here? It is kind of daft that one can take the test at 14 and never have to retake it, or at the very least take a refresher course for the next 40 years. Look how the LOTG and their interpretations have altered even in the last 5 years (USSF position paper on offside from the last month, for example)

There is more than just taking a test. Yes, some states have an annual recert clinic for all grades. It is really about training. One of the things initiated this year to address that issue is the use of field trainers at all youth tournaments. A senior referee or assessor visits tournaments and works with as many referees as possible during the course of a day. The trainer watches one half of a game, provides feedback and then moves to the next game. In a typical tourney, we can hit approx 21 referees or so.

[lakeview]

I think in every state but Louisiana you must take the referee written test and have 4-5? hour course, usually in august.

I agree that the mentor program at tournaments is excellent idea, but those refs at tournaments are already seeking higher knowledge.

Its the refs who just got certified, and do 2-3 games without any feedback who drop out so early.

I cant speak for every state, but in Region III, maybe 50% require a clinic and test.