Post by futbolislife on Jan 26, 2009 12:51:39 GMT -6
I'll try to answer each of your questions.
On registration numbers, there are currently 475 registered referees. These have completed all the requirements to register. There are an additional 150 "pending". That is they either have not taken the test or have not yet been cleared through risk management. That total number is slightly down (10% or so) from previous years at this point in the year. There is no doubt that there have been people who have chosen not to recertify because of the test, risk management or the cost. That was to be expected. We think that roughly 10% of the referees do 90% of the games. I think we have lost many who simply carried badges for years and never did games. My son was one of those. It was cheap to register and didn't require any work to do so. Many or most of those have chosen to give up their badge.
On timing of registration. If a referee has completed all the tasks, it will take no longer than two weeks to go from pending to registered. The problem is that those who have taken longer are likely missing one component of the registration process.
The way we set up our recert requirement is different form many of the surrounding states as well as region 3. In most every state, there is a mandatory recert clinic that EVERY referee in the state must attend. In most states, it is set for one weekend only. Failure to attend results in no recertification. We felt that approach would be difficult to manage in our state. we also felt that we would lose huge numbers doing that. So we came up with the current system.
For state cups, last year we had only 250 people plus or minus, do all the state cups. Looking at the list of referees, I don't see that state cups will be an issue. and the fact that some of these have been consolidated helps. The "big" cup weekend last year had us in 6 locations. This year is 3. That will help tremendously in supporting those games.
In regards to the league you refer to in BR; the are unregistered leagues in most parts of the state. Any "person" can referee these games. LSA has no jurisdiction or say in who does those games. Referees who choose to do unsanctioned games do so at their own risk. They have no insurance, no protection from USSF or LSA in the cases of assault, abuse, etc. They do so at their own risk.
Lastly, there has been no shake up in the committee. It is the same group that has been in place for 2 1/2 years. I can say that this group has done so many things lately in trying to advance the state of refereeing in La. Most recently the La Referee Academy. At the last AGM, a new program was approved and funded by LSA to attempt to decrease abuse of referees through a statewide education and awareness program. That program has been titled "ROOM" - Respect Our Officials More. Many clubs have already asked to participate and we hold high expectations for this new program. At the beginning of every soccer year, the SRC has published a list of goals and objectives. That list is our road map for the year. The current committee is in place and continuing to work toward these goals.
On registration numbers, there are currently 475 registered referees. These have completed all the requirements to register. There are an additional 150 "pending". That is they either have not taken the test or have not yet been cleared through risk management. That total number is slightly down (10% or so) from previous years at this point in the year. There is no doubt that there have been people who have chosen not to recertify because of the test, risk management or the cost. That was to be expected. We think that roughly 10% of the referees do 90% of the games. I think we have lost many who simply carried badges for years and never did games. My son was one of those. It was cheap to register and didn't require any work to do so. Many or most of those have chosen to give up their badge.
On timing of registration. If a referee has completed all the tasks, it will take no longer than two weeks to go from pending to registered. The problem is that those who have taken longer are likely missing one component of the registration process.
The way we set up our recert requirement is different form many of the surrounding states as well as region 3. In most every state, there is a mandatory recert clinic that EVERY referee in the state must attend. In most states, it is set for one weekend only. Failure to attend results in no recertification. We felt that approach would be difficult to manage in our state. we also felt that we would lose huge numbers doing that. So we came up with the current system.
For state cups, last year we had only 250 people plus or minus, do all the state cups. Looking at the list of referees, I don't see that state cups will be an issue. and the fact that some of these have been consolidated helps. The "big" cup weekend last year had us in 6 locations. This year is 3. That will help tremendously in supporting those games.
In regards to the league you refer to in BR; the are unregistered leagues in most parts of the state. Any "person" can referee these games. LSA has no jurisdiction or say in who does those games. Referees who choose to do unsanctioned games do so at their own risk. They have no insurance, no protection from USSF or LSA in the cases of assault, abuse, etc. They do so at their own risk.
Lastly, there has been no shake up in the committee. It is the same group that has been in place for 2 1/2 years. I can say that this group has done so many things lately in trying to advance the state of refereeing in La. Most recently the La Referee Academy. At the last AGM, a new program was approved and funded by LSA to attempt to decrease abuse of referees through a statewide education and awareness program. That program has been titled "ROOM" - Respect Our Officials More. Many clubs have already asked to participate and we hold high expectations for this new program. At the beginning of every soccer year, the SRC has published a list of goals and objectives. That list is our road map for the year. The current committee is in place and continuing to work toward these goals.