State Cup Clinic - new info for referees

[futbolislife]

High School soccer is over and State Cups are right around the corner. As we started doing a few years ago, it will be required to "attend" a state cup clinic in order to referee at any state cup. Since starting this, the number of referee complaints at state cups have dropped tremendously and we deem this program a success.
Well, this year we have added a new twist to hopefully make the clinic more accessible to all who wish to referee at state cups. Everything will be online for your convenience. On or about Mar 15, you will be able to visit the La Referee Website at www.referee-la.com and view this year's State Cup Clinic PowerPoint. At the conclusion, you will take a 20 question test. The questions are very simple and are intended to verify you viewed the presentation. Afterwards, you will be placed on a state list verifying you have completed the requirements.
We believe that this will enable people to do this at their leisure and will make the process simpler for all.

[northlasoccerdad]

This is a good move. There's nothing covered in the State Cup Clinic that can't be covered equally well in an on-line presentation. Asking referees to travel 100+ miles to attend a clinic because they aren't available on the one night their local clinic is offered is just silly, especially in "the information age".

[futbolislife]

We'll see how it works out. Since we instituted these clinics and assigning procedures for state cups,the number of referee issues have declined dramatically. There is something to say for an actual presentation and being there to answer questions. But we wanted to try something a little different.

[furriner]

is it possible for a thread like this, or something on facebook for asking questions? Maybe a conference call one evening? maybe a local instructor be available at set times one evening to answer questions?

[futbolislife]

We can certainly do a presnetation in person if needed or requested. You can also post questions here.

[reddevil70737]

This is a great move. Maybe in the future even move towards a video/test for the parent level, coach level, or even taking the ref class online.

[futbolislife]

USSF is looking hard at a new referee clinic format for new referees. 8 hours of the clinic would be online with the remainder ebing classroom.

Also as part of the ROOM Program, we are working on an online voice over ppt show that is a one hour Laws of the Game directed at the non-referee.

[futbolislife]

The state cup clinic material is now online at www.referee-la.com/

At the end, you may also provide your avaiability for the state cup tournaments to assist assigning.

We would also like feedback on this new approach. Good, bad or ugly.

Good luck all.

[futbolislife]

At this point, the biggest volume of state cup games are behind us and there have been 464 attempts at the test and 272 passing succesfully. So at this point, 272 referees have been doing all the state cup games. The question to the referees, is this system better than the last 3 years? Is it prefered over an inperson clinic? What is good or bad?

One of the obvious things to us is so many people attempt the quiz without reviewing the slides and tend to be very unsuccesful. Of course, we knew this would happen.

[Steven Gerrard]

Wait, there were slides?

[furriner]

FIL, I think it is good, but I would also like an in person mini clinic with each TR before the first round of games. Obviously, with 7am kick-offs last weekend that may not have been practical. there will be room for confusion both this weekend and the weekend at Lafreniere when there are some preliminary games and some finals / semi-finals. Hopefully, the TRs will be on hand to assist with making sure everybody on certain games knows what is happening.