FWSBOA Observers Program

Goals of Observer Program

• Mentor and improve Officiating of members

• Provide constructive feedback to officials being observed

• Help promote retention of officials

Requirements to be an Observer

• Must be a certified official

• Must have worked a Regional Final

• Cannot be an Assignor or Clinician

• Must support the mission and vision of the FWSBOA and IHSA and the observer program philosophy.

What the Observer program is NOT

• It is NOT an evaluation that is sent to assignors

• It is NOT an evaluation that is used for promotion

• It is NOT an evaluation that is shared with others in any form

Definition of an Observer

• perceiver: a person who becomesaware (of things or events) through the senses

• An expert who observes and comments on something

• One who watches, monitors or takes notice

Role of the Observer

• Observes beginning officials All Registered officials are to be observed at least once per

year, Recognized officials are to be observed once every two years. Certified officials are to be observed every 3 years.

• Uses their expertise and objectivity to form a fair assessment

• Shares the observation with onlythe official being observed in a professional manner

Our Observation Process

• Officials should submit games they wish to be observed on the excel spreadsheet (next slide) available at www.fwsboa.com and email the completed document to Jason Lohrey@henkel.com.

• An observer will be assigned to one of the games you have listed.

• The Observer will contact you prior to the game and speak to you before the contest

• The Observer will send the evaluation form to the FWSBOA President for filing

2012-2013 Official's Schedule

Official's Name:

IHSA Number:

Level (X, R, C):

DATE TIME LOCATION LEVEL Boys/Girls

Observers will contact the official to be observed

• Contact by e-mail or by telephone callE-Mail addresses are listed on the membership list on the website

• Introduce yourself

• Confirm date, time and location of contest Make sure that you call ahead so that the assignment has not changed!

Go to the game to observe• Be Prepared

• Be Honest

• Be Fair

• Be Concise

• Use the IHSA Observers Evaluation Form

Vocabulary Terms to UseHigher Value Verbs

• Anticipated• Applied• Assessed• Communicated• Created• Decided• Defended• Improved• Judged• Solved• Succeeded

Lower Value Verbs

• Attended• Contributed• Demonstrated• Discussed• Fixed• Helped• Informed• Met• Participated• Supported• Tried

Post-Game Evaluation

• You may communicate with the official any way you see fit.

• Face-to-Face after the game (such as in the locker room, or at a local watering hole)

• By Telephone

• Through E-Mail

Please have a post-game evaluation with the official in addition to submitting your electronic form!

Points of Emphasis

• Deliver the message fully, candidly and in a timely manner while making it palatable and readily usable

• Keep it confidential

• Keep it professional

• Concentrate on behaviors and not the personExample: You are sloppyBetter: How could you make your appearance more professional?

Key Observation Principle

• Say what you mean, mean what you say

and be sure that what you said is

heard and understood

Observations

• Give positive feedback as well as negative

• Use the observation to set goals for the new official whether the feedback is good or bad

• Emphasize the positive with the negative

• Offer options to resolve shortcomings

• Collaborate, don’t assassinate

Observations

• Be brutally honest, but with velvet gloves and a smile

• Be evidence based rather than subjectiveExample: You are constantly out of positionBetter: You were out of position 3 out of 5 times

Key Points to Remember

• The beginning official is a work in progress, not a finished product

• The goal is to retain the official

• What can you do to improve the official?

• What suggestions can you make?

• How can you help?

Thank You

• Thank you for your participation in the Observers Program

• Your efforts and expertise in making officiating better is greatly appreciated