washington state referee committee

Report on US Soccer Referee Program Workshop

“Referee Program Realignment”Jim KritzbergJune 10, 2012

Washington State Referee Committee 1

Washington State Referee Committee

USSF – Referee Program RealignmentUSSF – Referee Program Realignment

Referee Zones

1. Professional Referee Organization (PRO)• Outsourced, not USSF/MLS any longer

2. Zone 2, Referee Identification and Development• Invitation only – USSF via Chicago or LAC (Local

Area Coordinator)3. Referee Education and Resources• All Referee Levels not in PRO or Zone 2

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IPAP

Instructional Program Advisory Panel (IPAP)• National referees, national instructors,

national assessors, assignors, SDIs, SDAs, SRAs, etc.

• Initial task – general strategic re-evaluation of USSF’s system of grading, training, developing, and assessing referees.

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IPAP

IPAP - basic philosophy of this strategic re-evaluation

• Training• Assignment• Assessment

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IPAP

IPAP - basic philosophy of this strategic re-evaluation• Training – what the referee needs• Assigning – provides the opportunities• Assessment – determines if training and

assignment functions are cooperating to meet the objectives – officials, players, teams and leagues

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IPAP

IPAP - basic philosophy of this strategic re-evaluation

• Training, assignment, and assessment activities – guided by USSF but below professional level – implemented by state organizations.

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Referees - Levels

What is considered in a “Level”?•Age•Single official vs. DSC•Rec vs. Competitive•Lower vs. Higher Divisions•Degree of needed player management•Continued…

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Referees - LevelsWhat is considered in a “Level”?•Rough approximation of• Skill• Experience• Coaching• Strength• Speed• Agility• Use of Strategy• Complexity of challenges

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Referees - Levels

We’ve seen the bull…So where is the beef?

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2013 – What is New?

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Last Chance to Upgrade…

Referee Upgrade in 2014? - No, unless all requirements done in 2013



2014 - Referee – Level 1

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Referee

Trained for:• Small sided games (Mod soccer)• Generally, U6 – U12• Generally, recreational• Generally, single referee (no ARs)

• Not trained as AR…• Entry Level for new referees

Referee




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Trained for:• Transition from “small” to “full”• Generally, U12 – U16• Recreational and competitive (aka

“travel” or “select”)• Generally, DSC• New referee entry or advance from

Level 1

Referee



Starting in 2014 (Registration Cycle)

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Referee

Entry Level Clinics for:

Level 1

Level 2

Referee




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Trained, assigned, and assessed for:• Generally, full-sided games• Generally, U16 – U19, plus rec adults, lower

div senior amateur, regional tournaments• Generally, competitive• Mostly DSC• Advancement from Level 2

Referee




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Trained, assigned, and assessed for:• Full-sided games• Generally, 1st and 2nd Div Senior amateur,

regional premier tournaments, national competitions

• Highest competition below PRO• DSC and use 4th officials• Advancement from Level 3

Referee



2015(Registration Cycle)

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Referee

• New referee = Level 1 or 2• All Existing “Grades” 09-03,• Convert to “Level x” via USSF

specified “default” level.• Exceptions above “default” –

made case by case by SRC. Referee

Referee



Referees - Levels

We’ve seen the bull…So where is the beef?

(Part 2)

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2015 (USSF Default Level)

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Grade 12• Referees would be allowed to recertify at that

grade only though 2014, after which no further use of that Grade would be allowed.

• There would be on conversion path to a Level.• Grade 12s wishing to continue officiating would

need to meet the entry requirements for Level 1 or 2 as appropriate.




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Grade 9• Grade 9s would convert by default to Level 1.• State organizations could identity Grade 9s above

a set age and “time in grade” (TIG) whom they would designate for conversion to Level 2.

= or Referee

Referee




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Grade 8• Grade 8s below a certain age and TIG would

convert to Level 1, all others would convert to Level 2

= or Referee

Referee




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Grade 8 (continued)• State organization could identify Grade 8s above

a set age and TIG whom they would designate for conversion to Level 3.

Referee=




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Grade 8 (summary)

Referee

= Referee

Referee

oror




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Grade 7• Grade 7s would convert by default to Level 3.

Referee=




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Grade 6• Grade 6s would convert by default to Level 3.• State organizations could identify Grade 6s above

a set age and TIG whom the would designate for conversion to Level 4.

Referee= Referee or




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Grade 5• All Grade 5s would convert by default to Level 4.

Referee=




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Emeritus• Unknown• May drop the designation and require referee to

meet the qualifications of the Level they will be refereeing at

=



Referees - Levels

We’ve seen all the bull…So now what?

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What Games should I be Assigned?

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Focus Range• Majority of assignment per Level

Challenge Range• Experience and demonstrated skill in Focus

Range• Interest and Desire to advance• Assigned to lower games of next level• Not intended as a regular assignment pattern

without advancement supported by mentoring and teaming



Loose Ends and Notes:

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• How to be considered for Zone 2?• First, get a Black Badge, then invitation

only• Can Level 1 be assigned as an AR?• Maybe – there might be an AR Module

available between Level 1 and Level 2 ELC Training

• State to determine – Stand-alone or bundled with Level 2.



Loose Ends and Notes:

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How can I upgrade a Level ? – Considerations:• Age• Time in Level• Game count and “mix”• Observation and evaluation at the focus and challenge ranges• Written test performance• Demonstration of fitness and agility• Formal application• In-service and/or pertinent advancement training• Recommendations



*** Random thought, not a complete list ***1.Administration2.Assigning3.Assessment4.Instruction5.Mentoring

Other Loose Ends and Missing Parts?

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Other Loose Ends and Missing Parts?

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1. Help determine, communicate State Policies• Note: USSF sets guidelines, requirements only

at the highest level2. Implement changes in Registration requirements3. 2015 “Default” exceptions for higher, 2016

“Default” exceptions for lower

Other Loose Ends and Missing Parts - Administration

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4. Automation, Website• Reconfigure, enhance, consider other

platform(s)5. Etc.



Other Loose Ends and Missing Parts - Assigning

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1. SAC - help determine, communicate State Policies• Note: USSF sets guidelines, requirements only

at the highest level2. Consider retraining all Assignors3. Assignment Monitoring?4. Levels of Assignor?5. Etc.



Other Loose Ends and Missing Parts - Assessment

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1. Help determine, communicate State Policies• Note: USSF sets guidelines, requirements

only at the highest level2. Consider retraining all Assessors3. Assessment Monitoring?4. Levels of Assessor? Seemed sure “National”

Grade was going away. If there is a “State” what does that mean?

5. Etc.



Other Loose Ends and Missing Parts - Instruction

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1. Help determine, communicate State Policies• Note: USSF sets guidelines, requirements only at the

highest level2. Implement Level 1, 2 and AR training in 2014 (registration

cycle)3. Determine and implement recert and upgrade training for

all referees by 2015 (registration cycle)

4. Levels of Instructor? Seemed sure “National” Grade was going away, except maybe “National Instructor Trainer”. If there is a “State” what does that mean?

5. Etc.



Other Loose Ends and Missing Parts - Mentoring

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1. In coordination with SDA and SDI, determine “intermediate” and upgrade mentoring needs.

2. Collect or develop mentoring material and techniques.

3. Etc.



What is next for USSF?

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1. Writing the training modules for Level 1 & 22. Etc.3. Modifying the training for assignors4. Revisit the training for instructors (plus

realignment of grades)5. Working toward seamless integration with

assessment6. Exploring methods to encourage level-to-

match assignment guidelines

washington state referee committee

Documents

single referee

referee identification

referee needsassigning

resourcesall referee

dscnew referee entry

state organizations

arentry level

professional level