How to Become a Better Referee
As I was editing How to Become a Referee, several things came to mind on things that you can do to become a better referee. This is my all means not an exhaustive list, but something I've pick up over the years, after I decided that I wanted to keep blowing the whistle, and that I wanted to become better at it. Feel free to add suggestions. The first few items on this list will be things to read - I'll venture to say they'll be necessities if you want to advance.
- There is no first and foremost, but there are two things that should be on your must-read list if you want to become a better referee. The better you want to be, the more often you should read them. The first is the USSF's Advice to Referees - while the Laws are pretty simple, after a year or two you realize there are a lot of grey areas, this is where the ATR comes in.
- Buy For the Good of the Game by Robert Evans and Edward Bellion. You will learn a ton more about the ins-and-outs of being a good referee and how to improve yourself. If the ATR gets you up-to-speed on the Laws, this gets you up to speed on being a referee. I cannot recommend this book any higher. You must buy it - must, I tell you. BTW - overseas this is knows as The Art of Refereeing - if you have trouble getting For the Good of the Game in the U.S. (I'm told it's out of print), try the other title on a Europeans book seller's site. The content is exactly the same.
- Subscribe to Referee Magazine - better yet, join the National Association of Sports Officials and get a little extra insurance while you're at it; it's included with the membership, and it's tax deductible.
- Find a way to vent. Some people hang out with other refs and tell war stories, I write - in any event, it's something to keep you sane.
- Start pushing up the ladder: If you're not getting the kind of games you want, ask for better ones. You'll frequently be on the lines to begin with, but that'll change over time, if you're ready.
- Start pushing up the ladder: Work at your State Tournament and/or State Cup. In this state, the top level teams have a tournament to see who can play in the national tournaments. the lower level teams have another one to see who can be promoted to the next division. Work them, work hard, you will be noticed.
- Work the USA Cup: you'll be exposed to a number of different playing and refereeing styles. Yes, the pay sucks, but it's an experience like no other.
- Start dressing up: When you first started reffing, you bought the minimum, now complete the set. Again, you don't have to buy Official Sports (although if you get noticed and start working invitation-only tournaments, you'd be, for better or worse, well advised to get them), but buy that blue jersey. Get long-sleeves for you're entire set, too (it's nice on those cold days).
- Play like Imelda Marcos (aka: get a shoe collection): Get different shoes for different conditions: flats, turfs, and cleats - maybe more than one pair for bad weather (or a shoe dryer).
- Get more socks: Or, specifically, the USSF logo sock. If you want my opinion, it's poorly designed (I don't think the USSF logo looks good in oval, which it what it ends up being on most men's calves), but some officials in higher-level games like them. Assignors frequently ask their senior officials about newer referees if they're ready to be pushed up a notch - and no the socks, jerseys, or shorts affect your performance on the field, but it does tell us how serious you are.
- Work High School: Make the jump from junior-varsity to varsity. No, it's not USSF, but most high school referees also work USSF. I've met USSF assignors though high school games that have helped me go up notches on the totem pole, and they've certainly given me lessons to learn. If nothing else, it expands the number of games you work, and people you meet.
- Get a trainer: If you're like me, you're not blessed with a naturally athletic body. I've had people who tell me that they don't need to do anything about the upgrade physicals, which just ticks me off, because I have to work my butt off for it. I'll tell you this, even if it's just for the off season, a personal trainer helps - it's their job to make you better physically (even if not prettier). As for how you select one, I have no idea - I just signed up for one at the YMCA, and found that I liked the one I drew.
- Upgrade: Nothing spells commitment like upgrading. The games you get from existing assignors may not be all that different, but considering how few referees (about 2%) go beyond Grade 8, it will get your name out there. Pick a goal: mine is to get a State Badge (Grade 6) - mostly to prove that I can, and for when I retire from the whistle, I can stay in the game and assess. However, if you want to be the best darn Grade 8 you can, more power to you.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but in my own humble experience, it's helped people notice me, in a good way, as a referee. I'll never claim to be a good referee, because I have a long way to improve; but I will claim to be a referee that gives a damn, and the above steps help make that claim more than mere rhetoric.
Promptness and Appearance. Those two will do in a good referee quicker than performance. I am an assignor and instructor and preach this religiously. If a ref is consistently late (less than 30 minutes early) the good assignments will dry up. And you must look good. Yes, I own more than eight OSI jerseys but you can look good in any kit. Get rid of the starter socks. If you buy one thing from OSI buy the Ref Sock (3 stripes). Others droop was you run. Replace uniforms after 3-4 years. They may not be worn out but they fade and some shrink. Keep your shirt tucked in always and your socks rolled up. Don’t remove your shirt and roll down your socks while on the field after a match. Wait until you leave the field. You are still the ref and may have to deal with issues. Finally, if you have post-game reporting requirements, complete those promptly. The best ref will fail if the competition or assignor has to wait days for your game report.
Barry Sherry () (URL) - 29 October '07 - 19:13
There are a lot of great points listed here that will definately make you better. A lot of what’s mentioned here is image and self study. Definately take care of the image and study, study, study. (Did I mention self study?) The next step is to find a mentor. An experienced official who you respect and who will be honest with you. Ask the official if they are willing to mentor you. Let the official know you really want feedback. Positive and areas that need improvement. You want to work with them and you want them to observe you so they can give you valuable feedback. When a weird situation comes up, call them after the game and talk about it. Not only will this relationship help you improve, but it let’s people know that you want to get better!! Good luck and have fun on the pitch.[rwallenburg] () - 31 October '07 - 08:29