Report on US Soccer
Referee Program Workshop
“Referee Program Realignment”
Jim Kritzberg
June 10, 2012
Washington State Referee Committee
1
USSF – 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
Washington State Referee Committee
2
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
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.
Washington State Referee Committee
3
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
IPAP
IPAP - basic philosophy of this strategic reevaluation
• Training
• Assignment
• Assessment
Washington State Referee Committee
4
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
IPAP
IPAP - basic philosophy of this strategic reevaluation
• 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
Washington State Referee Committee
5
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
IPAP
IPAP - basic philosophy of this strategic reevaluation
• Training, assignment, and assessment
activities – guided by USSF but below
professional level – implemented by state
organizations.
Washington State Referee Committee
6
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
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…
Washington State Referee Committee
7
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Referees - Levels
What is considered in a “Level”?
• Rough approximation of
• Skill
• Experience
• Coaching
• Strength
• Speed
• Agility
• Use of Strategy
• Complexity of challenges
Washington State Referee Committee
8
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Referees - Levels
We’ve seen the bull…
So where is the beef?
Washington State Referee Committee
9
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2013 – What is New?
Last Chance to Upgrade…
Referee Upgrade in 2014? - No, unless
all requirements done in 2013
Washington State Referee Committee
10
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2014 - Referee – Level 1
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
Washington State Referee Committee
11
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2014 - Referee – Level 2
Referee
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
Washington State Referee Committee
12
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Starting in 2014 (Registration Cycle)
Entry Level Clinics for:
Referee
Level 1
Referee
Level 2
Washington State Referee Committee
13
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2015 - Referee – Level 3
Referee
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
Washington State Referee Committee
14
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2015 - Referee – Level 4
Referee
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
Washington State Referee Committee
15
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2015
(Registration Cycle)
•
•
•
•
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
Referee
Referee
Washington State Referee Committee
16
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Referees - Levels
We’ve seen the bull…
So where is the beef?
(Part 2)
Washington State Referee Committee
17
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2015 (USSF Default Level)
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.
Washington State Referee Committee
18
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2015 (USSF Default Level)
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.
=
Referee
Washington State Referee Committee
or
Referee
19
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2015 (USSF Default Level)
Grade 8
• Grade 8s below a certain age and TIG would
convert to Level 1, all others would convert to
Level 2
=
Referee
Washington State Referee Committee
or
Referee
20
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2015 (USSF Default Level)
Grade 8 (continued)
• State organization could identify Grade 8s above
a set age and TIG whom they would designate for
conversion to Level 3.
=
Washington State Referee Committee
Referee
21
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2015 (USSF Default Level)
Grade 8 (summary)
=
Referee
or
Referee
or
Washington State Referee Committee
Referee
22
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2015 (USSF Default Level)
Grade 7
• Grade 7s would convert by default to Level 3.
=
Washington State Referee Committee
Referee
23
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2015 (USSF Default Level)
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
Washington State Referee Committee
or
Referee
24
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2015 (USSF Default Level)
Grade 5
• All Grade 5s would convert by default to Level 4.
=
Washington State Referee Committee
Referee
25
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
2015 (USSF Default Level)
Emeritus
• Unknown
• May drop the designation and require referee to
meet the qualifications of the Level they will be
refereeing at
=
Washington State Referee Committee
26
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Referees - Levels
We’ve seen all the bull…
So now what?
Washington State Referee Committee
27
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
What Games should I be Assigned?
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
Washington State Referee Committee
28
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Loose Ends and Notes:
•
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.
Washington State Referee Committee
29
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Loose Ends and Notes:
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
Washington State Referee Committee
30
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Other Loose Ends and
Missing Parts?
*** Random thought, not a
complete list ***
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Administration
Assigning
Assessment
Instruction
Mentoring
Washington State Referee Committee
31
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Other Loose Ends and
Missing Parts?
Washington State Referee Committee
32
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Other Loose Ends and Missing Parts Administration
1.
2.
3.
Help determine, communicate State Policies
• Note: USSF sets guidelines, requirements only
at the highest level
Implement changes in Registration requirements
2015 “Default” exceptions for higher, 2016
“Default” exceptions for lower
4. Automation, Website
• Reconfigure, enhance, consider other
platform(s)
5. Etc.
Washington State Referee Committee
33
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Other Loose Ends and Missing Parts Assigning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
SAC - help determine, communicate State Policies
• Note: USSF sets guidelines, requirements only
at the highest level
Consider retraining all Assignors
Assignment Monitoring?
Levels of Assignor?
Etc.
Washington State Referee Committee
34
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Other Loose Ends and Missing Parts Assessment
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Help determine, communicate State Policies
• Note: USSF sets guidelines, requirements
only at the highest level
Consider retraining all Assessors
Assessment Monitoring?
Levels of Assessor? Seemed sure “National”
Grade was going away. If there is a “State”
what does that mean?
Etc.
Washington State Referee Committee
35
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Other Loose Ends and Missing Parts Instruction
1.
2.
3.
Help determine, communicate State Policies
• Note: USSF sets guidelines, requirements only at the
highest level
Implement Level 1, 2 and AR training in 2014 (registration
cycle)
Determine and implement recert and upgrade training for all
referees by 2015 (registration cycle)
4.
5.
Levels of Instructor? Seemed sure “National” Grade
was going away, except maybe “National Instructor
Trainer”. If there is a “State” what does that mean?
Etc.
Washington State Referee Committee
36
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
Other Loose Ends and Missing Parts Mentoring
1.
2.
3.
In coordination with SDA and SDI, determine
“intermediate” and upgrade mentoring
needs.
Collect or develop mentoring material and
techniques.
Etc.
Washington State Referee Committee
37
USSF – Referee Program Realignment
What is next for USSF?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Writing the training modules for Level 1 & 2
Etc.
Modifying the training for assignors
Revisit the training for instructors (plus
realignment of grades)
Working toward seamless integration with
assessment
Exploring methods to encourage level-tomatch assignment guidelines
Washington State Referee Committee
38