Referee Administrator
Training
Agenda
• Regional Referee Administrator duties
• Getting organized
• Developing a budget
• Recruiting volunteer referees
• Training New and Returning Referees
• Scheduling referees
• Retaining referees
2
The Big Picture
AYSO Vision Statement:
“To provide world-class youth soccer programs that
enrich children’s lives”
Based on six (6) Philosophies:
Everyone Plays®
Balanced Teams
Open Registration
Positive Coaching
Good Sportsmanship
Player Development
3
Josephson Institute of Ethics Survey
Of the 4,200 High School Student - Athletes who
Responded to the survey – here are a few
interesting responses :
• Approximately 50% of the boys and 33% of the girls surveyed
see nothing wrong with cheating, using racial slurs, faking
injuries, arguing or violence … if it will help to win the game.
• “…The survey reveals that coaches and parents simply aren’t
doing enough to assure that the experience is a positive one …”
4
More Statistics
California Parks and Recreation Association survey question:
“What is the biggest problem in youth sports today?”
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Out of control parents/spectators
Win at all cost coaches
Poorly run leagues
Poor sportsmanship by kids
Inexperienced officials
48.0%
30.6%
10.5%
7.0%
2.6%
“We have met the enemy and they are us”!
Remember…
“In AYSO, it’s about more than the game!”
5
In the Beginning (there was a void)
You “volunteered” - now what?
1. Don’t panic; relax, take a deep breath.
2. You have more resources than you know!
3. Your job is very important!
Being a volunteer is not an excuse for doing a poor job.
Remember…
In AYSO, it’s about more than the game!
6
Regional Referee Administrator Duties
Quick List
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Register your referees annually;
Work with the Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate; (CVPA)
Appoint a Regional Director of Referee Instruction; (RDI)
Appoint a Regional Director of Referee Assessment; (RDA)
Develop a schedule for training and game coverage;
Prepare an annual budget;
Communication – before, during and after the season;
Provide leadership and be an active role model;
Promote referee welfare within the Region;
Represent the Region at Area meetings;
Know the rules (Region, Area, Section, National);
Work with RC, Region Coach Administrator and Region staff;
Identify and train a successor;
Collaborate with the Area Referee Administrator. (ARA)
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Where do I start?
• To have a successful season you will have to put
these pieces together.
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You Are Not Alone!
Here are People Who Can Help:
• Previous RRA and staff
• RC – Regional Commissioner
• CVPA – Child & Volunteer Protection Advocate
• RCA – Regional Coach Administrator
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You Are Not Alone!
Here are People Who Can Help:
• ARA, ADI, ADA – Area Referee Staff
• SRA, SDI, SDA – Section Referee Staff
• National Referee Advisory Commission (NRAC)
• National Referee Program Administrator (NRPA)
 Thomas Bobadilla
• National Office Staff
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Where to Get More Information
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AYSO National Referee Program Manual
AYSO Guidance for Referees, Coaches, Other Volunteers and Parents
AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game
National Rules & Regulations
Recruiting & Retaining Referees
Referee Mentor Handbook
Other Useful Sources
• Regional Guidelines
• Area and Section Guidelines
• Various Web Sites
Any Suggestions ?
11
Useful Websites
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WWW.AYSO.ORG
WWW.eAYSO.ORG
WWW.FIFA.COM
WWW.USSOCCER.COM
• WWW.ASKTHEREF.ORG – fun
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Fix It Before It Breaks
Be proactive – Anticipate problems
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National Rules & Regulations
Standard Regional Guidelines
Policies & Procedures
Protest Committee/Dispute Resolution
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Develop Your Team
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You - Region Referee Administrator (RRA)
Assistant Referee Administrator (A-RRA)
Director of Referee Instruction (RDI)
Director of Referee Assessment (RDA)
Referee Scheduler
Director for Youth & Women Referees
Regional Coach Administrator (RCA)
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Develop a Communication Plan
• Communicate Early & Often
• Be Consistent
• Use Multiple Methods
– (Hardcopy and Electronic)
• Web sites (local & national)
• Be Accountable (you and your team)
• Misconduct / Dispute Resolution
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Support AYSO National Programs
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National Referee Program
National Coaching Program
National Management Program
Very Important Player (VIP) Program
Safe Haven Program
Kids Zone® Program
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Calendar of Events
Local & National Events
Training
Tournaments
Registration Dates
Beginning & End of Season
Mentor/Assessor Schedule
Meetings
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Time & Task Deadline Calendar
Build your Time & Task Calendar “Backwards”
Determine:
• What must be done by the day of the event
• What is the logical order
• What needs the longest lead time
• What has the highest impact on success
• Who has Responsibility, Authority,
Accountability
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Population
Where Do We Get New Referees?
Player & Parent Involvement
U6
U8
U10
U12
U14
U16
U19
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How Do We Get Referees
1.
2.
3.
4.
See “Recruiting & Retaining Referees Manual”
Make the job fun and easy
Minimize problems outside the touch lines
Recruiting is a never ending annual task
• Parents of Young Players
• Youth Referees
• Buddy System (Couples): 2 makes 1
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Training Referees
• Register and advertise the course
• Order course materials
• Identify instructors
–Region, Area, Section & National
• Schedule training for new referees
–Flexible: evenings, half day, multi-day
• Design a Returning Referee program
–Annual Updates
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Training: Food for Thought
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Identify Available/Potential Instructors
Flexible Training for New Referees
Returning Referee Training Program
Incentives to Encourage Attendance
Training for: Fun, a Challenge, Growth
Upgrades Take Time
Appreciate Referee Efforts
Remember – Plan Ahead
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Training Course Objectives
U-6, U-8 Official
Fun, fair and safe fundamentals
Assistant Referee Assistant Referee duties- offside
Basic
Intermediate
Advanced
National
Basic knowledge needed to referee
Knowledge for more challenging matches
Knowledge for most AYSO matches
Knowledge for all AYSO matches
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Why Schedule Referees
• No Refs – No Games
• Scheduling is crucial to your program’s success
• Needs to be well-organized, fair, flexible
• Meet the needs of the Region, Teams, and
Referees
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What Must You Know…
…before you can start?
5 Important Steps:
1. Identify your requirements
- Players, Games, Dates, Fields, Referees
2. Develop a Plan
- How will you schedule your referees?
3. Schedule the Referees
- Implement the plan
4. Publish the Schedule
- Make available to all
5. Maintain the Schedule
- Changes during the season
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Do It – Step 1
Identify your Requirements
•Get your game schedule
- Age divisions
- # Games per day
- Playing dates
•Get your referees
- Returning referees
- New Referees
•Maintain a database
- Ref Name, telephone, email
- Certification level, skill level
- Parent, coach, player – Team #
- Availability constraints
- Other ?
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Do It – Step 2
Develop your Plan
How will you schedule your referees?
• For example –
Age Division
Scheduling Method
Divisions U-5/U-6:
Don’t assign referees. The coaches
will handle this responsibility
Division U-8:
Don’t assign referees. Each team
will provide their own.
Divisions U-10 to U-14:
Assign referees based on the
Referee Team method.
Divisions U-16/U-19:
Assign referees using the selfscheduling method.
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Let’s Look at Some Scheduling Methods
– Pros and Cons
Scheduling Method
Russian Roulette
Pros
Cons
Midnight Caller
Do It Yourself
Assigned Games
Referee Teams
Web-Based
Computerized
Programs
Others?
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Do It – Step 3 …
How will you schedule your refs?
Scheduling the Referees – Sample Plan Region X
Divisions U-5/U-6
coaches will manage these
games
Division U-8
Assign Referee only
Division U-10
assign Referee only, recruit
club lines each team
Divisions U-12 through U-19
assign the Team Referee
Method (Referee, Assistant Referees)
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Do It Step 3…Get your game schedule
How
Many
Fields?
Time
Field 1
Field 2
Field 3
Field 4
Field 5
Field 6
8:00
U-8
U-8
U-10
U-10
U-12
U-14
U-8
U-8
U-10
U-10
U-12
U-14
U-10
U-10
U-12
U-14
U-10
U-10
U-12
U-16/19
U-12
U-16/19
8:30
9:00
9:30
10:00
Region X
has 1
full-sized
field and
5 smallsized
fields.
U-8
U-8
U-8
U-8
U-8
U-8
10:30
11:00
11:30
12:00
12:30
1:00
U-8
U-8
U-8
U-8
U-8
U-8
1:30
2:00
U-10
2:30
3:00
3:30
U-12
30
How Many Games?
Region X has 36 Games/Week that need referees
U-5&6
26 Teams
U-8
32 Teams
U-10
18 Teams
U-12
12 Teams
U-14
6 Teams
U-16/19
4 Teams
13 Games/Week
16 Games/Week
9 Games/Week
6 Games/Week
3 Games/Week
2 Games/Week
Note – U 5&6 games may not need refs- handled by coaches
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How Many Refs Do You Need?
Rule of Thumb
If you assign each referee for a ½ day or less, you need:
U-5&U-6 No Refs (Managed by coaches).
U-8
1 experienced referee (or U-8 Official) to
do 4 games.
U-10
1 experienced ref + 2 club linesmen to do
3 games.
U-12
1 experienced ref + 2 new referees or ARs
to do 2-3 games.
U-14
1 experienced ref + 2 new referees to do 2
games.
U-16+
3 experienced referees to do 2 games.
Assume 15% will not be available any given Saturday
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29 Referees Needed in Region X
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U5&U6 13 Games/Week
U-8
16 Games/Week
U-10
9 Games/Week
U-12
6 Games/Week
U-14
3 Games/Week
U-16/19 2 Games/Week
0 Refs
4 Exp Refs or U-8 Officials
3 Exp Refs + Club Linesmen
3 Exp Refs + 6 New Refs/ARs
2 Exp Refs + 4 New Refs
3 Experienced Refs
15 Exp + 10 New Refs (U-8 Officials, ARs, Club Linesmen) = 25
Assume 15% will not be available (25 x .15 = 4 Refs)
25 + 4 = 29 Referees Needed
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27 Refs Available in Region X
Available Volunteers
3 Assistant Referees
2 U-8 Officials
17 Regional Referees
3 Intermediate Referees
1 Advanced Referee
1 National Referee
Code Names
(ar1 – ar3)
(u8o1 – u8o2)
(r1 – r17)
(i1 – i3)
(a1)
(n1)
Note: The RRA is not the “spare” referee!
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Referee Teams
Ref
Team
Name
Email
10-1
Harry Potter
potter@asyo.org
10-1
Homer Simpson
homer@ayso.org
10-1
Bilbo Baggins
baggins@ayso.org
10-1L
Steffi Seitz
steffi@ayso.org
10-2
Mark Fults
mark@ayso.org
Cert
Asst
Ref
Reg
Ref
Inter
Ref
Adv
Ref
Natl
Ref
Schedule
Requests
Skill
Level
555-123-4567
Morning games only
U-8
555-123-4567
U-10
555-123-4567
Do not scheduled
when Bart is playing
Afternoon games
only
I’ll ref anytime
555-123-4567
Saturday all day
U-19
Tel Number
555-123-4567
10-2
10-2
10-2L
10-3
10-3
10-3
10-3L
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U-12
U-16
Blank Schedule for Region X
Time
Field 1
Field 2
Field 3
Field 4
Field 5
Field 6
8:00
U-8
R(
)
U-8
R(
)
U-10
R(
)
U-10
R(
)
U-12
R(
)
AR (
)
AR (
)
U-14
R(
)
AR (
)
AR (
)
10:00
U-8
R(
)
U-8
R(
)
U-10
R(
)
CL
CL
U-10
R(
)
CL
CL
U-12
R(
)
AR (
)
AR (
)
U-14
R(
)
AR (
)
AR (
)
12:00
U-8
R(
)
U-8
R(
)
U-10
R(
)
CL
CL
U-10
R(
)
CL
CL
U-12
R(
)
AR (
)
AR (
)
U-16/19
R(
)
AR (
)
AR (
)
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Scheduler’s Worksheet
Time
8:00
ar 1
9:00
10:0
0
X
ar 2
X
X
u8 1
X
r1
X
X
r2
X
X
i1
X
i2
a1
n1
11:00 12:00 1:00
X
X
2:00
X
X
X
No
Problem
X
X
Potential
problem
Not very
good
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
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Sample Referee Schedule
Week 1
Teams
8:00 AM
Referees
Teams
Field 1
Field 2
Field 3
Field 4
Field 5
Field 6
08B1 v 08B2
08G1 v 08G2
10B1 v
10B2
10G1 v 10G2
12B1 v 12B2
14B1 v 14B2
R: U801
R: U802
Team: 10-1
Team: 10-2
12G1 v 12G2
14G1 v 14G2
Team: 10-1
Team: 10-2
08B3 v 08B4
08G3 v 08G4
R: U801
R: U802
RL: U1001
CL:
CL:
RL: U1002
CL:
CL:
9:00 AM
Referees
Teams
9:30 AM
10:00
AM
10B3 v 10B4
Referees
Teams
Referees
RL: U1001
CL:
CL:
08B5 v 08B6
08G5 v 08G6
R: U801
R: U802
10G3 v 10G4
RL: U1002
CL:
CL:
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Do It – Step 4
Publish the Schedule
• Let everyone know
– Referees - Teams - Fill-in referees - Field staff
• Publication Methods
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Email to each referee
Post schedule on website
Post schedule at fields
Mail hardcopy to referee
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Do It – Step 5
Maintain the Schedule
• Changes will happen
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Add New Referees
Referee can’t make it
Re-assignments for upgrade assessments
Game schedule changes
• Can the Referee Scheduler do it all?
• If small Region – probable
• If large Region – get help
• Add support staff by –
– Age division
– Field assignment
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Can Automation Help?
Absolutely – just don’t lose the personal touch.
After all, this is a people-job
Examples:
none officially supported by AYSO
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Arbiter Sports (arbitersports.com)
Referee Assistant (referee-assistant.com)
Schedules etc (schedulesetc.com)
Club Spaces (clubspaces.com)
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Example of Automation?
Share your experiences with automation.
How has your Region used automation?
What has worked?
Referee Assistant Computer
Program
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Scheduling Conclusion
•
Referee scheduling is a challenging but critical task.
•
5 steps to successful Referee Scheduling
1. Identify your Requirements
2. Develop a plan
3. Schedule the referees
4. Publish the schedule
5. Maintain the schedule
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•
Develop the method that is right for your Region
Consider use of automation to make the job easier
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Keep ‘em coming back
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Nothing succeeds like success
Ensure referees are well trained and supported
Mentors help during and after games
Support group socialization
Online discussion groups
Motivational incentives
• Minimize problems outside the touch lines - Kids Zones
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Building a Budget
• Training Courses needs:
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Facilities Rental: School, Library, Community Center
Course Materials: Handouts, Certificates, Badges
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
Equipment Rental: LCD, VCR, Overhead Projector
• Referee Supplies
• Uniforms, flags, whistles
• Awards and incentives
• Referee Meetings
• Support & Camaraderie
• Staff Development
• Instructor & Assessor Training
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Budget Information Sources
 Previous Year’s Budget
 Actual Expenditures
 Previous Year’s Rosters
- Materials Needed
- Number attending
- Number Upgrading
 Remaining Uniforms & Supplies
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Making the Budget Work
 Ensure Adequate Lead Time for Orders
 Coordinate Orders with RC & Treasurer
 Utilize AYSO Reimbursement Form
 Access to “Official Purchaser”
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Summary
• Know your duties –
– Enlist Lots of Help
• Get Organized
– (people, information, staff communication,
calendars)
• Get Everyone
– Registered and Safe Haven‘d
• Make recruiting an ongoing team effort
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Summary
• Provide ample
– training opportunities
– mentoring opportunities
– upgrade opportunities
• Schedule
– retaining, recruiting, schedules early !!!
• Develop & submit a detailed budget
• Create a supportive environment
and remember…
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In AYSO,
it’s about more than the game!
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