Anyone care to share info and tips for referees being assessed? I passed one with flying colors and tanked another. Very weird feeling. It seems like every person wants something emphasised and tends to contradict what is said on earlier assessments. Any info will be appreciated. Any personal experienced or certain assessors to watch out for?
Assessment for Upgrade
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Definitelynotanotherref
SILVER ELITE
I hate to name names, but someone who's name rhymes with "lip" is probably the best assessor. He is the most informative and knows refereeing inside and out. Unfortunately he is also the most unforgiving. He can spot lackluster refereeing in literally 1 minute.
Most of the other assessors seem to view the assessment as a mentorship program. I had 1 today who was borderline useless, which was disappointing even though I passed with flying colors. MLS referees are assessed every game for hours and they are way better than me, so if someone can advise an MLS ref, you can advise me.
"lip's" criteria revolves around the fact that when you upgrade to 6 and become a state referee, you will get state level games, and even though you reffed a game where both sides were happy, he still will fail you if he thinks you wouldn't be able to handle a competitive state level game.
He can tell this by the movement (Movement doesn't necessarily mean fitness, but includes fitness) and Presence of the Referee. Which are the 2 most important factors to being a referee IMHO. Both of these are gained from meaningful game experience.
I even saw him pass a referee when two teams were monumentally pissed at him because they thought he missed big calls. In reality, he missed 2 major calls and the assessor said as much. But he said, "to me that doesn't matter". He cares more about management. He has amazing career history too btw.
So he fails referees when both teams are happy and passes them when both teams are pissed. Shows you how much players, coaches, and parents opinions count LOL.
Most of the other assessors seem to view the assessment as a mentorship program. I had 1 today who was borderline useless, which was disappointing even though I passed with flying colors. MLS referees are assessed every game for hours and they are way better than me, so if someone can advise an MLS ref, you can advise me.
"lip's" criteria revolves around the fact that when you upgrade to 6 and become a state referee, you will get state level games, and even though you reffed a game where both sides were happy, he still will fail you if he thinks you wouldn't be able to handle a competitive state level game.
He can tell this by the movement (Movement doesn't necessarily mean fitness, but includes fitness) and Presence of the Referee. Which are the 2 most important factors to being a referee IMHO. Both of these are gained from meaningful game experience.
I even saw him pass a referee when two teams were monumentally pissed at him because they thought he missed big calls. In reality, he missed 2 major calls and the assessor said as much. But he said, "to me that doesn't matter". He cares more about management. He has amazing career history too btw.
So he fails referees when both teams are happy and passes them when both teams are pissed. Shows you how much players, coaches, and parents opinions count LOL.
LMAO very informative. Ill figure out who this is haha. I feel like the two teams were happy today and I failed. This is a super competitive adult league game I did and I only gave one yellow. But, supposedly that wasnt enough...
He was shocked it was the highest level and that they were mellow. I just work my charm. Now in situations and games like this, wouldnt less yellows and picking your battles be smarter?!
He said my positioning and reading game was great. As did the last assessor who passed me. Not to name names but hes a legend in FIFA referee history.
It also doesnt help how we dont get a sheet back to explain the numerical values, or scores they give...
It also sucks when you get stuck with AR's that are not up to par.
Overall, bit drained but will apply what he said to the next assessment. Even though he discouraged me because I am young...makes sense sort of.
Surfref
PREMIER
Don’t try to change what you normally do. Get two good ARs that you have worked with in the past. A bad AR can really affect the game. Send detailed game information to the ARs and include arrival times, uniforms and team info. Try to get higher level teams that will play good soccer so you don’t have to work harder. I think that 11am or later assessments tend to work out better than first thing in the morning. The referee crew seems to be more awake and ready to go. Have the referee crew arrive an hour early so your crew is fully briefed and ready when the assessor gets there 30 minutes before game time. Coordinate jersey colors, sleeve length and socks before you show up to the field. Research the teams and know their standings, cards history, and prior scores, and send that information to your ARs and the assessor. Pump and gage the game balls. Check in the players before the assessor arrives. Subs by the book, player all the way off before the sub enters. Let the coaches and captains know the game will be observed by an assessor. This usually helps keep noisy coaches in line and gets the captains to act like captains. If spectators are sitting on the sidelines, have ARs move them back 5 yards from the touch line. They can tell them it is for the players safety because you don’t want them hitting a chair. Call captains for coin toss 10 minutes before kickoff and teams onto the field 5 minutes before so you kickoff early or on time. Don’t start the game getting dinged for kicking off late. At halftime compare with AR scores and provide each other with feedback and what to look out for.
Really important things. Smile and be polite (pleases and thank yous to coaches, players and ARs). Give a good detailed pregame on game day that you have sent to the ARs a couple days earlier so they know it and will follow it. Relax and don’t try anything new. Stay close to play and make sure the players know you are there, be present but not over bearing. Let me say that again, relax and don’t do anything new.
Surfref
PREMIER
Agree. I have worked with “lip” (wasn’t hard to figure out) several times and had one assessment by him that went really well due mainly to the high quality of the teams and clean play. I was worried he would say the game was not challenging enough, but he said the players knew early on I was not going to tolerate overly physical play and changed their style to how I was officiating. He had seen both teams play dirty because the CR allowed it. Going Emeritus next year so I will only get a maintenance assessment once a year to get the feedback and fix any bad habits I may develop. I have also got some quality assessments and feedback from Kia, Mr Popejoy, KM, LN and DV. Kia failed one of my ARs because the guy showed up 5 minutes before the game and did not have the pre-arranged jersey color. A few years ago I was on a 8 to 7 assessment as an AR that LN stopped at halftime and failed the CR. Wish they still had an assessment for 8 to 7.
"Mr Popejoy" (assuming you mean the patriarch, I agree he deserves at least that level of respect) conducted the first coaching class I took. We were much younger then, and he was much more fit than me, so much so that by the end of the afternoon session I was literally puking in the grass.
Definitelynotanotherref
SILVER ELITE
You being young will actually change my advice a little bit. I assumed you were a middle aged man looking to upgrade, but assessors (and I) tend to judge young guys differently.
Real quick, if you set up a "us soccer game officials" account you can view your assessment feedback and scores. I think US Soccer is changing their platform soon, but still get gameofficials in the meantime.
Also, if you are young, try to get in and do DA (Developmental Academy) games. The league is expanding a bit and KM is looking for young new referees to get into the program. You will get the U12 solo Centers and AR's for U14-15 for the first year. As long as you seek him out, introduce yourself, look young and fit, and are willing, KM will give you a shot.... I think.
Fitness is a given for young guys. If you are young and not fit, then what do you have? For high level assessments, getting all the basic foul recognition is the floor. You don't get points for not screwing up in that department, it is a given, a baseline requirement.
Last thing in this post that I will say: educate yourself. The referee education system by itself is not enough. Become a nerd about being a referee, you have to love it that much to shoot up past your peers. Take a day or two, buy the physical Laws of the Game book, get a highlighter, pen, notebook, and post it notes and read that sucker cover to cover. You will notice a few sentences there that start with "A referee must...". Those are the non-negotiable decisions. You probably thought you could manage a Stopping a Promising Attack (SPA) foul without a card, but that is one of those "must" cards. Read from the site http://asktheref.com/ regularly. When you have time, just go back in the archives and read the responses until 2008. There is a really funny post around 2008 if I remember. Next, subscribe to MLS YouTube channel and find all the video's with "Instant Replay" in the channel. Click on the playlist, press the mute button (important), and watch the archives. That video series is essentially a highlight reel of difficult calls that referees have to make. And go the EVERY RPD. Not just 3, not just the minimum 5. Every one that you can. Then go to the association meetings, and go to the symposium in the fall even though you have enough hours. Don't be a mute, introduce yourself to many different people. Let them know you are excited about refereeing and are trying to get higher level games. Tell this even to your peers that would have no control on what games you get. Ask for feedback in every game. Take it with a grain of salt. Self assess yourself every game. What did I do? How did it work? Would I do it again? Why were people mad? Is there something extra I could have done to make that not so even though I got the call right?
If you do all this, your love for and knowledge of the game will bleed through and change your perception subconsciously on you actual assessments. Also, treat every game like an assessment. If this site teaches you nothing else, let it teach you that referees love to talk and gossip about each other.
Definitelynotanotherref
SILVER ELITE
Okay, so this past weekend I saw a young referee do his first ever Presidio competitive Center (I assume he did a few Centers in the summer, I don't know). The guy who was assigned said he was tired and wanted to be the AR and I had done the previous game and was doing the next one, so this 17 year old kid had the whistle.
It was a one sided GU13 AA-C. Mind-numbingly boring. He did not need me there lol. However, I could still tell he had potential.
He did not have any sense of positioning, he had terrible posture and was hunched over the whole game, he called some trifling foul throws where the girls back foot lifted 3-4 inches off the ground. He never looked at his AR's once. I could tell it was one of his first competitive centers, you get it.
However, I could see he cared and had a budding personality. He ran (even though he ran to the wrong positions lol, but he ran up with play nonetheless) and he was talking to the girls at every decision. He didn't need to because at that age and skill level, soccer is about the 4th thing on these girls minds during the game. But he demonstrated he was comfortable talking to the players, He never let the parent/coach complaints visibly razz him and his foul recognition was spot on.
I liked this kid so I gave him a little bit of advice. If I were assessing him, I would definitely not pass him to be a grade 6. But I would encourage and mentor him. The point is, good referees can tell a referee's strengths and weaknesses even in a boring game. Also, if you are young, you get the benefit of the doubt that you will improve. If you ever show arrogance, conceit, or pridefulness, then you lose that beneficial perception.
Your youthfulness and inexperience probably showed to that assessor. The best way to get experience in a short amount of time without having to wait for high level games is to treat every game you ref like the World cup, and watch high level refs do high level games. Assessors have no problem passing young guys, as long as it seems their inexperience isn't as much of a factor.
Watch, watch, watch the pros. Copy them. Copy the way the whistle, copy their hand gestures. You know how every single corner kick at the world cup, was: *everyone sets up, *referee blows two short whistle blasts, *he tells them all to let go, *he makes hand gesture saying stop it*, he backs up, they all go back to holding each other, referee blows whistle to start play. Yeah, do that one time (not in assessment game though). Even copy the way they run where they kick their heels up even when they are jogging. As you get better, you will learn why they do that and then develop your own style, but in the meantime, copy them.
It was a one sided GU13 AA-C. Mind-numbingly boring. He did not need me there lol. However, I could still tell he had potential.
He did not have any sense of positioning, he had terrible posture and was hunched over the whole game, he called some trifling foul throws where the girls back foot lifted 3-4 inches off the ground. He never looked at his AR's once. I could tell it was one of his first competitive centers, you get it.
However, I could see he cared and had a budding personality. He ran (even though he ran to the wrong positions lol, but he ran up with play nonetheless) and he was talking to the girls at every decision. He didn't need to because at that age and skill level, soccer is about the 4th thing on these girls minds during the game. But he demonstrated he was comfortable talking to the players, He never let the parent/coach complaints visibly razz him and his foul recognition was spot on.
I liked this kid so I gave him a little bit of advice. If I were assessing him, I would definitely not pass him to be a grade 6. But I would encourage and mentor him. The point is, good referees can tell a referee's strengths and weaknesses even in a boring game. Also, if you are young, you get the benefit of the doubt that you will improve. If you ever show arrogance, conceit, or pridefulness, then you lose that beneficial perception.
Your youthfulness and inexperience probably showed to that assessor. The best way to get experience in a short amount of time without having to wait for high level games is to treat every game you ref like the World cup, and watch high level refs do high level games. Assessors have no problem passing young guys, as long as it seems their inexperience isn't as much of a factor.
Watch, watch, watch the pros. Copy them. Copy the way the whistle, copy their hand gestures. You know how every single corner kick at the world cup, was: *everyone sets up, *referee blows two short whistle blasts, *he tells them all to let go, *he makes hand gesture saying stop it*, he backs up, they all go back to holding each other, referee blows whistle to start play. Yeah, do that one time (not in assessment game though). Even copy the way they run where they kick their heels up even when they are jogging. As you get better, you will learn why they do that and then develop your own style, but in the meantime, copy them.
It was the third game, but I hung in there pretty well physically. But at the third game it was a mental drain. I had a center in the morning and Ar after it with only a 2 hr break. Gonna give it 2 weeks before I get back into getting assessed.
I appreciate all the feedback so far. Still waiting on the nightmare of a report that will come back. I do wish that most older referees that know the mechanics and know how would mentor referees on the field. I feel most just say that a was a good call bla bla, that should be a yellow bla bla. The association I first started working with was good with that. The two I worked with after were/are just hype...
He asked if I brought the cards. In a 10 minute span there were a good share of tripping fouls that occurred with 4-5 guys around each other on the halfway line. He wanted me to card one guy regardless of if it was the first foul or not. Now...I can't always agree with that because another instructor I know who is the head honcho in Calsouth once mentioned to me how I should have avoided giving a yellow in the denial of a promising attack...So this is where I see advice from two sides and how they contradict each other.
As for the AR's one isn't trusted to do centers at the adult level. And the other was a grade 7 who is a good center but lets things go at times. As for their mechanics it was piss poor, because they didn't run after a goal was scored. Neither did they run with the play. So it felt like the teamwork was getting half assed. The game was good quality and nothing over the top, well controlled.
Now Surfref here's a major point to discuss if you would. ADDED TIME. No one mentioned this to me after I had spoken to them for guidance...Especially reffing games at the youth and adult levels we are on strict schedules that do not accommodate additional stoppage minutes. Would this be a fair thing to be assessed on, and if so, why have none of the "state officials" ever talk about this. Also, why did my previous assessor not mention it?
AR's are pivotal in terms of the teamwork side of assessment. If they don't look up at you to confirm calls or signal another direction without confirmation it defeats the whole purpose of interactive teamwork. It makes it look sloppy and would make any seasoned or experienced referee look bad. AR's can challenge a referees perspective by calling fouls that were not in the consistency of what you were calling or not calling.
But thanks for the info.
If you see he has potential, help him! All he probably needs is a buddy that will give him the right advice and mentorship to push him further. That's why I enjoy working with people that have that knowledge and personality of helping and educating. We can't rely on just self educating. So please keep it up!
As for the pro part, I agree and at same time would disagree just a little. Somethings pros can get away with because they are PROS. Pros get away with the whitty banter and the hand gestures, but I don't suggest going into a volatile youth game and start shushing with your finger to the players or even in the adult leagues LOL.
I've done DA games and I feel those teach you more about the whole FIFA style of things. With regular youth and amateur games we get into some nasty habits, but understandable for the amount we do.
As for reading the laws of the game, I'm on it. Not going to trust everything that so called "veterans" say. In the last assessment I had to enforce where an offside offence had to be restarted from! You would expect that a "6" knows that, but no. And I stuck with my gut and had the player take the IFK inside the opponents half. Afterwards I go onto the laws of the game, read it to confirm my knowledge and pat myself on the back.
This is the issue, we as referees allow our peers to have the restart where the flag is brought up. It's where the ball is touched or played. And the players are just clueless on this so enforcing it becomes a hassle for most. And always wait, better late than sorry!
Definitelynotanotherref
SILVER ELITE
All referees that want it should ask for feedback on their performance before the game. That will help loosen up the tounge from people that don't want to step on toes. Not everyone likes advice and constructive criticism I have found. With the Pros, copy their mechanics is more what I was getting at. Signaling straight, using the left hand to signal goal kick, standing still instead of jogging while you mark the direction of the throw in, not taking small steps while you walk (makes you look more purposeful), and as Surfref said: smiling.
All these little things add up and make a huge difference and are usually the things the younger refs overlook. Posture is also huge. Exaggerate the shoulders back and chest forward until it becomes natural.
With the most recent World Cup adding a noticeably greater amount of stoppage time to games that don't even have that many cards and no injuries, the expectation for referees that want to advance is there you will always add more stoppage time than the average Joe ref. There isn't a half during the regular season of Presidio that I don't add at least 1 minute to. The only reason I skimp now would be because it is a blowout, (or an adult league game with no assessment, those guys always make us start late anyways). They say nothing good happens in stoppage time, but that doesn't mean avoid it or cut it. Summer tournaments of course, your hands are tied; but regular season you have more time.
Definitelynotanotherref
SILVER ELITE
Maybe in uLittles and newer referees, but stopping a promising attack is a MUST caution in the Laws of the book. There is nothing to manage, it is a foul that affects the integrity and fairness of the game and should be swiftly and quickly carded.
If you look at Law 12 again closely, you will see that there are 2 categories for yellow cards. There is the category that is subtitled "Cautionable Offenses" and the very next sub header is called "Cautions for unsporting behavior". The former starts with "A player is cautioned when guilty of...". These are the cards that assessors want to see you manage through and keep in your pocket if you can. If the severity isn't that high of course. These cautions are in the opinion of the referee. The Latter sub header starts with "there are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for UB including if a player..."
(Emphasis added by me).
SPA (stopping a promising attack) is a must caution. Reckless is listed as a must caution as well, but what defines a reckless tackle is in your opinion.
You have to give a card for SPA and DOGSO even in the 1st minute. An impressive yellow card to give on an assessment is for Persistent infringement. They like it if you realize that a lot (3 or more) of fouls are being committed by 1 player or against 1 player (Neymar). Make sure that before you give it, you make a big show, do the point, point, point, or the hands up 1,2,3 gesture and tell him that his next foul will be a yellow (or the next foul against this player will be a yellow). And then give him the yellow like you say you will on his next offense.
Then know 2 different ways to issue cards. Typically for the must cautions like SPA and REALLY reckless tackles you want that card out fast, like at the same time as the whistle. These are the yellows that the player knows they will be getting before they even commit the offense. Then you write the name in book after the card is shown. The other style is the talk to the player, get the number and write down their name, and then show the yellow at the end. This lets you talk to them as they still believe that they might talk their way out of the yellow. As opposed to giving the yellow first and then trying to talk to them, they don't want to hear from you anymore and you are just asking for dissent at that point.
Just a Parent
SILVER ELITE
Read up on this and apply it:
1. Without complicating it. Make things simple
2. With common sense.
3. Without being a slave to the technically correct but practically wrong. Be practical.
4. Enjoy yourself.
U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program Grade Related Performance Observations September 2015
Grade Related Performance Observations
Entry Levels
- Has an elementary knowledge of the game.
- Recognizes obvious fouls and misconduct but may not recognize subtle fouls, such
as persistent infringement and tactical fouls.
- Keeps assistant referees in view while running the diagonal system of control but often
has a diagonal that is rigid. Rarely does the referee go wide or deep into the corners or
enter the penalty area when the game demands it.
- Does not recognize the need for a flexible diagonal.
- Has basic fitness but often runs at a constant pace or walks and doesn’t demonstrate
sprinting to recover from deep positions, when required.
- Gives a basic pre-game briefing which usually focuses on mechanics and signals for
proper communication.
- Main focus is on fouls and lacks the personality to manage players when the game demands
it.lol.
- The referee is in proper uniform and gives a good first impression upon arriving at the pitch.
- Applies the Laws of the Game as written with little or no understanding of the spirit of
the game.
- Deals with violent conduct and serious foul play for game control but lacks the experience
to always recognize when they occur.
- Generally ignores coaches and doesn’t have the courage or understanding to ensure
they behave and are not abusive.
- Demonstrates fitness to run a flexible diagonal for the entire game and always keep
the assistant referee in view.
- Has a work rate that varies from a jog, to a light sprint, to a full out sprint when the
game demands it.
- .l Has a firm grasp of the Laws of the Game and understands when to invoke the spirit of
the game versus the law while managing the game and the players.
- Demonstrates some personality in managing players and uses some preventative
mechanics to avoid problems during the match.
- Demonstrates self confidence in decisions and is willing to be approached by players
who have questions.
- Demonstrates a strong presence with the use of the whistle, appearance, and body language.
- Demonstrates the proper use of advantage.
- Demonstrates foul recognition and foul discrimination.
- Makes good use of cards for game control and demonstrates good card mechanics.
- Makes effective use of assistance given by assistant referees on offside and misconduct.
- Often ignores dissent rather than deal with it.
State and National Levels
U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program Grade Related Performance Observations September 2015
- Demonstrates a high level of fitness and dynamic positioning to ensure a proper view of challenges.
- Demonstrates proper mechanics and positioning for static restarts.
- Uses personality to help defuse flash points and to manage players.
- Demonstrated consistency in foul recognition, foul discrimination and use of cards.
- Demonstrates the ability to read play and anticipate rather than react to game situations.
- Demonstrates good eye contact with assistant referees on all dead ball situations and
makes good use of their assistance on offside decisions and fouls as appropriate.
- Demonstrates knowledge of the Laws of the Game, proper mechanics and procedures,
knowledge of recent memoranda, and proper restarts for all situations. Is beginning to develop a solid and thorough understanding of the most recent teachings and directives from U.S. Soccer.
- Demonstrates some preventive refereeing skills.
- Capable of refereeing the highest level amateur games within the state and in regional
and national tournaments. Assistant referee on higher level games including some
professional games.
- Demonstrates pre-game planning and game preparation skills.
- Recognizes tactical play, player roles, and the tactics the teams are employing to achieve
their goals.
- Demonstrates good fitness and a flexible diagonal to stay close to critical play
without interfering with players’ options and always has the assistant referee in
view.
- Exhibits regular good physical presence, strength of whistle, body language and
presence when making decisions.
- Makes use of personality to manage the game with calculated risk taking, 100%
enforcement of misconduct and good game control.
- Demonstrates the ability to distinguish between trifling fouls and fouls that need to be
called based upon the skill level of the players.
- Recognizes fouls that are reckless and meant to injure players and issues the
appropriate cards in response to those actions.
- Demonstrates the use of advantage when appropriate and allows teams to take the quick
free kick when they wish to do so.
- When cards are given, always sees player behavior modification.
- Demonstrates management of game techniques in recognizing gamesmanship tactics,
simulations, delaying tactics, etc., which results in maximum playing time for both
teams.
- Demonstrates a thorough verbal and relatively consistent application of U.S. Soccer
teachings and directives on the field and during off-field discussions.