2nd Annual RISRC Top 100 Forum (2015)

Top 100 Referees Forum

February 26th, 2015

Brian SperlonganoYouth Referee Administrator

Rhode Island Referee Program 2

Opening Remarks

Agenda

• Introductions

• Advancement

• State Panel aka “The Travel Team”

• Top 100 List

• Getting Games

• Assessments and Grades

• Mentoring

• Assignor Meet & Greet


Why a “Top 100” List?

• We want you to compete for the best

games

• Used to identify “the next regional referee”

• Used to determine Referee of the Year

• Helps assignors find referees to fill games

– Opportunities for YOU

– A way to advance to games “out of your town”


What’s in it for you?


• Make more money

– Avoid flipping burgers!

• Take your referee career to the next level

– Best practices to get better games

– What are the different levels of competition?

– What is “Regionals”?

• Let your parents know what you’ve gotten

yourself into (this time)

• Meet assignors & mentors

• This presentation

• Contact information

• Recertification / upgrade info

• League rules & directions to fields

• Forfeit payment request

• …and more

Referee Web Site

www.risrc.net


Referee Facebook Page

• Latest RI Referee news is on Facebook!

– Photos from tournaments

– Top 100 list updates

– Award winners & accomplishments

– National / International referee news

– Helpful tips (usually based on referee mistakes!)

• Search: Rhode Island State Referees



Regional

Premier

Competitive

Recreational

Levels of Youth Competition

•NPL, NEP, MAPLE, MASC

•Tournaments: Bayside, GPS, Seaside

•Super Liga

•Summer Cup

•Tournaments: Westerly, NK, Barrington, Coventry

•Town Leagues

•Kohl’s Cup

•Presidents Cup / ODP / Regionals

•Region 1 Champions League

US Youth Soccer Regions

Rhode island Referee Program 9

2014 Assignment Tallies

Level RefereeAssistant

Referee

Regional Leagues 20 18

Premier 311 672

Competitive 2,552 3,759

Recreational 10,000+ 20,000+


Competition Pay Tables

Level RefereeAssistant

Referee

Recreational $0 - $25 $0 - $15

Competitive $16 - $42 $13 - $25

Premier $45 - $70 $20 - $40

Adult Amateur $80 - $90 $40 - $45

• Higher level of competition = Higher pay!


In-State Appointments

• State Cup– Best teams in the state

compete

– Winners go to Regionals

– Mostly State Panel

• RI Cup– Best Super Liga teams

compete for state title

– All Top 100 refs invited

– Identification event2013 Rhode Island Cup

Smithfield, RI


State Panel aka “Travel Team”

• By invitation from SRC

• Selected in August

• Advanced instruction

• Travel & meet referees

from 13 states on the

east coast

• Work with national

instructors and

assessors

2010 Region 1 Championships

Huntington, WV


Referee Regional Travel

• Lodging, meals, and transportation provided

• Small stipend paid

• Referees roomed same-gender– Hotels or college dorms

– Odd numbers may be roomed with a referee from another state

• Early departure is typical– May conflict with school

days for May/June dates

2010 Region 1 Presidents Cup

Albany, NY


Selection Criteria

• Past participation

• Attitude & Appearance

• Fitness test required

• Responsiveness

• We get to know you by:

– Raising your hand

– Attend monthly events

– Identification events

– Mentor recommendation


2014 Appointment Calendar

Date Event Location # Referees

Early March Champions League Starts Varies Varies

May 9-10 Champions League Finals TBD 1-3 Referees

May 16-17 UYS RI State Cup Warwick, RI 20 Referees

May 22-25 Region 1 Presidents Cup Pittsburgh, PA 3 Referees

May 30-31 USCS RI State Cup TBD

June 5-7 Region 1 ODP Tournament Princeton, NJ 7 Referees

June 13-14 Rhode Island Cup Warwick, RI 50 Referees

June 25-30 Region 1 Championships Huntington, WV 9 Referees

July 4-8 Region 1 ODP Camp Kingston, RI 3+ Referees


What is “Presidents Cup”?

2013 Region 1 Presidents Cup

Manchester, NH

• Winners of 15 State Presidents Cups on the East Coast vie for Regional Title

• Regional winners advance to National Championships

• Top referees from Regionals are selected to go to Nationals!


What is “ODP”?

2013 ODP Tournament

Princeton, NJ

• Olympic Development

Program

• Individual player showcase

• Always held in Princeton,

NJ

• Top referees are selected

to go to Finals in Delaware!


What is “ODP Camp”?

2013 ODP Camp

Kingston, RI

• Instructional camp for

players (U15-U19

Girls)

• Simultaneous camp

for male & female

referees

• Always held at URI

• Referees housed in

URI dorm suites.


What is “Regionals”?

• Winners of 15 State

Cups on the East

Coast vie for Regional

Title

• Regional winners

advance to National

Championships

• Top referees from

Regionals are selected

to go to Nationals!

2013 Region 1 Championships

Kingston, RI


Typical Regional Day

• 6:30 AM – Leave Hotels

• 7:00 AM – Arrive at fields

• 8:00 AM – First whistle

• Noon – Box lunch at the field

• 5:00 PM – Leave fields

• 6:00 PM – Dinner

• 8:00 PM – “The Meeting”

– Day in review

– Assignments for tomorrow!

• 11:00 PM – Bed time


Saturday night dinner at Joe’s Crab

Shack – an ODP Tradition!

Getting There (1)

Recreational

Leagues

U8 – U12

Super Liga

Step 1: Impress your local rec

assignors and get assigned to Super

Liga competitive games

TOP 100 Ranked!


Referee Advancement (2)

U8 – U12

Super Liga

U14+

Super Liga

& Premier

Step 2: Work lots of games, move up

in the rankings and regional assignors

notice and put you in U14+ games!

TOP 100 Ranked!

Rhode island Referee Program 23

Referee Advancement (3)

Top 100

Rankings

RI Cup

ID Event

State Cup

Summer Cup

State Panel

Adult Games

etc…

Step 3: Get invited to RI

Cup! Mentors watch

your game and

recommend you for

better assignments…


Grade 7: Adult Games

• Requirements

– 5 Games as Referee, U16+ Competitive

– Grade 7 class (offered in the winter)

– Pass a field assessment

– Pass the FIFA Sprint and Interval Test

• Benefits

– Assignment priority over grade 8s!

– Can work adult games


Mike PrestonSRC Identification Committee


The Top 100 List

Assignment Ranking System

“Assignments tell the Truth”-Steve Mauricio, SRA

The “Top 100” system is based on assignments

Assignors give the best games to:

– Referees that are the most responsive

– Referees that are the most capable

– Referees that are the most reliable

– Referees that are the most available


How we create the list

Regional

Assignments

Adult

Assignments

Premier

Assignments

Competitive

Assignments

Fitness Test

Results


Examples

Assistant Referee U10 Super Liga

5 1 1x x 5 points=

Referee U18 State Cup Final

10 8.5 3.9x x 663 points=2x


Leagues (Top to Bottom)

• Region 1 Champions League

• State Cup

• Adult Leagues – Men & Women

• NPL / NEP

• MAPLE & Premier Tournaments

• RI Cup, Summer Cup

• Super Liga & Competitive Tournaments

• Kohl’s Cup Tournament

Mo

re P

oin

ts


In Summary

More Games

More Experience

Better Games

More Points

Higher Rank

Rhode Island Referee Program

Kelly MauricioPremier League Assignor


Getting Games

Premier Soccer Expectations

You just got your first premier assignment!

$50 to referee a U11 game…

what’s the catch?


In-State

• Call for referees usually via email

• Each has its own assignor and assigning

system• Some tournaments require registration

• May have different rules (subs, length of

half, etc)

• There is generally a designated referee area

Local Tournaments…


• This is a job

• Do not interfere - Watch, Observe, & Encourage

• Both at the local and state level, there are people

to help assist and mentor your child

• Referees need their own email address

IF THEY WORKED AT DUNKIN’ YOU WOULD

NOT MAKE THEIR COFFEE FOR THEM!

Special Note for Parents


Work with multiple assignors to fill your

schedule!

• Super Liga Local (U12 and below)

• Super Liga Regional (U14 and up)

• Premier Leagues

• RI Cup / State Cup

• Tournaments

Assignors


• YOU need to contact assignors!

• Have your own email address!

• Check it at least ONCE A DAY!


I don’t get Games!

Finding Assignors

Log on to:

WWW.RISRC.NET

SELECT GAME TIME(FROM BLACK TAB BAR)

CLICK ON “ASSIGNORS”

MAKE CONTACT


http://www.risrc.net/

Assignment Web Sites

Competition Assignment Site

Super LigaSuper Liga Ref Assigning

www.thesuperliga.com

MAPLE

NEP

NPL

US Officials

www.usofficials.com

Champions League

MASC

Summer Cup

All Adult Leagues

Game Officials

RIReferees.GameOfficials.net

State Cup / RI Cup

Kohl’s Cup

Some Tournaments

GotSoccer

www.gotsoccer.com


http://www.thesuperliga.com/

http://www.usofficials.com/

http://www.rireferees.gameofficials.net/

http://www.gotsoccer.com/

• USOfficials & GotSoccer

– Have to make yourself AVAILABLE

• Super Liga & Game Officials

– Have to make yourself UNAVAILABLE

• GameOfficials

– Referees Under 18 defaults to private

– Other members of your crew can’t contact you!

• Info must be correct or you won’t get paid


Special Site Requirements

• Keep all calendars up to date in ALL

assigning sites.

– Yes: this means up to 4 web sites!

• Re-assigning wastes time!

• If you accept a game:

– Block your availability in other sites

– Allow time for travel between games!

Managing Your Calendar


Availability Calendar: Super Liga


Availability Calendar: Game Officials


Availability Calendar: USOfficials


Open Game Emails

• Broadcast to many referees

• Assignors get many responses

• Raise your hand if available!

– A great way to move up

– You are doing a favor to your

assignor

– Respond quickly!

• An open game email is NOT an assignment!


• As a top 100 referee you need to have your own email.

• This way all notifications will go directly to the referee

• You will be able to manage your calendar

• Receive game notifications cancellations changes

• Receive all open game emails

• Receive any information from the state

• Parents can be secondary on contact information to help monitor behind the scenes all activity and scheduling


Your OWN Email!

DO NOT officiate games of:

• Siblings

• Parents / Children

• Cousins

• Best friends

• Do not be overly friendly with coaches prior to

or after games – this gives impression of

favoritism!

Conflicts of interest


How to get Fewer Games!

• Bad ideas:

–Turn back after accepting a game

–Frequent turn backs

–Being “Picky” about assignments

• Unreliability = fewer assignments


• Check your schedule

– MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO OVERLAPS

– Allow for travel time and late starts

– Must arrive ½ hour before kickoff

– Do not be late to a game!

• Assignors aren’t aware of your schedule

• If there is a problem, contact your assignor

immediately!

Before Game Day


• Do decline quickly (if you have to)

• Do accept your game within 24 hours

• Do know who assigned your game!• Game issues from other assignors

• Do call your assignor FIRST if there’s a

problem

Assignment DOs


Assignment DON’Ts

• Do not LEAVE GAMES PENDING

• Do not turn back games often

• Do not turn back after accepting

• Do not shop around after you accept!

• Do not bother assignor with:

• Who am I working with? (it’s online!)

• Is my game cancelled? (it’s online!)


• Referee contacts crew by email

– Arrange a meeting place

– Make sure you have cell phone numbers

• Are there special league rules?

– Do not allow teams to change the rules of

competition -- even if coaches insist!

• Do I collect money at the field?

– How much, and which team pays?

Day before match


Unfamiliar Field?


Google Maps!

The Field

Walkway

Parking

Arrive extra early on

your first visit to a

field!

• Black shirt

• Black shorts

• Black socks

• Socks pulled up

• Black shoes


Pre-Game Attire

• Different color jerseys

• Short sleeve/long sleeve

• Whistles (wrist/finger grip or hold in hand)

• Pens/pencils

• Cards

• Cold gear

• Heat gear

• Wristwatch (backup)

• Foul weather gear

• Water, sport drink, snacks

Game Day Gear


YES


Whistles and Watches

•Wrist watch

•No Stopwatches or

timers

•Whistle in your

hand

•NO neck lanyards!

NO

• Check for cancellations:

– Assignment System / League Web Sites

• Professional appearance

– Does not include sunglasses

– Complete and proper uniform

• Check-in players & coaches

– No need to make them stand in a line!

– Photos must match the individual

• Inspect equipment

• Kick off on time!

Game Day!


• Only take what you are owed!

• If you are missing an AR, divide money and

return to the teams.

• Return all money for

a forfeit

• Request reimbursement

at www.risrc.net


Money Collection

• Game Reports!

– Online

– By Mail

– Scan & Fax

• Know the requirements!

• Complete within 24 hours

• Ask your assignor if you’re not sure

After The Game


Document:

1. ALL goals

2. Fouls resulting red/yellow cards

3. Injuries

Please review what is being asked on the game report for the league you are officiating in prior to match to ensure proper reporting

ALL REPORTS MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 24 HOURS

Documentation


Mentoring

Lee BaldwinMentor, Coventry Soccer


• Mentorship Director – Al Ricci

• 401-739-6878

• [email protected]

• List of town mentors:

– www.risrc.net/assignments/mentors/


Mentorship

mailto:[email protected]

Referee Mentor Program

• State-wide – A Mentor in each association

• Experienced referees assigned to local

communities

• Access to knowledge and experience

• Helps creates path to higher level games

• Available to ALL referees


• Observation

• Communication

• Sharing

• Being yourself and sharing your experiences

• Forming a one on one relationship

• Becoming a friend

• There to help not Criticize

• We ALL have/had mentors


What is Mentoring?

• Meets with officiating team • Before the game

• Halftime

• End of game

• May Observe from the sidelines

• Could be Referee or AR

• Works with ALL levels of referees

• Gets to know the referees

• Mentors and referees are a team


Mentoring at the Game

Referees

• ASK QUESTIONS

• Learn to work with mentors

• If you want to advance, we are here to

guide you

• You can help new younger referees


Mentoring at Kohl’s cup


Closing Remarks

Steven MauricioState Referee Administrator


Referee Assault & Abuse

• Referee Assault:

– An intentional act of physical violence at or upon a

referee

• Referee Abuse:

– Threats through a physical act or verbal statement

– Verbal and nonverbal communication which contains

foul or abusive language and which implies or directly

threatens physical harm;

– Spewing a beverage on or spitting at a referee or the

referee’s personal property


• If you decide to continue the match, the adult must be

dismissed (red card).

– If the situation is unsafe, abandon the match and report

the dismissal in writing.

– The incident must be in game report - FACTS ONLY

• Identify witnesses

• DO NOT WAIT – Notify assignor / SRA immediately after

match

• FORMAL PUNISHMENT CAN ONLY OCCUR IF THE

ADULT IS DISMISSED FROM THE FIELD

• WE WILL SUPPORT YOU

Reporting Assault


• As a courtesy, notify SRA when working out

of state.

• The referee must let the SRA (Steve

Mauricio) know of the intent to officiate in a

different state regardless of a regular

season game or tournament each time.

• Provide enough time to ensure a response

Working out of State


Going away to College?

• Commuting to RI for games

• Who to contact in another state

• Permanent transfers out of state


Thank you!


Assignor Introductions

Meet & Greet


Sports

2nd Annual RISRC Top 100 Forum (2015)