A Message from the Director of Assessment
Gary W. Huber (MO) - Director of Assessment
If, you think of the problem of trying to become a better Referee, it seems a much harder process than for the players, teams and schools we service to learn the skills to become better at what they do in the game.
Most Referees have to actively seek ways to become better at what they do. However, the available ways are limited, because we really have very few opportunities to gain any real-life, practical game experience. Most of what on-field practice we get is during actual games. In contrast, as an example, players on organized school teams have the advantage of attending daily practices during a season, having coach guidance, and having other players help them, and also joining in practice games, to hone their soccer skills.
In my role as Director of Assessment for NISOA, I am strongly suggesting three important ways that you can help yourself improve in practical game settings.
First: How many of you regularly ask a certified NISOA Assessor to observe your game and then discuss your performance immediately with you after the game? If you haven’t done this, or only seldom do this, then you are missing one great opportunity to get to be a better soccer Referee. In your quest for Referee excellence, a certified NISOA Assessor can be your best friend and asset. A trained, certified Assessor, after observing your game performance, can sit down with you and discuss in detail your Referee strengths, and those types of performances that can be strengthened by you trying out alternative ways to handle your weaker Referee skills. Most times, when making suggestions to try alternate techniques, the Assessor will cite 2 or 3 different techniques you can try in future games to see which will help you perform better. Remember, the major purpose of an Assessment is NOT to pass or fail, but to learn how to get better. Your chapter will have a list of certified NISOA Assessors.
A second suggestion for improving your refereeing skills is for you to consider becoming part of the NISOA Mentor Program. NISOA has recently developed resource materials that will help local Referee groups set up an active Mentor program for their group. This will put you in a longer-term dialogue with another Referee with whom you can set performance goals for yourself and then regularly discuss ways, and receive advice on how, to reach your goals in soccer officiating.
The third recommendation for improvement the officials can avail themselves of is that of making sure to hold a post game debriefing of the Officiating Team after each and every game. The object is to get all three (or four, as the case may be) to openly and honestly share in a review of the game, identifying the strong points of their game management, and also review and suggest to each other how they might have worked together to make their game management even stronger with alternative methods or procedures.
Considerations of each of these three suggestions are important ways that you can help yourself improve as game officials.
1. Getting a periodic assessment by a NISOA Certified Assessor,
2. By seeing if the NISOA Mentor Program is right for you, could be of immense help in your effort to become the best possible NFHS and/or college soccer referee and;
3. A post game debriefing of the Officiating Team after each and every game.