Ref's Assessors

[MiddleMan]

I act as a mentor & its very rewarding to see young officials make their way up the ladder. Believe me it takes mental strength for a 16/17 year old to step up to the plate. Unlike assessors who are higth visability, mentors usually are low profile, and not armed with the giveaway large clipboard & sheafs of forms. They may not be evident, but there's an army of mentors out there, often older &/or retired referees who are happy to put something back into the game on a volunteer basis.

[bomaya]

Do you have an opinion of the assessor system though MM and whether being visible is a good thing or not?

[MiddleMan]

My own personal view is that assessors should be 'secret shoppers'. After all the idea is to see how the match official(s) perform under 'normal' circumstances. I know that thinking on this subject has changed over the years. When I was going for my promotions the local assessor could sometimes be spotted lurking behind a stand/tree etc . But you were never sure when/if he might turn up. I really don't know what triggered The FA's change of mind. Other colleagues might have an different opinion? I just think it is mighty difficult for a match official to perform to his natural standards whilst being 'eyeballed'.

[Gluck_ab]

All

 

Assessors, mentors and coaches all fulfil different roles within the refereeing system. Simplistic definitions are below;

• Assessors evaluate a referee's performance of stated competences and provide strengths and development points on the basis of the game that they have just watched.
  

• Mentors provide a listening ear, shoulder to cry on (figuratively speaking) and sounding board for development. A formal course must be attended to become an FA accredited mentor.
  

• Coaches provide specific plans to assist in the development of a referee and these will include technical, mental and physical advice as they apply to a referee. This will often take place over the course of a number of seasons as the referee progresses. Coaches will often have refereed at a very senior level and in this role will be passing on the benefit of their experience to their charges.
  

In my experience the combination of these three discrete elements works well. I have received the benefit of a County FA appointed mentor - with whom I am still in contact - as I progressed from Levels 7, 6, 5 and 4 and now have an FA appointed mentor as a Level 3 referee. In turn, I mentor a current CCL referee in his progress up the levels.

 

I feel the assessor system does work well and, over the course of a season, with a minimum of 50% of games at CCL Prem Div being assessed, a good indication of a referee's performance will be found and their position in terms of bandings A to E will be an accurate reflection. Equally, the club marks - while not being entirely objective - will also, over a season, give a good indication in that respect.

 

As stated by other posters, it's a requirement for the assessor to be present at the pre-match brief given by the referee to his ARs and an expectation to be managed by the referee that he will be assessed more often than not during the course of the season. The best performing referees, in both assessor and club marks, will be A and A respectively and will have treated every game as if an assessor was there. Not doing so is letting oneself down and the clubs, players and supporters - even though the latter groups may not thank you for it or fully understand the reasons why (laws of the game and their application).

[Smudge]

Great post Gluck_ab,until your last paragraph,are we the supporters,that lacking in the Laws of the game(and their application).So a best performing Referee will get A--A as if an Assessor was there.Care to tell us how many Refs were promoted from CCL last year,because if you get A-A anywhere else in life you get promotion.

[Gluck_ab]

Smudge

 

I said may not 'fully understand' not don't understand at all - there is a subtle but big difference between the two!

 

Promotion from Level 4 to 3 depends on more than just potentially being A-A. A significant factor is how many places there are to be filled at the next level up and so on, and this is managed by the FA on a national basis. This year 100 referees were promoted from Level 4 to 3 and I believe 6 were from Surrey FA, with 4 being from the CCL and 2 from the Surburban League.

[Picto Cotts]

Three CCL referees were promoted last season, presumably finishing in both band A for club and assessor marks.

CCL has a good record for promoted referees going on to officiate at the highest level of the game. A number refereeing and assisting in the Chamionship and Football League, one currently assisting on the Premiership.

[Smudge]

Where can we find out who they were?

[Smudge]

Dave Sheldrake,think he did Surrey Premier cup final.Thomas Ellams,Shaun Scott,Jason Connolly.Well done Lads.

[Gluck_ab]

Shaun Scott did the Surrey Premier Cup Final.

[Smudge]

My own personal favourite Referees when seen are Hilary Achenui,Michael Oaks,suprised they never got promotion.

[Non League Nigel]

Roy Butlers my favourite

[Gluck_ab]

Smudge

 

A good indication of referees who have done well during the season (based on assessor and club marks), and who may consequently be in the frame for promotion, are the appointments made to League and County cup semi-finals and finals. A number of those promoted last season from Level 4 to 3 received such appointments.

[Footy Mad]

How come I have never been offered a mentor?

[Smudge]

Footy what could they teach an excellent Referee like you?Think the mentoring message,is for the younger brigade,where laws not common sense, do not come into the equation.

[Picto Cotts]

How come I have never been offered a mentor?

Contact your county FA RDO.

[Gluck_ab]

FM

 

Further to PC's response, I believe it is Surrey County FA's policy to offer the support of a mentor to all promotion candidates as opposed to all referees. I presume you'd already made your current level before this commenced.

[Smudge]

Are not all Referees likely promotion candidates then Gluck,or do they have to be between a certain age range?The sky's the limit to all surely?

[Gluck_ab]

There's no upper age limit so it's down to personal choice and circumstances really. However, the earlier you start refereeing the greater the opportunity, time wise, to progress further.

[MiddleMan]

On Smudges point, there any many referees who are quite content to pass the course and referee youth or local park football. For a variety of reasons they have no desire to progress up the pyramid, and good luck to them - where would grassroots football be without this army of local referees. Electing to go for promotion takes massive committment, and as Gluck points out it is certainly not for everyone. I have nothing but admiration for those teenagers who are prepared to step up the plate, whilst many of their peers sit glued to computor screens playing pointless games.

 

I feel better for that!