Reffing: What are you going to do about it?

[Robbo]

I fully understand your position on this Robbo but the idea of training refs isn't a new one and the fed cup incident seems to have brought this to a head. I agree that this single event has been blown out of proportion and shouldn't be used as an excuse to force the subject but on the otherhand this sport has some of the most complicated rules to learn and at the moment us newer refs are forced to go from punter reffing to tourneys without any idea of the pace and pressure of tourney reffing.

I didn't mean a course needs to be run and a certificate of competence given more a resourse for refs to get up to pace and learn the rules on the job as it were without the pressure of a tourney and players competitive attitudes to scare you away from reffing.

Once such a resourse is in place for refs that choose to use it the fed could follow up with some sort of certified training course. In addition if a player database is set up install a refferee database alongside with said qualifications and capability included.


I just want to improve as a ref alongside any improvement in uk tourneys and if things start to move quickly on the feds front I want to be able keep up.

Phil, I'd ask you this question, if phouli and his fools from the weekend hadn't of acted like spoiled bitches, then would the original thread discussing the Fed Cup have descended into the chaos like it did???

I don't think so, there may have been a few gripes but from what I saw, the main bitches came from phouli and a few ingrates, hardly representative of the main demographic of tournament baller who attended the event.

I think for the most part, the great majority respected the reffing, appreciated mistakes are always made and as such, took account of it when assessing the weekend.
I think the weekend went well enough for a first time event but like a lot of things in life, the minority spoiled it for the others.

I have heard phouli has gone cap in hand trying to apologise his way outa trouble by getting in touch with the refs who were physically threatened and abused by his team, but this is a transparent action borne out of desperation rather than sincere regret.

My one regret is he mentioned his team would not be playing any more Fed events, I regret he said it because I would have advocated we ban him and his team from any further events to ensure every other team has a chance to enjoy what they paid for instead of having to witness a bunch of cry-baby losers.

 

[philfull]

Robbo I can see that phoilis and his teams actions have cut deep with you and from reading this you have viewed this as a personal attack on your event. Paintball is full of aholes that spoil things or divert something good into a siding but i wasn't forming my oppinion from the events at the cup. I have been playing for alot of years and was part of the formation of the killer clowns in the 90s and from 15 years of playing woods speedball etc I have been on the recieving end of bad reffing and now reffing have been the cause of arguments by calling things as i saw them.

All I am suggesting is an orientation day to new refs to avoid people being put off from reffing, this is a stop gap resolution to what the fed may organise if you want to view it this way but i just think giving refs a starting point may help instead of us jumping in at the deep end and possibly causing arguments with game effecting calls.

I understand that any certified or sanctioned course would have to implemented the fed's own way and i'm not trying to rile you or goad any immediate action from the federation simply find a way to improve my own ability when reffing a game of paintball.

If someone does organise a day or weekend of training that suits what i feel will help then good as the implimentation of a properly structured training scheme would take time and effort from people already under a heavy workload.

 

[Robbo]

Robbo I can see that phoilis and his teams actions have cut deep with you and from reading this you have viewed this as a personal attack on your event. Paintball is full of aholes that spoil things or divert something good into a siding but i wasn't forming my oppinion from the events at the cup. I have been playing for alot of years and was part of the formation of the killer clowns in the 90s and from 15 years of playing woods speedball etc I have been on the recieving end of bad reffing and now reffing have been the cause of arguments by calling things as i saw them.

All I am suggesting is an orientation day to new refs to avoid people being put off from reffing, this is a stop gap resolution to what the fed may organise if you want to view it this way but i just think giving refs a starting point may help instead of us jumping in at the deep end and possibly causing arguments with game effecting calls.

I understand that any certified or sanctioned course would have to implemented the fed's own way and i'm not trying to rile you or goad any immediate action from the federation simply find a way to improve my own ability when reffing a game of paintball.

If someone does organise a day or weekend of training that suits what i feel will help then good as the implimentation of a properly structured training scheme would take time and effort from people already under a heavy workload.

Phil, it wasn't my event at all, it was the Federation's.
However, this is my site and phouli had the audacity [and lack of respect] to come on here declaring he wasn't going to attend any more Fed events and bitching about the event and the refs.

The fact he and his bunch of wannabees had acted like a$sholes seemed to have escaped the 'righteous' indignation he was expressing but like any true a$shole, he was at least consistent in his ignorance.

As for your ideas re the reffing thing, cool, I got no problem with any of that whatsoever.

 

[philfull]

it was a generic "your" as you are part of the fed board, as for shock not taking part in fed events I doubt they will be a miss and with the fed sanctioning the masters and nspl events then they won't have much involvement in uk ballin and i would doubt they would have the audasity to try their last stunt at a mill event or across the pond.

Causing all of this over what was essentially a training day worth of paint for a pro team seems pethetic. I hope their sponsor views this as dimley most of us do and pulls his sopport from such childish acting "pros".

 

[Dark Warrior]

I wouldn't be asking 'who better', I would be asking 'how better' and I am merely suggesting a scheme that is accountable from the ground up and not half way up.
The federation's natural touchstone on matters such as this will be Steve Bull and until we have talked to him at how best to structure any training scheme, and of course, the rest of the board have had their input, then you can't expect me, or any other board member, to be giving a provisional green light to anything.

As I said, if people wanna go off and do their own thing and train themselves up, cool, good on them, but this doesn't necessarily mean it will be a natural fit with anything the Federation want, or are planning to do.

As you say "how better", would have been a more fitting ending.
My take on things is formulated from conversations with refs, players and spectators alike.
Again I have always said that anything put together has to be ratified by the Federation

 

[WOODY LOKI]

reffing

I'll open my post by saying please please please will the fed look at helping some respected members of the reffing community start putting together a reffing course within the uk.

i'm not knocking any of the refs i have encountered this year because they have all done an expcetional job which without i couldn't play. like reffing any sport it becomes a thankless task which isn't easy.

I feel with all the changes that are going on and all the good work we need to address all aspects of the sport and reffing is one of the major topics of conversations after every event.

we need enough competant and trained refs on fields.

There are people out there with the passion to make this happen and i will offer whatever support to making it happen i can. I also realise that i am a nobody but i have a passion for paintball.


woody

 

[Robbo]

I'll open my post by saying please please please will the fed look at helping some respected members of the reffing community start putting together a reffing course within the uk.

i'm not knocking any of the refs i have encountered this year because they have all done an expcetional job which without i couldn't play. like reffing any sport it becomes a thankless task which isn't easy.

I feel with all the changes that are going on and all the good work we need to address all aspects of the sport and reffing is one of the major topics of conversations after every event.

we need enough competant and trained refs on fields.

There are people out there with the passion to make this happen and i will offer whatever support to making it happen i can. I also realise that i am a nobody but i have a passion for paintball.


woody

I think the subject of reffing was always going to be on our agenda at some time and it seems as though the antics of one team has ended up bringing the subject of reffing hurtling up the agenda .... I don't like an extremely small minority of as$holes ostensibly dictating what we do on the board in terms of prioritizing.
Unfortunately, this situation has now politicised and we will deal with it accordingly, but trust me on this, we will structure any reffing program as professionally as we can, it will be accountable and trained but give us time please Woody, we can't do everything at once mate.

 

[HPGer]

Why don't we use the EuroRefs to carry out the training? They are experienced and well trained Refs. They are used accross Europe to implement a set standard of reffing. Another added bonus for people that decide to take on the task of being a Ref, they would be able to be called up to attend international events.

That would only be possible if they are qualified EuroRefs! Makes no sense to run an independt UK REF Body.

Surely the EuroRefs would be happy to work with the Fed Board to make sure the Fed requierments are met.

As Eric states there are four well trained EuroRefs in the country that have been doing this for years. Jabba, Dave, Nick and Oli. Those guys are called up on the marshal all the time, not only in the MS but PALS and many other series.

 

[Robbo]

Why don't we use the EuroRefs to carry out the training? They are experienced and well trained Refs. They are used accross Europe to implement a set standard of reffing. Another added bonus for people that decide to take on the task of being a Ref, they would be able to be called up to attend international events.

That would only be possible if they are qualified EuroRefs! Makes no sense to run an independt UK REF Body.

Surely the EuroRefs would be happy to work with the Fed Board to make sure the Fed requierments are met.

As Eric states there are four well trained EuroRefs in the country that have been doing this for years. Jabba, Dave, Nick and Oli. Those guys are called up on the marshal all the time, not only in the MS but PALS and many other series.

Why have you taken on another identity to ask this question, why not decloak ?
....oh, you are banned that's why, I nearly forgot

 

[Tony Harrison]

Eric, thanks for your support.

Pete, thanks for trying to bring structure to chaos.

I'm happy to wait for the word from the Federation so we can have some kind of organised approach to a training program.

I just got back to the UK today, but messaged Jabba before I went with a view to discussing my ideas with him.