Personally i dont think there is a problem with reffing, the problem is with ballers attitude.
I was quite lucky when i started as i had the UKRefs judging me. These guys took time and pleasure explaining the rules and helping with any whys and what for questions that anyone may have.
If a ref can justify a call from black and white rules then great but fact is loads of current refs use their own interpretation of rules, not the matter of fact black and white rule book.
I think a very easy way to educate the players is to have a ref question time type thing before an event. Captains meetings are rushed and refs are to busy doing set up that could or should have been done by the set up crew so this does not happen.
An event i reffed regularly tackled such problems. At the start of the day there was a question time before kick off and an introduction to supair for any new players. Granted this time was not used to reach its full potential but at least it was offered. It was also drummed into players that they do not make a song and dance they if they feel they were penalised incorrectly and everyone understood that their team captain approaches the Ultimate to raise a question usually taking out any boyish behaviour.
Following each game myself and the other reffs would answer any question a player had with rules. Several players felt they were victimised and without drawing examples these players soon realised with explanation that they were simply not victimised they were educated (funnily enough these were 99% of the time experienced players), in truth these players games were brought on leaps and bounds making a much better player and no real issues.
I think personally the problem doesnt lie with the refs it lies with players thinking they know better. The only problem i see with refs is people skills which many lack. If you explain why a call was made or help the player understand the bigger picture then 9/10
of the time the player comes away having learned something, if you just shrug it off then you obviously dont understand why you were actually making the call.
The sad fact of it is people are to interested in hosing people with paint then understanding the game of paintball.
Paintball shouldnt be a game between the refs and teams it should be a demonstration of skills with the refs ensuring fairness as apose to having refs demonstrate small man syndrome and throw out unnecessary penaltys.
A training is deffo a great idea Jon and i will look forward to taking part in it but i think something anyone who wants to ref should do is understand the game before they try and judge someone else and it makes the rest much easier.
Lets hope more people get some interest and they self reflect and not just spit the dummy and vent off at refs who dont deserve it
I was quite lucky when i started as i had the UKRefs judging me. These guys took time and pleasure explaining the rules and helping with any whys and what for questions that anyone may have.
If a ref can justify a call from black and white rules then great but fact is loads of current refs use their own interpretation of rules, not the matter of fact black and white rule book.
I think a very easy way to educate the players is to have a ref question time type thing before an event. Captains meetings are rushed and refs are to busy doing set up that could or should have been done by the set up crew so this does not happen.
An event i reffed regularly tackled such problems. At the start of the day there was a question time before kick off and an introduction to supair for any new players. Granted this time was not used to reach its full potential but at least it was offered. It was also drummed into players that they do not make a song and dance they if they feel they were penalised incorrectly and everyone understood that their team captain approaches the Ultimate to raise a question usually taking out any boyish behaviour.
Following each game myself and the other reffs would answer any question a player had with rules. Several players felt they were victimised and without drawing examples these players soon realised with explanation that they were simply not victimised they were educated (funnily enough these were 99% of the time experienced players), in truth these players games were brought on leaps and bounds making a much better player and no real issues.
I think personally the problem doesnt lie with the refs it lies with players thinking they know better. The only problem i see with refs is people skills which many lack. If you explain why a call was made or help the player understand the bigger picture then 9/10
of the time the player comes away having learned something, if you just shrug it off then you obviously dont understand why you were actually making the call.
The sad fact of it is people are to interested in hosing people with paint then understanding the game of paintball.
Paintball shouldnt be a game between the refs and teams it should be a demonstration of skills with the refs ensuring fairness as apose to having refs demonstrate small man syndrome and throw out unnecessary penaltys.
A training is deffo a great idea Jon and i will look forward to taking part in it but i think something anyone who wants to ref should do is understand the game before they try and judge someone else and it makes the rest much easier.
Lets hope more people get some interest and they self reflect and not just spit the dummy and vent off at refs who dont deserve it
