Reffing: What are you going to do about it?

[stongle]

With any new idea, it's easy to jump on the "that won't work" bandwagon.

So, instead of trying to find fault, why don't you commit to the course?

That is the only way you will change anything - by doing something about it.

Where did I say your idea wouldn't work? Infact I even applauded you for trying, no?

I mean all the things your proposing at your BBQ smell good, but ultimately you have to incentivise the ref's too. Paying them below minimum wage to stand in a field, deal with pre-madonna's and get shot at; isn't an incentive to go out and do it no matter how much you love the game. Many initiatives have been tried in the past, but there should be a minimum set down rate of pay from the Fed that all tournaments have to subscribe too, and players (all) have to pay as part of tournament entry. That is what the vast majority can do, because whilst your blueprint for ref body is probably the correct one, reward has to come into it.

As for me going on the course? Well, I'd want Blackwater rates of pay to ref a game (for a start).

 

[JNR-XV]

I think a near on free REF course, is a good enough start.

I do agree that maybe an increase in wages, i mean they have been getting paid exactly the same in the 3 short years i have been playing.. But i think for this to happen to tourney refs, it would need to start at a site ref level.. That would set the trend.

 

[stongle]

I think a near on free REF course, is a good enough start.

I do agree that maybe an increase in wages, i mean they have been getting paid exactly the same in the 3 short years i have been playing.. But i think for this to happen to tourney refs, it would need to start at a site ref level.. That would set the trend.

I think there is a whole world of difference between site and tournament reffing. I'd imagine it is illegal for a site to pay below minimum wage for reffing, so an 8 hr day for an adult ref would still be at least £46 (from 1st Oct minimum wage is £5.80 per hour for a 22 yr old+). Anyone on less that, should be spilling their guts to the Revenue.

Tournament ref's, whom have to deal with many more players, games and increased work rate should get at least a 50% increase as a basic starting point.

By increasing the cost to all players, not only splits the financial burden but gives sufficient monetary reward to those whom are willing to give up playing time for the benefit of others (because many people do not want or should not ref).

Whilst a structured programne is obviously a step forward, trying to recruit from an extremely limited playing pool will be difficult especially given the required commitment. If event attendance is anything to go by, there can't be many more than 5-600 tournament players in the UK and only a fraction of them are truly committed. The recruiting pool needs to be expanded.

If players are NOT willing to support fair pay for ref's then the price point for tournament paintball is obviously wrong (no funding for growth); and perhaps they should stop moaning about bad calls.

 

[Biscuit]

great idea jonno,but until we have a code of conduct inplace we will still have some of the same problems with refs not wanting to do it anymore

 

[NSKlad]

If you paid ref's say a hundred quid a day, I'd imagine you'll have a lot of people actually willing to do it. So much so, you'd be over subscribed.

Not picking sides, but I would image this is quite a truthful statement. I'd certainly be jumping for a spot down at the local tourney if they were throwing around money like that.

At any rate, nice thread, constructive criticism is where it's at.

 

[James25]

I also would be more than happy to come on the course and show my teams support towards the refs.

As i see it the majority of the refs have played in tounraments and have a players perspective but how many players haved reffed a tournament and have experience from a ref's perspective.

I think all teams who want to support UK paintball and the federation should atleast send there captains on a Ref course. This would give the person who should be the point of contact to resolve any issues on the field with the refs both perspectives of what has happened and will help them understand how the ref made the call he did.

 

[Kem]

where would the course be held ... ive not reffed once but if you say got offical ukpsf certificate at the end saying your a sanctioned trained reff well that idea is something everyone should want to have ... ide go on the off chance that while simply watching a tourney if they needed extra refs ide do it for free. best house in the seat.

 

[Tony Harrison]

Just waiting for the official word from the Feds until I post further on this subject.

FYI, the site I have in mind to run the first course is located near Manchester.

 

[Kem]

thats not too far away about 90 min on train ide definatly do it so long as its at a time i can make what with work on saturdays

 

[Tony Harrison]

Just to give you an idea of how the reality of continuously reffing works out:-

Ref A gets out of bed at 4.30am on a Sunday to pick up 2 other refs who live nowhere near him, to attend a major UK event which is a 2.5 hour drive away. To pick up the other refs is a 20 mile 1 hour trip, as one ref has to be woken up and this delays the journey.

So, 3.5 hours later, Ref A arrives at the site and is told off for being late.

At 8pm. games start and roll continuosly until 12.30 with no breaks. In the rain.

Ref A spends the day explaining to disgruntled players that if the ball breaks on them, they are out.

Lunch, then games resume at 1 and roll continuously until 5.00. In the rain.

Bear in mind that we are in a field in the middle of nowhere. No-one other than the waiting teams are spectating.

Cleanup, etc,means we leave the site at 6ish for the journey home.

At 9.15pm, Ref A arrives home to stoney silence from his other half, after his companions have spent the journey asleep just like they did that morning.

Glamourous, isn't it?

Please note that the above account isn't fictional - I did this for 14 years. for 3 weekends a month at one point, then went to America and found out you got respected if you were a good ref. And it's sunny over there.

So, reffing normal UK events is hard grind. However, the trips for Mayhem, Hyperball, Campaign, the Mills, PSP and Far East events made it all worthwhile for me.