Reffing: What are you going to do about it?

[Robbo]

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.

Jon, I hope you understand where the Federation are coming from in wanting to make sure there is an accountable system in place before we sanction any training program, or people within that program.

You mention Jabba, and of course, what I know of this guy, he is perfect for what we need, he takes no cr@p from anyone and he knows his stuff, exactly the sort of person we need to be adjudicating, or in his case, in charge of adjudication.

I am pretty sure both you and I are reading from the same book but maybe not yet on the same page, I just didn't want you, or anybody else thinking they could race ahead, organize whatever and then expect automatic acceptance by the Federation; there has to be a more considered approach before we can endorse anything mate.

But....from what I have seen, I think the people who have been mentioned thus far, are what we need and exactly what the Fed are looking for.

If you, or Jabba, keep me informed with what you are doing, or intend to do, then I will put it before the board and hopefully we can put a jockey on this acceptance process and steer it thru quickly.

Good luck Jon, and thanks form UK paintball in what you are trying to do.

 

[Tony Harrison]

Roger that, Pete.

I'll submit a draft of the program I have in mind to Jabba and yourself and we can go from there.

May be mid to late next week before I can get it to you - it's my son's birthday tomorrow, then I am at CPPS on Sunday.

 

[onasilverbike]

While I wasn't actually at the Federation Cup, (I had already flown out for World Cup having booked tickets before the event was confirmed) I have spoken to a number of people who attended.

From what i gather there was more to the reffing issues (on both referee and players parts) than just the Shock incident. However, not having witnessed these first hand I am not fully qualified to judge.

On another point that has been brought up in this thread, the conduct of players and a players code of conduct. It is my understanding that the aim of the Federation is to align itself and UK paintball with the European and World Orders, mainly Millennium and PSP.

If you take the time to read through the rule books of these series you should find what is effectively a players code of conduct included. As the UK leagues use a modified version of the Millennium rules, this should also be included. I feel that offering to enforce more draconian penalties than these organisations is taking things a little far, there are already penalties included in the rule book for such infractions by teams and individuals.

While I applaud the proposal of a proper training and sanctioning system for referees in the Federation sanctioned leagues, it must be executed by the right people, Jabba/Gaz, to my mind, would be the anchor point for this.

 

[Tony Harrison]

Just reverting back to some of the earlier posts on this thread, it's impossible to change the attitude of certain people towards refs.

What we can do, however, is to put together a properly sanctioned training course, with input from people who have reffed all over the world, using one rulebook, and a properly enforced set of penalties to punish offenders.

This moves towards producing a set of refs who are properly trained and graded, and paid accordingly.

Of course, experience is the best training of all. Attending a training course will not suddenly turn you into the best ref in the world.

And just to clarify my position, as the question has been asked, I am doing this independently of the UK Refs.

I have no axe to grind with any organiser, trader or ref, and no allegiance to any team.

I even like Ulrich.

 

[Robbo]

I even like Ulrich.

Jon, that is not, I repeat not, something I view as a positive!

 

[Tony Harrison]

Jon, that is not, I repeat not, something I view as a positive!

I know, I know.

Just thought I would throw it in to wind you up.

 

[Tony Harrison]

I have done a draft of the course and will think on it over the next few days and redraft it, just to polish it up.

Now, because I have reffed for a number of years, I will make a prediction.

Let's say this course is approved by the Feds, and the date and venue is set.

Less than 10 people will turn up to take the course.

Why?

Because the vast majority aren't interested in reffing, full stop.

Most of the remainder think that you won't change anything by putting on a course.

That leaves a handful who will maybe attend, before the book of excuses comes out.

So the end result will be, no change,

We will still be woefully short of trained refs.

 

[Robbo]

....And there you have it ^^^^^^^^^

The sad but true indictment of UK paintball; not that we have the situation just mentioned by Jonathan but the fact we moan about the reffing standards when they don't meet the standards we sometimes unreasonably expect of them .... or alternatively a bunch of as$holes who push the limits of shocking behaviour and try to camouflage their kinship to farmyard pigs with cries of inadequate judging.

 

[Echowitch]

Can I make a suggestion. Talk to Kitch and see if the Element/Freekz boys will do it. They ref all of the Super5ives league events regularly so they may be more interested in most to do the ref training.

Especially as some of them are focusing more on reffing now than playing for various reasons.

 

[Lo Scannacristiani]

I have done a draft of the course and will think on it over the next few days and redraft it, just to polish it up.

Now, because I have reffed for a number of years, I will make a prediction.

Let's say this course is approved by the Feds, and the date and venue is set.

Less than 10 people will turn up to take the course.

Why?

Because the vast majority aren't interested in reffing, full stop.

Most of the remainder think that you won't change anything by putting on a course.

That leaves a handful who will maybe attend, before the book of excuses comes out.

So the end result will be, no change,

We will still be woefully short of trained refs.

This would be one hell of a shame and I hope it does not come to this. I will stand on the line with the reffs if the fed approves a programe. I think its a great idea