In a tremendously creative approach, the SDI (Nigel Bright - a contributor here on Kicking Back) designed a recertification program to include not only observing and reporting on video clips, as is very often done, but extended this to the same on an actual professional match.
Classroom work was very well done with interactive portions along with the video clips. Also there was a surprise visit from the match officials who were gracious enough to take questions and hung around for about 15 minutes. The venue was tremendous. It was a first class event in a private section of the Fidelity Clubhouse at Gillette with a packed house of more than 200 people in attendance.
From there each referee had the assignment to observe the match, and report back via an online form, the incidents they observed and why they believe the referee took that action. These results will be gathered and compared to the comments of the assessors in attendance and published to that community to see how similar the observations were.
While unfortunately not a great night for the Revolution, it was for the 200+ referees in attendance.
I have been sworn to secrecy regarding my observations about the match, but it suffices to say I respectfully disagree with Mr. Nicol's opinion about the referee performance as he alluded to in the article today from Frank Dell'Apa.
"We don’t want officials affecting the outcome of games but it did [last] night."
ReplyDeleteIsn't this Classic!
I didn't see the game so I can't comment on the play, but I can comment on the coach's words.
It's just as wrong as the myth (urban, rural, inter-galactic) that many in refereeing still think that a good referee is never heard!
Referee's always effect the game they officiate!!! How can they NOT!!! Every action they view and judged impacts the way the players play and the coach's coach.
Whistles or no whistle, caution or no caution, Ejection or no ejection, referees are there and are noticed, the more impact the decision the more they are noticeable.
I too ref on the field when Mr. Nicol was a player and when he was a coach (bulldogs). He didn't get to such a high level as a player and a coach by NOT using all the tools that were available to him including the referee (when the ref gave him permission to).
Thanks for your comments. You are still an excellent teacher.
Great comments Anon! And thank you for the kind words.
ReplyDeleteWhile it would be optimal for a referee to never be noticed, it is also an impossibility as you noted. I believe the best a referee can hope for is to be noticed as little as possible generally, and noticed as much as possible when the match needs it most.
This level of involvement is generally determined by the players and at times can be a very carefully performed Kabuki dance.
In the case of this particular foul, it required strong presence and the send off that was meted. There was no other way around it, an none other than the referee who could do it.
For anyone to suggest otherwise is just not intellectually honest with the reality of refereeing ... as Anon points out here.