MYSA Referee Mentor Program

Transcription

1 MYSA Referee Mentor Program by Peter Jarnstrom Overview

2 Introduction Welcome to the MYSA Referee Mentor Program! This overview describes the program, its purpose, and the qualifications, requirements, and expectations for mentors. Let s begin by considering why youth soccer needs referee mentors.

3 We have a problem Quality officiating is an essential element of any successful sports program. Youth soccer is no exception. MYSA and its member clubs need capable and committed referees. Yet each year hundreds of our state s registered soccer officials choose not to recertify.

4 Players and teams suffer These annual losses result in an ongoing shortage of experienced officials, a shortage that hurts our players and teams. The constant turnover also means that Minnesota must train hundreds of new referees each year.

5 Retention is key The key to breaking this frustrating and costly cycle of turnover? We must improve referee retention. If we do a better job of retaining officials from year to year, they will have more time to gain experience and confidence. This will allow them to perform better, which in turn will benefit other match participants. But improving retention is not easy.

6 What can we do? Some people leave officiating because they move away for school or work, become busy with families and careers, or can t keep up with play due to injuries, illness, or aging. These factors are largely beyond our control. Others drop out because they don t get enough assignments or earn enough money. Assignors and clubs must address these challenges at the local level. But MYSA and clubs can work together to help the many novice referees who are at risk because they are uncertain of what to do, afraid of making mistakes, and fearful of being criticized.

7 Mentors! If we want to improve referee retention, we must touch the lives of novice officials enough to convince them that quitting is not an option. They need someone to talk to, someone to share their concerns with, someone who understands what it s like. In short, they need mentors!

8 What is a mentor? Webster s unabridged dictionary defines a mentor as a close, trusted, and experienced counselor or guide and as a teacher, tutor, coach.

9 What is referee mentoring? Mentoring occurs whenever more experienced officials offer guidance and support to less experienced ones. Veteran referees routinely help newer officials. This traditional, unstructured approach to mentoring has value, but an organized mentor program is more consistent and effective.

10 Why certified mentors? It s tempting to believe that any experienced official can serve as an effective mentor, but the reality is quite different. Some clubs simply designate the most senior available referees as mentors without properly screening them to determine their aptitude for the job or training them in the essential concepts and techniques that will help them to be successful. It shouldn t surprise anyone when this approach leads to problems. Clubs that use certified mentors can be confident that novice officials will receive guidance and support that are accurate, consistent, and effective and that lead to improved referee satisfaction and retention.

11 The program MYSA sponsors a mentor program that helps to bridge the gap between the formal instruction that novice referees receive and the real-life demands of officiating. Certified mentors provide guidance, encouragement, and protection for referees during their crucial early assignments. The MYSA Referee Mentor Program adds structure, quality, and consistency to the great tradition of officials helping each other.

12 The PURPOSE of the MYSA Referee Mentor Program is to enhance the youth soccer experience for all participants by improving referee performance and retention.

13 The FOCUS of the program is to guide, support, and protect novice referees primarily first, second, and third year officials.

14 The program s GOALS are to: 1. Help novice officials acquire the knowledge, techniques, skills and confidence that they need to enjoy being referees. 2. Promote consistent understanding and application of the Laws of the Game, MYSA modifications, and USSF procedures. 3. Deter problem behavior by coaches and spectators. 4. Provide useful feedback to assignors.

15 MYSA s role The MYSA Referee Mentor Program: Screens and selects qualified mentor candidates. Trains them to a consistent statewide standard. Provides a pool of certified mentors who are available to help clubs and tournaments. Encourages and supports clubs that want to start new local programs or strengthen existing ones.

16 Clubs role Participation is voluntary and clubs are free to organize local mentor programs in ways that meet their specific needs. However, MYSA strongly encourages member clubs to use only certified mentors to ensure that novice officials receive advice and support that are accurate, consistent, and effective.

17 Assignors role Referee assignors are an indispensable part of successful mentor programs. They are the crucial link that holds everything together. Actively involved assignors: Help identify mentor candidates. Coordinate referee and mentor schedules so novice officials receive the help that they need. Use feedback from mentors to determine future assignments.

18 Characteristics of good mentees Successful mentees share certain traits: Enthusiasm Eagerness to learn Willingness to accept feedback Desire to improve

19 Expectations for mentors Effective mentors have: Integrity and a commitment to high ethical standards A positive attitude Flexible thinking The ability to empathize with others Good communication skills A sense of humor

20 Minimum qualifications To qualify for the program, a mentor candidate must: Be at least 16 years old; Have at least 3 years of experience as a USSF Grade 8 referee; and Be recommended by an assignor or a mentor coordinator.

21 Annual Requirements Qualified candidates must meet three requirements each year: Register with USSF as a referee, instructor, or assessor. Complete the MYSA background check process. Complete the mentor training course.

22 Test and training New mentor candidates and recertifying mentors receive password-controlled access to an online exam that covers essential knowledge from FIFA s Laws of the Game, MYSA s modifications, and USSF s Guide to Procedures. Successful completion of the test provides access to the online mentor training course. Modules cover concepts and techniques of mentoring, opportunities for mentors, and the MYSA mentor directory and reports.

23 Opportunities Certified mentors have a variety of opportunities to use their skills: Indoor and outdoor field training sessions Regular season matches Club-sponsored tournaments MYSA-sponsored festivals, jamborees, and tournaments.

24 Directory MYSA maintains an online directory that assignors can use to find certified mentors for their clubs and tournaments.

25 Reports Mentors submit reports after their assignments. Reports summarize what mentees did well and areas that need improvement. Reports also include recommendations for future assignments. The information that reports contain about mentees is confidential. Only certified mentors and assignors have access to it. and they may use it only for mentoring and assigning purposes.

26 Mentor categories Certified club mentors are years old and may work for their local clubs. Certified state mentors are at least 21 years old and may receive assignments from any club and from MYSA.

27 Dress MYSA provides certified mentors with distinctive blue polo shirts that allow match participants to identify them easily.

28 Fee or free Mentors who serve at MYSA-sponsored events receive $20 per hour. Mentors who serve at club-sponsored events may volunteer or receive payment for their work, depending on their own preferences and the policies of the clubs.

29 Contact us! If you want more information about the MYSA Referee Mentor Program or help starting or improving a local mentor program, contact the MYSA office at: or or mysa@mnyouthsoccer.org