Observation of a referee

[Mauler]

Originally Posted by edew

I am well aware, as a referee, that I'm fallible and will make a bad call here and there. So I do give the referee the benefit of making such bad calls as well. Of course, it's not beneficial for anyone if such bad calls are not corrected and explained afterwards, which I feel is within reason.

Remembering all too well what it was like to be an apprentice referee, I can't begin to tell you how IMMENSELY BENEFICIAL it was to have coaches set me aside after a bout and point out where I went wrong. Essentially, they were being part-time coaches for my refereeing as well as coaching their fencers, because they understood one more improved referee is a step in the right direction. And in the end, it helps to have the referees be on the same wavelength as their own coaching, and their fencers. As long as the three components all work (together and separately) toward being more "correct," then everyone wins.

The great ones showed amazing discipline and understanding at moments that would've normally warranted a furious outburst (i.e. their top performer lost a critical bout because of my royal screw up). But already having fully assessed the extent of my knowledge and limits just by watching me ref in earlier rounds, they were very good at figuring out which bad calls were just mistakes, and which calls were based on absolutely false understanding in my part. Whichever was the case, they gave me a corresponding advice to help me minimize the possibility of that happening again.

If it was an uncharacteristic mistake that just popped up, they let me know in case I didn't already catch myself. And if I had a misunderstanding of how the rules applied to an unfamiliar situation, they set me aside and "coached" me so that I can make correct calls in the future. Some coaches did this in an amiable manner. Some did in more "direct approach" (i.e. screaming and spitting in my face cursing my descendents).

But regardless of their approach, I appreciated that they were willing to offer me their knowledge which will only make me a better referee. And everytime I learn something new from them, I do my absolute best to not to let them down in the future. Ever since I have recognized the coaches' feedback as an invaluable resource, my refereeing started improving at a dramatic rate.

You can tell who they are. The coaches sitting quietly by strip side, making quiet "coaching remarks" to the referee whenever the referee slips from his/her normal level of performance of the day. Before long, you realize that they are not berating the referee, or trying to influence the referee to favor their fencer. Rather, they just want the referee to perform at his/her best, so that their fencers can fence at their best as well.

[KD5MDK]

I'm suddenly tempted to become a coach just so I can mislead a new referee into thinking epee has ROW.

[Stryder]

Let me second what E said.

Coaches can ruin referees by yelling a screaming at them, they can chase young refs away before they develop the confidence they need.
But coaches can also guide refs and help them learn what they need.

I have many stories about coaches trying to do both to me as I was a new ref, some coaches liked me and some hated me and the feeling was often mutual. Some screamed and some pleaded and some threatened and abused me. None of these attempts changed me for the better as a ref. A ref cannot become better during the course of the bout simply because you want him to.

The only coaches that made any real impact on me were the ones that spoke to me with some control and some respect after the bout was over.

During the bout a ref has to maintain control of the area and impartiality. Any attempt to influewnce or educate him must be resisted by a ref who is out of his depth and is unneccessary for a ref who is not.

After the bout! Please let the refs try thier best and after the bout teach them so that they can try to do better next time. And if you a re a fencer or a coach, you WILL see them again. There are too few suckers in this world who are willing to take the crap that comes with being a ref.

I would like to thank many coaches for helping me develop into a good ref. They were the most important aid I had. Like a good opponent teaches you to fence, a coach that was not satisfied with your refereeing is the only thing you have to help you learn.

One coach who always helped me get better by telling me when I had made a mistake without insulting me and without sugar coating was Valdek Czaja (Sorry about the mispellings)
He was always a class act and I came to respect his opinion so much that I sought HIM out after the bout. He helped me to become as good a ref as I am. (How good that is may be subject to debate.)
I have tried to follow his example and be a good coach to the refs as well as the fencers I deal with.

Thank you to Valdek and to all the coaches who helped me learn. And to all the ones who just yell and complain, I don't really remember anything you said. All I remember is that because of all the whining, some people didn't enjoy that fencing tournament as well as they might have.