Taking the referee seminar

[fencergal33]

So I got onto the FOC website today to try and figure out how the heck to get someone to come and give me and a group of my teammates the referee seminar and test. (Thanks for having that linked to FRED peet!) Anyway, it left me with a lot more questions than I started with. Can anyone help? (Perhaps oiuyt? )

1) Why on earth is there nothing that you can click on in the entire site that walks you through the process of becoming a referee? I mean, I know you have to take the seminar, and then the practical, but is that all the steps there are? It seems like basic information that would be on the page.

2) There are only about 5 or 6 people certified to give the seminar/exam in my entire section. Two of those people have no contact information (Mr. Becker!), and two others I have never even heard of! How am I supposed to convince someone to drive all the way to Charlotte to give us the seminar/exam?

3) What is customary compensation for the chosen person? Is it ok to reimburse gas, hotel, and food, or should they be paid a fee as well? If so, what is reasonable and customary?

4) There is a person in my section who has given several of these seminars and says that they are certified to do so, but is not on the list. Report to someone? Ignore it?

5) When I attempt to send a few of these examiners e-mail about wanting them to come give the seminar, what the heck should I say?


Thanks!

[KD5MDK]

Email Bill Oliver at boliver@fencingofficials.org with these questions. I'd include all of them.

[tbryan]

Originally Posted by fencergal33

So I got onto the FOC website today to try and figure out how the heck to get someone to come and give me and a group of my teammates the referee seminar and test.
....

1) Why on earth is there nothing that you can click on in the entire site that walks you through the process of becoming a referee? I mean, I know you have to take the seminar, and then the practical, but is that all the steps there are? It seems like basic information that would be on the page.
....

First of all, our division has an officer who is the "Vice Chair of Coach & Referee Development." For the past couple years, that officer has organized at least one referee seminar a year for the division. Last year, there was also at least one opportunity to take the practical within the division. Currently, this office is held by Matt Cox. You should probably contact him directly. No sense in organizing something yourself if the division will also be bringing an examiner into the division this year.

Personally, I really liked the Referee Seminar organized by the Virginia division. They ran the seminar and written exam on Saturday and held a tournament on Sunday so that everyone who passed it could take the practical the very next day. Of course, that makes the tournament...um...interesting since most of the directors until about the quarter-finals were directing at a level above their actual ability.
It made for some odd bouts.

As far as the Fencing Officials website, there's a lot of information there, but it could probably use a lot more organization of the information so that it's easier to find. I think that the Fencing referee rating process answers your first question.

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by fencergal33

So I got onto the FOC website today to try and figure out how the heck to get someone to come and give me and a group of my teammates the referee seminar and test. (Thanks for having that linked to FRED peet!) Anyway, it left me with a lot more questions than I started with. Can anyone help? (Perhaps oiuyt? )

1) Why on earth is there nothing that you can click on in the entire site that walks you through the process of becoming a referee? I mean, I know you have to take the seminar, and then the practical, but is that all the steps there are? It seems like basic information that would be on the page.

You mean the "Referee Rating Process" page (link on the "Referee Information Page" which is linked off of the home page)?

Originally Posted by fencergal33

2) There are only about 5 or 6 people certified to give the seminar/exam in my entire section. Two of those people have no contact information (Mr. Becker!), and two others I have never even heard of! How am I supposed to convince someone to drive all the way to Charlotte to give us the seminar/exam?

Paying their way. In addition to local (more or less) people, I know at least a couple of the FOC members have flown to various parts of the country over the apst couple of seasons to give the clinics. The clinic is the harder part, the test should be available, at least by appointment, at any Sectional Championships or NAC.

Originally Posted by fencergal33

3) What is customary compensation for the chosen person? Is it ok to reimburse gas, hotel, and food, or should they be paid a fee as well? If so, what is reasonable and customary?

Standard fee is $50 for the clinic. I've seen clinics with a higher fee, I've seen clinics with various discounts offered (students, everyone, people from the host division, etc.). For the past few years at least the clinics offered at Summer Nationals have been gratis. I don't know whether or not that's expected to continue, but would guess that it is.

Originally Posted by fencergal33

4) There is a person in my section who has given several of these seminars and says that they are certified to do so, but is not on the list. Report to someone? Ignore it?

Apparently the FOC is looking into updating the list, both adding new people and purging people who ought not be on it. Take KD5's advise and drop a line to Bill about it.

Originally Posted by fencergal33

5) When I attempt to send a few of these examiners e-mail about wanting them to come give the seminar, what the heck should I say?

Pretty much just what you've said here. If the person has availability s/he will let you know what they expect. If it's something you (as a group) are willing and able to give, you're all set. If not, move on and try to find the next solution.

-B

[fencergal33]

Originally Posted by tbryan

First of all, our division has an officer who is the "Vice Chair of Coach & Referee Development." For the past couple years, that officer has organized at least one referee seminar a year for the division. Last year, there was also at least one opportunity to take the practical within the division. Currently, this office is held by Matt Cox. You should probably contact him directly. No sense in organizing something yourself if the division will also be bringing an examiner into the division this year.

Hmmmm...that's funny. I never saw any referee seminar on the calendar last year. If it was there, it was probably too far for me to drive, or I wasn't ready to take it at that time. I did check our division website for things like this yesterday. I also read the minutes of the last meeting, which stated that they would be getting several referee seminars together for the year. Judging by the fact that nothing on the agenda has been accomplished as of yet (including putting referee seminars on the calendar), I'm not getting my hopes up for the Division to come through. I'll organize something myself, and let the division know that all are welcome to attend. If you want something done right......


Thanks all for you help and advice, as well as all the PM's I received on the subject!

[TooLoftheDeviL]

Originally Posted by fencergal33

Hmmmm...that's funny. I never saw any referee seminar on the calendar last year. If it was there, it was probably too far for me to drive, or I wasn't ready to take it at that time. I did check our division website for things like this yesterday. I also read the minutes of the last meeting, which stated that they would be getting several referee seminars together for the year. Judging by the fact that nothing on the agenda has been accomplished as of yet (including putting referee seminars on the calendar), I'm not getting my hopes up for the Division to come through. I'll organize something myself, and let the division know that all are welcome to attend. If you want something done right......


Thanks all for you help and advice, as well as all the PM's I received on the subject!

I attended a ref seminar hosted by the NC division just last January. It offered a discount to the NC Division members (not me) and had a relatively small turnout as there was a small icestorm involved.

[fencergal33]

Like I said....It may have been my fault. (Short notice, too far to drive, not ready for test.....something.)

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by fencergal33

Like I said....It may have been my fault. (Short notice, too far to drive, not ready for test.....something.)

Taught by the person reference in question (4)? :)

-B

[Gav]

I've received a request, from fencergal, to close this thread. It is now closed. PM me if you have any questions.