Referee Training Course at Saratoga NAC

[Crash55]

I received this email yesterday and thought others might be interested in it:

-----Original Message-----
Subject: Referee course


>>Steps are being taken to hold a Referee Training Course (RTC) during
the
NAC youth event scheduled for Saratoga Springs between January 4 and
January
6, 2001. This course will be offered if six or more people are
interested
in taking it. The instruction would be provided by Bruce Gilman, in 3
subsequent sessions, each about 3 hrs long. The plan is to hold 2
sessions
on Friday night and one on Saturday. An exact starting time is yet to
be
established. We hope to find a suitable conference room in one of the
Saratoga's hotels.

All participants must be current USFA members. The course is the
official
FOC course and Bruce will send the records of completion to the FOC and
present each person with an official completion certificate. Upon
completion
of the course, the written test should be taken within one year. There
may
be a possibility to take the written test during the day on Sunday,
January
6, 2001.

The practical exam will have to wait until successful completion of the
written test. If the written test has been completed and there is a
late
starting event, there is a chance that the practical exam may take
place on
Sunday. Otherwise, the practical part would have to wait until Reno
event
in March, or Summer Nationals in June, 2001.

Any person interested in taking RTC should e-mail Mark Dolata or call
him at
(518) 877-7263. Mark's e-mail address is >>lmdolata@localnet.com<<.<<

[edew]

I wonder how they (the FOC) decided that three 3-hour sessions is what is needed.

Frankly, I don't think any person can focus on content for three hours straight (well, unless it's the new LotR movie), without blanking out.

I mean, explain the right-of-way rules, which should be almost pointless to do if the people have any idea of fencing. Then, get them to watch some bouts and call them as they think they're seeing them. And then critique their calls. How long should that take?

[Crash55]

Got me, normally I have trouble sitting through even an hour long presentation. Hopefully this will be somewhat interactive.

Having two 3 hr session on Fri night does not sound like fun. I signed up since I thought it would be good to know and the division needs rated refs (we have at most two). Plus it was free.