Unofficial Referee Handbook - Peer Review Requested

[IanSerotkin]

I've been (slowly) writing an unofficial USFA Referee Handbook over the past few months. I've had it reviewed/edited by several sources, but I am interested in what the broader fencing community thinks of such a document.

It is not yet complete, but I'd call this a very stable draft. There are only two notable sections missing. The Penalties section I haven't gotten around to yet, and the the Sabre section I don't feel that I am qualified to write. (I have a couple of people who have already volunteered to help me fill that hole.)

Please take a look and let me know what you think. Posting here or private message works equally well.

Thanks!

--Ian

[EDIT: Now with attachment!]

[edew]

Sure, I'll be happy to proof it. Where is it?

[Damon Scaggs]

I'd be happy to review it for you if you like.

[TooLoftheDeviL]

The first thing I notice as inconsistent is that your section about running a pool instructs referees to record a losing score by a "D" followed by the number of touches scored. i.e. A "V5" for the winner and a "D2" for the loser. Your example. however, lacks the "D" and just records the number of touches scored.

The included example is how I prefer to fill out the score sheet since it keeps unnecessary writing out of the already cramped boxes, but you probably want to change the text or the example to reflect the same procedure.

[IanSerotkin]

Let me clarify:

I'm posting the handbook publicly (it's attached to the original post) so everyone can see it and take a look at it.

If you would like to provide comments, either publicly or privately, then by all means do so...the more feedback, the better the document will be.

[KShan5[PrFC]]

Don't ask FOC members if you are "done refereeing for that day,"...ask them if there is anything else you can do for them.

You're not supposed to record a defeat w/ a "D" only w/ the score. So it should be V5-2 or whatever. The absence of the V indicates a defeat.

I thought the box for coaches was in between the 2 meter warning line and the end of the strip...not the end of the strip.

I was told by Gerrie Baumgart that when reffing you should never stand right at the End Line or Warning Line (as described on pg 17) because it gives on fencer an unfair advantage. If the fencer who can see you knows that you set up at the end of the strip every time they know precisely where the end of the strip is. However, the fencer you are standing behind does not get this same advantage. The same goes for standing at the Warning Line. She recommended standing in between the two lines so as not to give either fence an unfair advantage. This never occurred to me, being primarily a sabre ref, but it makes sense.

When describing the box I would point out that in sabre you are looking primarily at the opposite of epee, everything above the waste as opposed to below the knees.

I would also say that when reffing a tournament you should always take a little bit of time to warm up your eyes. Just watch fencers who are warming up and practice making calls in your head for 5-10 minutes. It helps get your eyes ready for the day so you don't jump into a pool cold.

[Peach]

I was interested to see that you inspect for the extra cords. I've never had a referee check that I have an extra body cord or extra mask cord, though I always bring them to the strip. The fencer who doesn't bring extras is doing so at his or her own risk, and will be carded if they are not there when the cords have to be replaced.

You might also mention checking for breast protectors, and how the referee should do that, as well as mentioning the ways of checking for a plastron (some referees ask fencers to unzip the jacket, but most will accept the lower edge of the plastron being pulled out from under the jacket).

Oh, yeah, and watch out for using "then" for "than" (Refereeing repechage is fundamentally no different then refereeing . . . should be "than.")

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by Peach

You might also mention checking for breast protectors, and how the referee should do that, as well as mentioning the ways of checking for a plastron (some referees ask fencers to unzip the jacket, but most will accept the lower edge of the plastron being pulled out from under the jacket).

As well, perhaps, ways NOT to check each of the above.

-B

[peet]

The URL for the list of referee ratings is:

http://foc.askfred.net

-p

[oso97]

Originally Posted by Peach

I was interested to see that you inspect for the extra cords. I've never had a referee check that I have an extra body cord or extra mask cord, though I always bring them to the strip.

What? Now, I KNOW you've been in a pool I've refereed Peach. And I always ask...

[HDG]

Page 5: is a belt -- black or any other color -- required for male refs?

[oso97]

Originally Posted by HDG

Page 5: is a belt -- black or any other color -- required for male refs?

I typically wear bracers (suspenders) myself...

[KD5MDK]

Originally Posted by oso97

What? Now, I KNOW you've been in a pool I've refereed Peach. And I always ask...

I ask, but I generally will accept a point at a pile of stuff as long as it's near the strip.

Originally Posted by HDG

Page 5: is a belt -- black or any other color -- required for male refs?

I've forgotten mine in the past and felt self-conscious about it. I think the general rule is you should look as if you know how to dress properly, and a belt (or bracers) is proper for men's official wear.

[HDG]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

've forgotten mine in the past and felt self-conscious about it. I think the general rule is you should look as if you know how to dress properly, and a belt (or bracers) is proper for men's official wear.

I ask not for sartorial reasons, but only b/c this is a discrepancy b/w the official (which makes no mention of belts) and unofficial handbooks.

[IanSerotkin]

Originally Posted by HDG

I ask not for sartorial reasons, but only b/c this is a discrepancy b/w the official (which makes no mention of belts) and unofficial handbooks.

You're correct, it's an unintentional discrepancy--belts are not required as suspenders are an acceptable alternative. Or I guess you could choose to have your pants falling down all day.

As an aside, I do recall some ref showing up to a NAC with a white belt several years ago and getting razzed about it by the FOC.

[mfp]

Originally Posted by Peach

I was interested to see that you inspect for the extra cords. I've never had a referee check that I have an extra body cord or extra mask cord, though I always bring them to the strip.

I can't recall any time over the last several years where I saw a ref at a NAC not check for the second body cord and its inspection mark in epee.

Epee fencers also seem to be trainable. An increasing number check in for pools with their jackets unzipped to show their plastron, their mask in their hand turned to show the inspection mark, also holding up and displaying the end of the body cord they're wearing that has the inspection mark and with their spare body cord in hand.

Though I do wish some could be trained to show they have at least two weapons by simply pointing at them nearby instead of carrying them into the crowd of fencers checking in.

[mgriff]

A couple of items from a BC point of view:

In the "Running a Pool" section:

Ensure that all fencers have signed the score sheet prior to handing in the sheet.

I'd recommend something a bit more equivocal here, such as, "Ensure that all fencers have an opportunity to sign the score sheet before handing it in" or "Remind the fencers to sign the scoresheet once their bouts are completed."

It's the fencer's responsibility to check the score sheet and sign it. If fencers wander off without signing, it's not the referee's responsibility to chase them down and make them sign.

Generally, it's only inexperienced referees who obsess about this, but I've had a couple of vehement discussions with young referees who were unwilling to turn in pool sheets without signatures even though they'd been searching for a lost fencer for 15 or 20 minutes.

In the "Between Refereeing Assignments" section, you might add something to the effect that if your assigner or the BC person running your event tells you to go eat, go eat—it could be your only chance that day (and the officials' food is usually better than what's available from the venue concessions.

Mary

[Peach]

Originally Posted by oso97

What? Now, I KNOW you've been in a pool I've refereed Peach. And I always ask...

Ask, yes. Check, no.

[dberke]

Overall, I think this is a great guide. I think you may want to re-order the sections a bit... for example, the description of repechage seems out of place between the sections on running pools & DEs and equipment checks. I'd move those kind of "organizational" sections to the end of the document.

In your list of equipment to bring to the strip, I'd add a coin to the list to use for determining priority.

You also might want to mention that if a tournament is using score machines with a remote control, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with how the remote works before the event starts (so that you don't have to figure it out during the first pool bout.) Be sure you know how to rearm the machine after time expires.

In the foil equipment check, don't forget to mention to check that the blade is taped 15cm.

In the section on diagnosing off-target lights on the foil lame, in step #2 you say it's the weapon at fault if the colored light turns on when depressing it on the alligator clip. That should mean that it's a dead lame.

A discussion on how to call the head ref (for appeals & black cards) and armorers would be handy. These days it seems to all be cell-phone based, but if not, answering the question "should I leave the strip or send a spectator?" would be useful.

Dan

[peet]

I'm not sure a referee really needs to know that much about repechage; it's more the BC's problem. The short summary that you have at the top of that section would be plenty, IMHO.

Some things you might add to the pre-bout checks:
1. there is a working device that secures the body cord to the weapon socket