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ACE PROGRAM / ASSESSOR FOR A DAY

The State Referee Committee is offering to all member associations, free of charge, the ACE Program and the Assessor for a Day program.

The ACE Program, Advanced Camps of Excellence, is a program where the SRC sends both assessors and upper level referees to the member association to work with the referees in your area. We offer free assessments, tailored to helping the referees improve in areas such as game management, positioning and foul recognition. In addition, we send upper level referees to work matches with the referees in the capacity of an assistant referee or center referee. If the organization wants, we will have the upper level referee do a match in order for the local referees to see someone at that level perform. We will adjust the program to whatever the association desires.

The Assessor for a Day Program is a program where the SRC sends assessors and associate assessors to the association to do developmental assessments for the local referees. Again, we work with the referees on positioning, use of whistle, foul recognition and game management. We offer suggestion on improvement in these areas, as well as others.

The programs are available to all member associations free of charge. It is easy to set up, just contact the State Director of Assessments with available dates and they will do the rest. You can contact the SDA at sda@arkansassoccer.org for scheduling.

ARKANSAS YOUNG REFEREE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM “YOUNG GUNZ”

PURPOSE: To develop a group of the best young referees in the State of Arkansas. The purpose of this group is to serve as role models, develop and mentor other young referees in the State, and to work with other members toward advancement in grade and abilities as referees.

ORGANIZATION: To be decided by Membership. It is recommended that officers be named who will report to the ASRC concerning activities, programs, and accomplishments, and for any assistance that the program will need. The organization will decide as to the number of officers, term expiration & election of such. The SYRA, or SYRA designee,  will serve as an advisor to the organization.  Any disputes will be conducted by the ASRC and their decisions will be final.

MEMBERSHIP:  The members of the organization will decide Referees eligible for membership. General guidelines will be for Referees between the age of 16 and 22. It is recommended that membership be limited to approximately 15 referees. Members should be chosen based upon their performance as referees, their ability to serve as a positive role model to young referees, their ability to contribute to the organization, their desire to advance in grade, their desire to become better referees, and their desire to mentor younger referees. Members not fulfilling these duties may be dismissed from the organization.

REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP: Active Referee with current USSF badge and grade.

TIMELINE FOR PROGRAM:

August –March

Members of the organization with the assistance of Assignors / Assessors / DRA / Mentors / State Referees will identify young talented referees.

November – April

Young Referee Training Camp in conjunction with local tournament.  Members of the organization will be given instruction / developmental assessment / mentoring during program.

September – May

Members of the organization will attend an out of town tournament. (Selected by members of the organization with consent of the ASRC)

April – May

Selected young referees will be invited to preliminary State Youth Cups. (Selected by officers of the organization with consent of the ASRC)

June

Highly selected young referees will be invited to State Youth Championships. (Selected by the ASRC)

June

Top ranked young referee(s) will be invited to USYSA Regional Championships. (Selected by the ASRC)

July

Selected young referees invited to OPD camps. (Selected by officers of the organization with consent of the ASRC)

Cycle begins again.

 

 

ARKANSAS ADULT REFEREE PROGRAM - “ELDERS”

   Mission: The mission of the Arkansas Elders is to provide support to new adult referees with the goal of expediting the transition from rookie to experienced referee. The ultimate goal is to provide mentoring and support for adult referees in Arkansas such that every referee in Arkansas will have access to a senior referee advisor. All Arkansas Elders shall have successfully completed the Elder Boot Camp.

   Elder Boot Camp:  No referee will be designated an Elder until they have completed Elder Referee Boot Camp.  Elder candidates shall be recruited by existing Elders and/or the State Referee Committee.  All Elder candidates shall have attained the age of 45 and have at least 5 years of experience prior to attending the Camp.  The Elder Referee Boot Camp is to be administered by the ASRC with the assistance of active Elders.  The Camp shall consist of 1 hour of classroom instruction and 2 hours of field training under the guidance of active Elders.  Graduates of the Camp shall be considered proficient in the Guide to Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees, and Fourth Officials.  Successful completion of the Camp shall be at the discretion of the ASRC and the existing Elders.

   Elder Pledge:  The Elder Pledge consists of statements determined by the membership that shall serve as guiding principles for the Elder Program.

 

  1. My job is to support referees of all ages in distress; but my primary focus is on adult referees.
  2. Whenever the referee in distress is beyond my capacity to support; I will not hesitate to call in additional Elder(s).
  3. My goal is senior (over 35) referee development and retention.
  4. I will assist the SRA and the SDA when requested in carrying out the Elder Boot Camp.
  5. I will attend referee training whenever possible and stay current on law changes.
  6. My uniform will always be appropriate and complete.
  7. I will always shine my shoes before my first game of the day.
  8. I will strive to be correct and accurate mechanically in every match.
  9. I will work at least one tournament a year and (in addition to working games at the tournament) I will watch at least one adult referee on at least one game I am not working.
  10. I will never assume that I am smarter or wiser than any other referee and will only offer suggestions or advice when it is desired.
  11. The referee code of ethics is sacred and I will not knowingly violate it.
  12. Whenever I see a referee perform well; I will let another Elder and a member of the SRC know of that referee’s success.
  13. Our long term goal is to contact every new senior (over 35) referee within one week of becoming a referee.



Timeline:

 

June 2007: Identification and recruitment of Elder candidates.

 

July 2007: Initial Boot Camp and membership orientation.

 

August 2007: Program roll out at State Camp.

 

August - November 2007:

  1. Develop Adult Referee Camp in conjunction with Lakewood Fallfest.
  2. Partner with central Arkansas assignors to establish mentoring program for new adult referees.
  3. Attend New Referee courses in Regions 5 and 6 to present the Elder concept to potential new referees.

 

ARKANSAS REFEREE UPGRADE PROGRAM

The Upgrade Promotion Program is a program whose purposes are (1) to place emphasis on having referees registered through the ASRP to upgrade, and (2) to provide assistance in upgrading. 

1. (a) The DRA, in coordination with the SDI and SDA, will prepare information about upgrading for distribution. The DRA will provide the information and contact referees about upgrading and information, including the requirements, for upgrading. This information will also be distributed through the ASRP referee staff.

(b) The District Referee Administrators will be the direct contacts for referees needing assistance in upgrading to Grade 7, including assessment and instructional assistance. Those upgrading to State Referee will seek the opinion and guidance of the SRA.

The upgrade program will make available an upgrade class for those referees upgrading from Grade 8 to 7 and Grade 7 to 6. The class will provide materials necessary to help the upgrading referees understand the emphasis placed on upgrading and what separates the upgrading referees from those that wish to stay at their current grade.

In addition, the Assessment program will provide for an Upgrade Developmental Assessement. This assessment, while not a pass or fail, will provide the referee a detailed evaluation on their chances for advancement. This will provide a referee the opportunity to be fully assessed to see if they are ready to pursue the upgrade process. This assessment will be provided on a match suitable for upgrade and the requesting referee will pay ˝ of the game fee for this assessment. The requesting referee can then see what the results would have been if the match was assessed for an upgrade. We hope this provides tools for referees to pursue upgrades and be ready when they enter the process.