The Whistle Blower

July 2003

Volume 1, Number 1

In This Issue….

·     Fall Referee Meeting

·     JCYSL, Area and Section Referee Training Classes Announced

·     Game Book Sign-up to Change

·     AYSO Referee Training and Certification Levels Revised

·     JCYSL Referee Mentoring Program

·     Referee Recognition

·     Referee Resources

What is Advantage Anyway?

“It is vital that referees understand that keeping possession of the ball alone is not advantage. There must be retention of possession plus (1) an enhanced opportunity either to score or (2) a chance to mount an attack that has a good probability of leading to a shot on goal. And (3) it must be clear that if the referee were to stop play and award a free-kick, it would be less advantageous for the team in possession, and more advantageous for the team that committed the foul.”

(Robert Evans, For the Good of the Game)

Fall Referee Meeting Announced

The Fall referee meeting has been scheduled!

Date: Tuesday, August 26

Time: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Location: North Jefferson Elementary School

It is very important that you attend this meeting. A major change to the game book sign up is being implemented. Game schedules for the fall season will be handed out at the meeting. (And don’t forget about door prizes!)

A new mentoring program will be unveiled.

We will also discuss how to consistently apply the laws regarding the players’ equipment including shin guards and shoes. There is some advice available from the USSF that can help us. Bring your questions and concerns from the Spring so everyone can discuss any issues.

The dates for the fall referee training have been set. Invite a friend to attend. Contact Steve Kubik if you would like to sign-up for either class. We need more refs! Other area and section training events are listed as well.

I encourage all of you to consider one of these camps to upgrade your certification. Several current referees, including Michelle Taylor, Dan Cogswell, and myself attended training at the last Section Super Camp. We all thought it was fantastic.

U-8 Referee Course and Referee Safe Haven

Date: Saturday, July 26

Time: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Location: North Jefferson Elementary School

Basic Referee Course (Regional Referee) and Referee Safe Haven

Date: Saturday, August 16

Time: 8:30 AM to 5 PM

Location: North Jefferson Elementary School

Lunch provided

Area 13I Mini-Camp

Date: August 2-4, 2003

Location: Chambersburg, PA

Contact: Jim Gilbert at ad13i@aysosection13.org

Courses: Coaching, Regional Referee, Safe Haven

Area 13A Mini-Camp in Altoona, PA

Date: August 15-18, 2003

Location: Altoona, PA

Contact: ayso_ad_13a@charter.net

Courses: All Management Courses, Area Referee, Regional Referee, U6, U8, U10 Youth Coach, Intermediate Coach, Basic Instructor Course

East Coast Section (3, 5, 13, 14) Meeting

Date: Feb 13-15, 2004

Location: Baltimore, MD (Marriott Waterfront Inner Harbor)

Section Web Site: www.aysosection13.org

Section 13 Super Camp

Date: March 19-21, 2004

Location: Shepherd College, WV

Courses: TBD

JCYSL On-line System Available for the Fall Season

We are making changes to the current procedure used to sign up for weekly games. Starting in the fall you will be able to sign up for games via the new on-line system. You will still receive a weekly e-mail reminder, but you will be directed to go to the on-line system web site (name forthcoming) to choose the games you want to referee.

Our goals are to increase the number of active referees on any given weekend, increase the experience level of all referees, and to have adequate coverage for games to insure a fair, safe and fun environment for our players. Today, we have only a small core group of referees who cover 75% of our games.

The master schedule will be kept on-line in our new referee scheduling system. This system will be available via the internet by clicking on the link on the JCYSL Referee page.

A new program has been developed in modules allowing courses to be taught by individual module or in an all-in-one approach as is done today. The modular approach will make it easier for us to offer classes as continuing education and possibly other formats through out the year.

The modules for the U-8 Referee and Basic Referee Course (old Regional Referee) must be taken in sequence. The modules replacing the current Area and Section courses can be taken in any order, which allows the flexibility to use these for continuing education. Once all modules are taken, the referee can apply for upgrade providing all other requirements are met.

The names of the certification levels are changing as well:

Old Name                               New Name

Assistant Referee               Assistant Referee

Referee                            U-8 Referee

Regional Referee                 Regional Referee

Area Referee                     Intermediate Referee

Section Referee                 Advanced Referee

National 2 Referee              National Referee

National 1 Referee              National Referee

The current time in grade requirements have been eliminated for upgrade except for the one-year requirement from Advanced Referee to National Referee.

For more information on these changes visit the AYSO web site at http://www.soccer.org/support/refs/refs_Apr03.htm.

Details on the requirements for each certification level can be found at http://www.soccer.org/support/refs/overview.html.

Steve Kubik

JCYSL Regional Referee Administrator

Phone:

(304) 728-8110

E-mail:

vthokie86@adelphia.net

We’re on the Web!

www.jcysl.com

Beginning this Fall, JCYSL will have a referee-mentoring program available to all referees. The goals of this program are (1) to increase the consistency of officiating and professional manner of the JCYSL referee corps, (2) to ease the anxiety that can be associated with that first center refereeing assignment, (3) to provide a means of unbiased constructive feedback for seasoned referees, and (4) to provide a means to earn service points for those referees interested in upgrading their certification level.

For our first-time referees, you may contact me either by phone or e-mail and I’ll arrange for a mentor to contact you, or if you have an interest in this program, we can discuss it at your training session this summer.

For the “old-timers” (that’s everyone else), to use the program, you need to contact one of the referees on our mentoring list and discuss your needs with that person. It is up to you to make the initial contact and work out a schedule that can work for both referees.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact Steve Kubik so that I can provide you with our guidelines.

This section is to recognize the continued efforts of our referee volunteers. Please submit any recognition notices to Steve Kubik.

Incentive Program Awards

The JCYSL Referee Incentive Program is designed to recognize our top producers on the field. Referees are awarded points for each game officiated as either a center or assistant referee. Points are scaled with the higher division games weighted more than lower division games. All assistant referees earn the same points across all of the divisions.

The program recognizes our top 3 adult and top 3 youth referees for each of the Fall and Spring seasons.

Congratulations to our award recipients for Spring 2003. I will have a gift for you at the August referee meeting.

Adult

Steve Kubik, 35 games, 327.5 points

Michelle Taylor, 26 games, 270 points

Dan Cogswell, 14 games, 182.5 points

Youth

Mikael Neville, 8 games, 57.5 points

Luke Lukens, 7 games, 50 points

Heather Wilson, 5 games, 30 points

Certification Upgrades

Two referees upgraded their certifications. Congratulations for a job well done! Michelle, I will have a gift for you at the August referee meeting.

Steve Kubik, Area Referee

Michelle Taylor, Area Referee

Potomac Cup

Thanks to all who volunteered their weekend to help officiate games at the Potomac Cup on July 12^th and 13^th. The tournament was a great success. We received numerous positive comments on the officiating. Great job!

For those who were unable to attend, I hope you’ll put this on your calendar for next year. I think everyone who participated gained a lot of valuable experience. For some, it was probably their first time refereeing a game with a full 3-person team.

United States Soccer Federation (USSF)

www.ussoccer.com

Great information for the referee. There are several links that contain great information including position papers, instructional & training materials, and ask a soccer referee.

US Soccer Rules Interpretations

www.drix.net/jim/past012.html

This site contains official rule interpretations that bear the approval of the US Soccer Federation.

Referee Magazine

www.referee.com

A great resource for officials of all sports. I have found it to be very informative. Referee magazine contains a section on all major sports including soccer. A typical month has information regarding a major topics such as “Putting the AR and Referee on the Same Page” and “Chalk Talk: Complexities That Can Arise During Corner Kicks”. There are also case plays, rule quizzes and various articles on topics like game control.

American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO)

www.aysostore.com

www.soccer.org

The JCYSL parent organization, AYSO. Information about AYSO can be found at this site including information for the referee.

Books

Smart Soccer Officiating

by Carl P. Schwartz

A great book and a quick, easy read. This book including chapters on “Mastering Restarts”, “Four Critical Decisions for Game Control”, “Are You a Cheat?”, “Seven Myths About the Game”, “No Harm, No Foul”.

For The Good Of The Game

by Robert Evans and Edward Bellion

An absolutely fantastic book. Every soccer referee should read this book. Evans and Bellion impart a lot of knowledge of the game using examples from their officiating experiences. They explain the role of the referee so that it can be accomplished for the “good of the game”. Learn what advantage is and how to apply it. Learn how to recognize fouls and misconduct. Learn tactics for game control and preventive refereeing.

Soccer Officials Guidebook

For a Crew of Three Officials, Diagonal System of Control

by Carl P. Schwartz

A practical guide to the diagonal system of control. The book includes many illustrated examples of each official’s responsibilities using this officiating method. Learn game management techniques, how to analyze corner kick positioning: which players to key on, when assistant referees should offer help with a foul, and many more.