How to fix the referee shortage problem.

[DocWrestling]

Where does one go to find out how to become a referee - and the process for advancement as a referee in Wisconsin? This thread interested me so I went to learn more - but can't find anything online? Does anyone know where I would go to find this information?

https://www.wiaawi.org/Officials/BecomeanOfficial.aspx

[Handles II]

Have grey shirts and whistles on hand at duals and tournaments. Those fans/parents/coaches with the biggest mouth get handed a shirt and whistle and told to get to work while the main ref has a seat matside.  This might fix two problems with our sport at the same time. 

[bkraus]

As a former coach, who became an official, I am so much happier officiating.  I miss working with the kids daily, but don't have to take home the stresses of coaching.  Yes I reflect on each dual or tournament I call to try and get better.  I have reached out to coaches to get film as well so I can learn and make myself better.  But it is definitely less of a stressor than coaching.

I continually talk to high school kids about getting certified.  They can get licensed for free and call MS and youth.  I do not believe they can do JV.  It is a great part time job.  I also officiate lacrosse, and between the two sports make just shy of $6,000 a year.  That's a nice chunk of additional income. 

But you are correct, parents and coaches need to throttle back, especially on the younger officials.  I was guilty of it too, so I can point a finger right back at myself.  That's the biggest killer for officials.  (We also need to learn how to tune things out as well, but that is tough for young guys)  Also, learn and read up on the rules.  It is a lot easier to take criticism for a call if you are in the ballpark of the rule.  If you are speaking Chinese on the rules, it is hard to listen to. 

Last word of advice, take the chance to call 5 matches at a kids tourney.  It will give you a whole new appreciation for everything you need to know.

[bulldog]

Have grey shirts and whistles on hand at duals and tournaments. Those fans/parents/coaches with the biggest mouth get handed a shirt and whistle and told to get to work while the main ref has a seat matside.  This might fix two problems with our sport at the same time. 

\

I am always amused when someone figures the solution to a problem is to do something like this. I saw this happen at a youth tournament once. Ref got frustrated with a parent and handed him his whistle. The parent took it and proceeded to ref the rest of the day...except when his kid was on the mat. Then he had his state place winner son ref the match. The pair did a great job and parents came up to them afterwards and told them so. The "paid" ref sulked around the entire day. That one backfired

I agree with bkraus...all parents should ref a youth tournament...it give you a new perspective on the sport and the challenge of officiating. But I think it should be an entire youth tournament. 5 matches are not so bad but 10:00 - 2:00 can be an eternity.

[madeyson]

Where does one go to find out how to become a referee - and the process for advancement as a referee in Wisconsin? This thread interested me so I went to learn more - but can't find anything online? Does anyone know where I would go to find this information?

https://www.wiaawi.org/Officials/BecomeanOfficial.aspx

Thanks Doc...but if this is all of the information that we provide those that may be interested in reffing then we have a problem. What training is required? How do I know what events I can and cannot ref? Is there a means of getting assigned or offered opportunities? Just seems like in a time when there is such a need we should have information more readily available.

[DocWrestling]

Where does one go to find out how to become a referee - and the process for advancement as a referee in Wisconsin? This thread interested me so I went to learn more - but can't find anything online? Does anyone know where I would go to find this information?

https://www.wiaawi.org/Officials/BecomeanOfficial.aspx

Thanks Doc...but if this is all of the information that we provide those that may be interested in reffing then we have a problem. What training is required? How do I know what events I can and cannot ref? Is there a means of getting assigned or offered opportunities? Just seems like in a time when there is such a need we should have information more readily available.

All your other questions are answered by the local officials association or your local AD.  Ask other officials in your area which association they belong too.  These are groups of officials that can help each other and groups that AD's use to assign to events.  Some sports use these associations more than others.

Here are a couple examples
http://www.milwaukeeofficials.com/
https://sites.google.com/a/mayville.k12.wi.us/southshoreofficialsassociation/home
https://fvoaofficials.org/

[joeski]

Probably should have to rate the official before we can print our next weigh in sheet. Put it right on track wrestling with your weigh ins.

4) Between you and the athletic director and security, have the guts to stand up to problem fans and remove them or suspend them from event(s).

I realize this is another burden and almost babysitting job for coaches but I think it would help. 

I am guessing the coach has more on his mind then paying attention to problem fans, and ADs are not at wrestling meets often. All sports have to deal with loud fans - wrestling is just a bit more intimate because it is focused on one match (2 contestants) at a time. But it is the sport...the refs have to have a thick skin and put up with crap or handle it. I watched a ref recently. He warned the guy twice...nicely. I barely would have noticed but I was standing near the guy. Third time, he pointed at the guy and simply said "out". End of story. He would not proceed nor engage until the guy was gone. The guy left.

Our AD is at every home event we have. Always thought that was part of the job. And he and our principal are always watching the crowd. Yes, our principal comes to wrestling meets.

[bulldog]

Probably should have to rate the official before we can print our next weigh in sheet. Put it right on track wrestling with your weigh ins.

4) Between you and the athletic director and security, have the guts to stand up to problem fans and remove them or suspend them from event(s).

I realize this is another burden and almost babysitting job for coaches but I think it would help. 

I am guessing the coach has more on his mind then paying attention to problem fans, and ADs are not at wrestling meets often. All sports have to deal with loud fans - wrestling is just a bit more intimate because it is focused on one match (2 contestants) at a time. But it is the sport...the refs have to have a thick skin and put up with crap or handle it. I watched a ref recently. He warned the guy twice...nicely. I barely would have noticed but I was standing near the guy. Third time, he pointed at the guy and simply said "out". End of story. He would not proceed nor engage until the guy was gone. The guy left.

Our AD is at every home event we have. Always thought that was part of the job. And he and our principal are always watching the crowd. Yes, our principal comes to wrestling meets.

My boys have gone to two high schools. 8 years later I have seen the AD at each school at one wrestling meet each year and they never stick around until the end. I have never seen a principle or vice principle at the meets.

[ramjet]

Probably should have to rate the official before we can print our next weigh in sheet. Put it right on track wrestling with your weigh ins.

4) Between you and the athletic director and security, have the guts to stand up to problem fans and remove them or suspend them from event(s).

I realize this is another burden and almost babysitting job for coaches but I think it would help. 

I am guessing the coach has more on his mind then paying attention to problem fans, and ADs are not at wrestling meets often. All sports have to deal with loud fans - wrestling is just a bit more intimate because it is focused on one match (2 contestants) at a time. But it is the sport...the refs have to have a thick skin and put up with crap or handle it. I watched a ref recently. He warned the guy twice...nicely. I barely would have noticed but I was standing near the guy. Third time, he pointed at the guy and simply said "out". End of story. He would not proceed nor engage until the guy was gone. The guy left.

Our AD is at every home event we have. Always thought that was part of the job. And he and our principal are always watching the crowd. Yes, our principal comes to wrestling meets.

My boys have gone to two high schools. 8 years later I have seen the AD at each school at one wrestling meet each year and they never stick around until the end. I have never seen a principle or vice principle at the meets.

You cannot force people to go to events. They interesting enough or they are not. This sport suffers greatly from lack of self promotion. But when you have businesses like private clubs do self promotion which is good for the sport they torched on this website. Not by everyone because some folks realize the value in that public relations and promotion. Even the shortage of ref comes down to the lack of popularity of the sport.

Sorry folks that is the cold hard truth of the single largest issue this sport faces.

[bigG]

Probably should have to rate the official before we can print our next weigh in sheet. Put it right on track wrestling with your weigh ins.

4) Between you and the athletic director and security, have the guts to stand up to problem fans and remove them or suspend them from event(s).

I realize this is another burden and almost babysitting job for coaches but I think it would help. 

I am guessing the coach has more on his mind then paying attention to problem fans, and ADs are not at wrestling meets often. All sports have to deal with loud fans - wrestling is just a bit more intimate because it is focused on one match (2 contestants) at a time. But it is the sport...the refs have to have a thick skin and put up with crap or handle it. I watched a ref recently. He warned the guy twice...nicely. I barely would have noticed but I was standing near the guy. Third time, he pointed at the guy and simply said "out". End of story. He would not proceed nor engage until the guy was gone. The guy left.

Our AD is at every home event we have. Always thought that was part of the job. And he and our principal are always watching the crowd. Yes, our principal comes to wrestling meets.

Us, too. We're a bit vigilant about it and any fan showing signs of getting too huffy will invite several of us by their side. Proactive, and numbers. Gotta make the unglued a minority of 1. Sometimes ya gotta snip the pinky to save the hand.

[bigoil]

Either our AD is present or he assigns an event coordinator (a Teacher) who will be assigned to escort the opposing team, locker rooms, escorting officials and crowd duty.

[bkraus]

I have a great example of the over boisterous parent from just yesterday. As the match goes on, the team he was there supporting continually had locked hands.  It happens, it is young kids.  But a couple matches swung the other way due to multiple penalties.  This enraged him to every time the other team would put on a cradle, headlock, front headlock, or any other legal hold where clasping hands was legal he would go crazy.  "Those hands are locked!  That's not a pin, it's illegal."  at one point he yelled during a break "ref you suck, you don't know what locked hands is."  That is when I had enough and gave him a verbal warning that one more word would have him removed.  He stayed quiet after that.  But this is an excellent example of how not knowing the rules and berating an official over it could make a difference in pushing a young official away.  Fortunately, I am an old fart and have handled way worse than him, like the guy following me to my car after a meet.  But that's another story.

[Handles II]

Have grey shirts and whistles on hand at duals and tournaments. Those fans/parents/coaches with the biggest mouth get handed a shirt and whistle and told to get to work while the main ref has a seat matside.  This might fix two problems with our sport at the same time. 

\

I am always amused when someone figures the solution to a problem is to do something like this. I saw this happen at a youth tournament once. Ref got frustrated with a parent and handed him his whistle. The parent took it and proceeded to ref the rest of the day...except when his kid was on the mat. Then he had his state place winner son ref the match. The pair did a great job and parents came up to them afterwards and told them so. The "paid" ref sulked around the entire day. That one backfired

I agree with bkraus...all parents should ref a youth tournament...it give you a new perspective on the sport and the challenge of officiating. But I think it should be an entire youth tournament. 5 matches are not so bad but 10:00 - 2:00 can be an eternity.

The comment was made tongue-in-cheek. I would in no way actually want or allow someone from the audience to come out and ref a JV or Varsity event unless they were already licensed.

[MARSHDOC]

What exactly does it take to become a wrestling official? 

If I do it I'll be getting some people pretty angry.  Any wrestler to take one step backward (not countering an immediate shot) would get an immediate caution for stalling.  Any wrestler backing straight up from the tie-up position would get the same.  Or have the rules in folkstyle wrestling changed to allow this type of wrestling?

The best officiating that I have seen thus far this year was at a middle school tournament when local college wrestlers were officiating.

[Ivan Stankowski]

Probably should have to rate the official before we can print our next weigh in sheet. Put it right on track wrestling with your weigh ins.

4) Between you and the athletic director and security, have the guts to stand up to problem fans and remove them or suspend them from event(s).

I realize this is another burden and almost babysitting job for coaches but I think it would help. 

I am guessing the coach has more on his mind then paying attention to problem fans, and ADs are not at wrestling meets often. All sports have to deal with loud fans - wrestling is just a bit more intimate because it is focused on one match (2 contestants) at a time. But it is the sport...the refs have to have a thick skin and put up with crap or handle it. I watched a ref recently. He warned the guy twice...nicely. I barely would have noticed but I was standing near the guy. Third time, he pointed at the guy and simply said "out". End of story. He would not proceed nor engage until the guy was gone. The guy left.

Our AD is at every home event we have. Always thought that was part of the job. And he and our principal are always watching the crowd. Yes, our principal comes to wrestling meets.

My boys have gone to two high schools. 8 years later I have seen the AD at each school at one wrestling meet each year and they never stick around until the end. I have never seen a principle or vice principle at the meets.

Sounds like more of a district issue as our AD and principal are in attendance at nearly every home meet and tournament.