FLAG & WHI STL E Official Newletter of the BC Soccer Referees Association • Dec. 2013 BC Soccer appoints nine Referee Development Officers BC Soccer set to launch Grassroots Referee Development Program as appeared on BC Soccer website BC Soccer is set for the January launch ART BANDENIEKS of referees, of their Grassroots Referee Development Lower Mailand Zone 2 • Supply timely and relevant reporting Program about the referees to BC Soccer and the with the recent appointment DAN VILLAGE SR. of nine Referee Development Officers. Referee Committee via the Referee Lower Mailand Zone3 They are: Antonio Hurtado-Coll, Development Coordinator. Shannon Mazerreeuw, Art Bandenieks, NEIL FARBER The province has been divided into geo­ Dan Village Sr., Harry Sommerfeld, Thompson graphic regions. A Referee Development Ken Sookero, Terry Carter, Neil SHANNON MAZEREEUW Officer will be appointed to assist Head Farber, Mark McNally-Dawes. Okanagan Referees, Referee Mentors, and Referee “We are excited to have appointed Schedulers in each region. This group will these nine Referee Development Officers TERRY CARTER be led by and report to the Referee and look forward to launching the pro­ North Development Coordinator. gram in January,” said Jose Branco, BC KEN SOOKERO The learning environment of the Soccer Referee Coordinator. Kootenay Grassroots Referee Development Program “The program is designed to help create is one that is fun, challenging, and educa­ HARRY SOMMERFELD a solid foundation for new and established tional. These environments allow opportu­ Upper Island referees and we feel that these nine Referee nities for registered and potentially new Development Officers will do Mark McNally-Dawes referees to develop a passion and love for an incred ible job of this by working Lower Island refereeing while being supported by their with head referees, mentors, schedulers Head Referee, Head Mentors, Schedulers and by facilitating workshops across the Grassroots Program Outline and their local club/organization. province.” BC Soccer’s Grassroots Referee The program will educate and support Within their regions, the Referee Development Program is an exciting Head Referees and Referee Mentors Development Officers will host work­ new initiative which will be launched in through theoretical and practical referee shops to help ensure consistency amongst January 2014 as per the BC Soccer education sessions along with edu cating/ referee education, expectations and to help Strategic Plan and is designed to better training Referee Schedulers in ‘best prac­ the growth of young and aspiring refer­ meet the needs of registered and potent­ tices’ within refereeing appointing to assist ees. ially new referees at the grassroots level. in building a solid foundation for the In the coming weeks the Referee This will be done by training and sup­ development of referees across the prov­ Development Officers will be reaching porting local Head Referees, Mentors, and ince at the grassroots level. out to youth districts and member soccer Schedulers who oversee refereeing in their The Grassroots Referee Development clubs within their region to bring local area. The training and support will be done Program needs to be a shared and coop­ head referees, schedulers, and referee by Referee Development Officers. erative program at the club, district and mentors together for a seamless launch of The goal of the Grassroots Referee league levels with a proactive vision for the program in January of 2014. Development Program is; the betterment of the game. • To raise the level of competence of all Its success will be measured by the The Referee Development Officers registered referees at the grassroots level numbers of these referees who are retained and their Regions across the province, over the years and continue their personal ANTONIO HURTADO-COLL • Provide support and foster recruitment, development within the referee program Lower Mainland Zone 1 education, development and retention and soccer in general. Continued on Page 2 North Shore Youth Soccer Association and BCSRA partnership The F&W thanks VASRA Secretary and NS Group Liaison Iain Andrews with assistance on this article For the past three years your Referees Tuesday and Wednesday of the month NSYSA’s Head Referee for mentoring Association has embarked on a novel way from September to February (except in appointments, allowing coaching of of reaching out to assist fellow referees. December). This is in addition to the reg­ specific individuals as needs arise. Because it’s been found that many Head ular monthly meetings held by VASRA. Meetings encourage the new officials Referees need help reaching out to the • Both meetings will have the same con­ to talk and challenge what they know and referees that are under their care, a part­ tent to maximize the number of officials to help educate the others. Clips that are nership has developed with the North that can go to the education. used are generally at an amateur level Shore Youth Soccer Association content so that they can relate to what we (NSYSA) whereby the local Vancouver • VASRA members who are certified are teaching and hopefully translate the Area branch (VASRA) will assist the instructors or participating in BC knowledge into the games they do. NSYSA Head Referee. VASRA Secretary Soccer’s Candidates Program lead The meetings also allow the NSYSA to Iain Andrews has been appointed the the education sessions pass on any relevant information or issues liaison to the NSYSA Head Referee • Between 60 to 80 referees attend that are happening and solve questions VASRA helps to put on education ses­ the meetings each month that may arise from that. sions and assists in the mentoring of refer­ • Topics are based on the needs For example November’s meetings ees. In order that those referees start to be and challenges that are occurring talked about frozen fields and standing initiated into the refereeing culture, meet on local parks water on grass. fellow referees that they would not other­ All in all, the partnership is working to wise meet if left to their own devices, the • Discussions are in a group format the NSYSA’s content. The goal is to use NSYSA pays for those referees to become to allow the participants to learn the experience as a model for future members of the Referees Association. from each other and get a greater under­ growth in helping officials and getting The highlights are as follows: standing of the topic . referees indoctrinated and exposed into • Education sessions held on the last • VASRA members are scheduled by the the culture of refereeing. Positions up Referees Committee of BC Soccer has a new Chairman for Election on In a development that occurred after committee shall be a member of the BC Vancouver Area the Flag & Whistle October issue went Soccer Board of Directors). to press, BC Soccer Director Rob Rob, a Life Member of both BC Branch Executive Brown stepped down as Chairman of Soccer and the Fraser Valley Area provincial governing body’s Referees branch (FVSRA) of your Referees (Food to be served at VASRA Committee. Taking his place is fellow Association cited personal reasons for AGM on January 27th) BC Soccer Director John Reed from stepping down. Rob will still participate The positions of 1st Vice­President, Prince George (BC Soccer rules govern­ on the BC Soccer Board and on another Treasurer and one Director position are up for grabs at the Vancouver ing committees dictate the chair of each committee he is part of. Area branch (VASRA) Annual General Meeting. Referee Development Program Continued from Page 1 The meeting will be held on Monday, January 27th inside the The Grassroots Development Officers Head Referee South Burnaby Metro Club room of will be trained by BC Soccer who will A Head Referee is an experienced the Bonsor Community Center. then reach out to the Head Referees, referee who provides oversight to the Meeting start time is 7:00 pm. Mentors and Referee Schedulers within referee program within a club/district At the November monthly meeting their assigned region to start setting the environment. The primary objective is to of VASRA it was also announced schedule for the required workshops. work with referee to support a successful that an assortment of snacks and These workshops will be designed to transition from the classroom to the field beverages would be made available help the foundation and framework for of play. after the meeting to all members the future development of Head Referees, Mentor Referee attending. The Nominating Com­ Mentors and Schedulers who work with A Mentor Referee is an experienced mittee is comprised of: the current referees and potential new referee who provides guidance, by way of Elvio Chies ([email protected]), referees at the grassroots level in their on­field support and feedback to a target­ Joe Ciresi ([email protected]) region/club. The content will include: ed group of referees, normally within a Ron Schaeffer (schaeffer.ron.d@ • Present updated referee club / district specific environment in col­ gmail.com training material, laboration with the Head Referee. Referee Scheduler / Assigner Those interested in running for a • Introduce fundamental A Referee Scheduler/Assigner works in position should contact any member refereeing skills, collaboration with the Head and Mentor of the Nominating Committee. • Provide small-sided referee training Referee to ensure appropriate referees are and support. assigned to matches. 2 FLAG & WHISTLE – December 2013 issue 2014 AGM Date to