The purpose of the mentoring program is to provide guidance and support for new referees as they undertake
their initial assignments.
Any referee wishing to be mentored should contact the Assignor or Second Vice-President.
Experienced referees will meet the new referee at the field at least one half-hour prior to the start of
the game. This pre-game meeting will allow time to review any unique rules or procedures associated with
your assignment. Mentors should also use this time to ask any questions the new official may have regarding the day's
events or what might have happened previously.
The mentor will then observe the game and provide immediate feedback, both positive and negative,
as well as suggestions for improvement.
Our mentors have been asked to focus on the following Priorities for New Referees:
- Did I use strong hand-signals to indicate direction, goal kick, corner kick, etc.?
- Did I blow the whistle loud?
- Did I watch for the offside as a team was building its attack?
- Was I not afraid to call fouls?
- Was I close to the action?
- Did I control the substitutions?
- Did I get the difference between IFK and DFK right?
- Was I poised / showed confidence?
The following are the standards for the mentors:
- If the new ref was previously mentored, get feedback sheet from the WSRO Vice-President in charge.
- Greet ref: Make him/her feel comfortable; explain objective of your presence; ascertain if this is
the first time out.
- Emphasize importance of dress code and ref appearance.
- Together, inspect the field and indicate it is "home coach's responsibility" to correct any problems
- Meet Coaches; get roster sheets and player passes
- Inspection [mentor should do first team as demo] with emphasis on: speed of process, no jewelry,
shin guards covered, goalie colors
- Get properly inflated ball and a spare
- Club linespersons-give them flags (explain how to position them [across the field and facing their own
team] and address responsibilities and limitations)
- "Release" the Ref: "you are on your own; you know the LOTG"
- Do not intervene; time the game, so you are able to make comments pertinent to when situation occurred
and to judge ref's timing of game.Coin flip
- Record comments against the Eight Major Points for New Refs
- At halftime, greet ref; compliment and offer no more than one suggestion for the second half.
- At the end of the game, move away if there is a game following; describe how to address sportsmanship ratings.
- Part with words of encouragement and just one or two reminders.
- File your report with the Vice-President and send an email to the ref as you deem appropriate.
