grading refs

The best way to get more good/competent refs is to have more refs available from which to choose. With just two, if one isn't good, the game goes to pot fairly quickly. If that one is the third ref, you have a chance of preserving the quality of the game and allowing a ref to be learn something if they have more than half the brain many refs get credit for having. While this will not happen overnight, with time and a good system, it will happen.

I know our (USA) refs don't come from a system where they are reffing high-level games on a regular nor consistent basis. We have occasional tournaments where most of us slackers would rather not get in the water unless we're playing. It could be the Lazy American Syndrome. I have heard tale of countries where refs actually ref each week, sometimes more than once, at levels that far exceed our standard club play. Oh, to live such a wonderful dream. So even when we have someone hurt that still wants to come to practice with the mindset of "even if I only get to ref" we don't give them many chances to ref at high-levels. As a thrid ref at World's they might get that and become a top-ten ref. But more than likely they will be doing that on their dime (money for those that don't understand "dime") until such a point that they break into the top ranks.

Just don't think that you've bought the refs you paid for to get there so they will do what you want. They'll be the good ones. So you'll have to dole out a bit more to the refs that paid their way themselves.

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Just in case you weren't sure, it's official -- CMAS sucks.
Oh yeah, and now they're broke.

OK, I will give you all of that - valid points.

I am curious how many 'repeating' refs we get coming to the tournaments though - does anyone have an idea? I mean, how many refs go to more than only one or two worlds before giving it up. I know there is a core of refs, like Carol, Murray Brooks, Pizaz etc that keep coming, but there are always some fringe refs that you never see that often. I assume part of the point of paying the refs would be to ensure that they can continue to come to Worlds for a number of years so that the refs who are good get funded and bring their experience and talent with them. I hope it doesn't then get abused so that someone comes to ref one year for the free trip with vacation and then wastes the experience gained by never coming again.

Just to be clear:
- I am for 3 water refs, I see the benefit
- I am for funding the refs by the players if it means improving the standard of reffing.

Just playing devils advocate....

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Faster than a speeding puck...

I hadn't thought about that. I assumed that it would be based on previous World's reffing, not local stuff. It wouldn't seem right to have a ref promoted by his/her federation without them having gone to a World's where the players and other refs have seen and commented on their level.

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Just in case you weren't sure, it's official -- CMAS sucks.
Oh yeah, and now they're broke.

If a worlds competition was to fund referees, then I would like to see referees selected that have shown they are of worlds level and dedicated (not one off competition - holidayers). First time referees should be sponsered by their own federation if possible, that way, it puts the onus on the federations to select the best value for their money (i.e. potential long term committment for the federation).

thats a really good point duck.

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it's more polite on the grating than on the subs bench