AYSO National Referee Program

How To Run A Mentoring Program

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What Is A Mentor?

• A knowledgeable, more experienced helper

• A friendly source of guidance, advice, and confidence for new referees

• A source of knowledge and experience for referees who wish to upgrade

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Why Is Mentoring Important?

• Every season, Regions recruit new referees

• The next season, many don’t return

– Lack of experience makes new referees unconfident

– Criticism from the sidelines is embarrassing

– Perceived lack of support from the Region can be frustrating

• Not many referees seek certification upgrades

• An active mentoring program can help

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The Regional Mentoring Program For New

Referees

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The Recipe

• A Regional mentoring program needs three key ingredients

– Support from the Regional board

– A mentoring program administrator

– Mentors

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Board Support

• Mentors are referees, too

• When they’re mentoring, they aren’t refereeing

• The RC and other board members must be prepared to sacrifice short-term game coverage for long-term program strength

• The board should also be prepared to support the mentoring program with funds to recognize mentors

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Mentoring Program Administrator

• Can be a member of the referee staff

– Referee Administrator

– Director of Mentoring and Assessment

– Director of Mentoring (in Regions that can provide separate directors of mentoring and assessment)

– Any other willing volunteer

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Mentors

• The administrator must identify good mentor candidates

– Outgoing, approachable, non-threatening

– Good communication skills, especially when suggesting improvements

– Significant refereeing experience and ability

• Certification as an Intermediate Referee or higher is a plus

• Certification as an assessor is a plus

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Mentor Training

• Once mentors are identified, they should be trained

• The workshop “How To Be A Mentor” can be held by the Region

• It covers interaction and communication styles as well as tools for mentoring new referees, youth referees, and more experienced referees

• Completion of this course leads to certification as a Referee Mentor

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Pairing Mentors and New Refs

• Once trained, mentors should be assigned to new referees

– Ideally no more than three mentees per mentor

• Mentors should have access to the Laws of the Game as well as all USSF and AYSO guidance and regulations

• Mentors should meet their new referees early, at the Basic Referee Course or before the first game

• Best case: before the first “real game,” the new referees can work practice games at a mentoring day event

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Mentoring Day

• If at all possible, Regions should hold a mentoring day event before the season starts

• Teams scrimmage to give new referees a chance work “practice games”

• Coaches and parents know what to expect

• New referees work in a stress-free environment

• Mentors oversee the games and give feedback

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Mentoring Day

• Not all Regions have the resources to host mentoring events

• Regions can combine resources and work together

• Area staffs can also help by sponsoring Area-wide mentoring events.

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Once The Season Starts…

• Mentors should watch the new referee’s first real game (and as many other games as possible)

• Providing encouragement and feedback can quickly increase a new referee’s confidence and competence

• The mentoring program administrator should gather feedback on how new referees – and their mentors – are performing

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Communication and Recognition

• During the season the referee staff can host meetings where mentors and new referees can share experiences

• Short continuing education classes can be held to pass knowledge from instructors, mentors, and others to new referees

• The referee staff and Regional board should recognize its mentors’ contributions (T-shirts, ball caps, gift cards, etc.)

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The Regional Mentoring Program For Experienced

Referees

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Mentoring Experienced Referees

• Experienced referees may be more knowledgeable and more confident

• They likely have developed some refereeing habits

• They may not have been mentored in some time

• All of these can present a challenge to a mentor

– Knowledge and habits may need to be corrected

– This must be done very tactfully

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Mentoring Upgrade Candidates

• Upgrade candidates, especially those already at Intermediate and Advanced, need mentors who can perform at a high level

– Already at a badge level above that of the candidate

– Strong Law and AYSO knowledge

– Clear understanding of the minimum standards required for the level the candidate will be observed / assessed for

– Significant prior mentoring experience

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Mentoring Help From The Area or Section

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Help From Friends

• Not all Regions may have the resources required to run an active mentoring program

• Regions that have mentoring programs may not be able to do everything they’d like to do

• Area and / or Section staffs may be able to help

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Area / Section Can…

• Send experienced mentors to the Region to train mentors and “kick start” the program

• Send a mentor team from other Regions to hold a mentoring day

• Find game slots at Regions that have mentors, so new referees can work with them

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Area / Section Can…

• Provide mentors for experienced referees and upgrade candidates

• Host mentor training courses

• Organize and host Area-wide mentoring days

• Email / publish “Tip of the Week” for new referees in the Area / Section

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Conclusion

• Mentoring is vitally important to the referee program

• It helps retain referees, and helps with recruiting

• It helps new referees quickly become better

• It helps experienced referees upgrade.

• Do you have a referee mentor program in your Region?

• Can you help other Regions get their programs started?

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Goal for the referees:Support the delivery of a great AYSO experience for the players and others.

How will today’s workshop help you support this goal?

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