Please post your comments on the open letter here.
Don't forget to sign them
Jenny
Mr. Askinas has responded to the TRUE letter.
Boy, the Referee Study Committee sure has its work cut out for it. If, in fact, it has been determined that all of the work done by the previous referee committee is of no value, they'll need to create a whole new program, and do it really soon. The first of the qualifiers is only 6 weeks away, and referees (at least this referee) need to know if they have been appointed to tournaments at least a month in advance.
It does seem a rather odd managment decision to throw out the existing referee selection process, without having another ready to put into place.
Jenny W
Well, for the general referee community who weren't at the meeting where these changes were "announced", this is the first I've heard of any mechanism for providing input to the "Referee Study Committee". Neither the Referee Study Committee or the fact that we need to contact our Referee Representative are mentioned anywhere on the USAT web site - in fact, any referee using the USAT web site for referee information would think it is business as usual.
Could someone provide the appropriate email/contact information for Master Holloway - hopefully USAT has provided him with a @usa-taekwondo.us email so we don't have fill his personal email.
Alice
Until the USAT gets a mechanism for input in place, would you consider sharing your thoughts with us here? Master Holloway is at the US Open, but I think he'll hear us.
And by the way, Dr. Kailian has also indicated that he would be happy to 'indulge' in this discussion, so you'll be getting your thoughts to both of the referees on the Referee Study Committee. Please, discuss away!
In some ways, this is tough as I may be making incorrect assumptions, but I'll give it my best shot.
I am currently a D1. I joined USTU/USAT just as things were beginning the upheaval. I referee'd at one MA state sanctioned event and then there is the reorg and no more state sanctioned events. I was able to referee at the Regional and the National JO's. I had a wonderful TA at regionals and I learned an a lot, gained a lot of experience and confidence. JO's was a bit more of struggle, and one day I was assigned to a ring with a TA who said I didn't belong there because Ds should only be doing local tournaments. In spite of that one discouraging day, I learned even more, and I recognized that I was barely ready to center some of the high powered matches that were trying for a spot on the Junior team. I was comfortable as a corner judge, but not center. I really enjoyed centering for the colored belts and the little ones, and overall I did gain good experience.
Mr Askinas says "Like the selection of athletes, the referee development system we create will be based on merit and experience, and we will endeavor to give all referees an equal chance to obtain that experience." But since there are very few sanctioned events now, I really hope we there is a mechanism to get the experience needed. Putting an inexperienced referee in a ring where the competitors are competing for national or international team spots is not beneficial to either the competitor or the referee. Attempting to travel to all the regionals to gain experience is expensive, and only give experience to those who can afford it. I try to work as many local tournaments as I can to get experience, but they aren't sanctioned or they are part of another organization (AAU for example) - would that count in the new scenario?
I guess my concern is how to get the appropriate experience without penalizing the athlete or the sport. It seems there are not enought USAT events per year that will grow and develop new referees.
Thanks for listening and have a wondeful day!
I feel you pain. It hasn't been that long since I was a D-3, at my first tournament as a USTU referee, the Juniors in Dayton. Terrifying.
Until Masters Holloway and Kaillian can get recovered from their respective jet lags and respond to your comments, I'll just fill some time...
One of the things we hope to do here on this website is provide a place for non-sanctioned tournaments using USAT rules to seek qualified referees. While this is a help to the tournament organizers, our intent is to create a place where the newer referees can get information about events in their area that would allow them an opportunity to get out in the ring and practice, without all the pressure of a national event. Keep an eye on the Events page and see if anything appears there that is of interest to you.
Hi Grant,
Yes, Providence was a learning experience - and there was that one heart stopping moment. Thank you for the complement! Several things helped me get through and keep on going - I had a very positive and motivating TA and worked with a wonderful group of very supportive referees.
I take it from your reference to this coming weekend and Dr. Kailian, that you will be at the NCTA tournament at MIT - See you there!