This is actually a spinoff of another thread prompted by Alice's comment.  I put together an idea about a year ago and sent it to Gambardella.  It got a thankyou then ignored.  I thought now with a new study committee it might get another look, so I talked to Dr. Kalian about it and he thinks it has enough merit to have the study committe look it over.  Here's the proposal, please comment.  Any constructive comments would be helpful. I think this or something like it might fit in well in a 'meritocracy', while still keeping our vast pool of talented 'elders' active in mentoring new and developing referees. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A proposal to encourage USA Taekwondo referee development

This is a proposal for a plan to encourage USA Taekwondo (USAT) certified officials to obtain certification or maintain and improve their skills in an on-going grassroots program.  Competent, skilled, professional officiating is essential to ensuring that USAT chooses the best athletes to represent the United States in international competition.

There are many excellent referees with a great amount of experience, but everyone gets older or encounters life events that change things and they will not be around forever. Sanctioned tournaments and the referee seminars that normally accompanied them was the main mechanism for finding new referees and upgrading the skills of existing referees.  The recent changes to the tournament sanctioning requirements and elimination of state qualifiers will likely preclude most, if not all, small local tournament directors from applying for a sanction.

My proposal is for an “accreditation” program whereby USAT could offer to license organizations that sponsor events that provided practice that meet officiating standards defined by the program.  Such functions do not need to be tournaments, the RCEs, training scrimmages, ‘spar fests’ and other functions could qualify.

The accredited function could then offer participation certificates to officials that wished to obtain, upgrade or maintain certification.  USAT would consider those certificates when determining selection for national events and level upgrades for officials.  Officials that do not attend any accredited events during a year could be subject to lowering of their classification.  All national qualifiers and championships sponsored by USAT would automatically be accredited.

So, what’s in it for me, you say?  Such a program would have many benefits. 

1. USAT would gain an ability to more closely monitor the experience level of referees applying for upgrades, and would encourage referees to stay current.

2. It means having a more diverse, experienced crew of officials for national qualifiers and national championships.  Officials would be less likely to be ‘rusty’ during the initial matches of national events.

3. A meaningful certification program with local opportunities should encourage more referees to enter the program. 

4. Referees will gain the satisfaction of recognition of their work and abilities.

5. Local tournament directors could gain some leverage to attract qualified officials.

6. More qualified officials at the local level will translate into more satisfied athletes and coaches.

7. It will help to better prepare athletes that move up the ladder. More standardization of officiating at lower levels means less confusion with the rules at the higher levels.  

Details of an accreditation program will have to be determined by USAT, but a basic outline of minimum requirements is as follows.

1. The event should adhere to the official rules of the USTU in regards to points and penalties.

2. Directors that hold a sanctioned referee seminar in conjunction with the event should be exempt from a licensing fee for the event accreditation.

3. There should be a minimum ring size allowed, say 8m X 8m.

4. Number of officials and their positions should adhere to the WTF standard.

5. Electronic scoring should be required.

6. There should be an official with at least B certification in current good standing assisting with referee standardization. Or any other official recognized by USAT.

USAT should then form a board of examiners that evaluate the abilities of officials at national qualifiers.  That board would recommend advancement in official’s grade based on knowledge and performance.   

Just so we all know who we are hearing from

Most of you know that Scorekeeper is Grant Marlenee (I hope I spelled that right Grant).  Of course AGChase is the ever elegant Anne Chase, and I believe we have been visited by Jacckohearts who has identified himself as Carl Hall.

Welcome

Jenny