Search Forum Home   Discussions  Events  Portland Qualif...  Portland Qualifiers    4/1/2006 7:09:31 PM Jeannette 176 posts Portland Qualifiers As you have read on the news page, Portland is desperatly short of referees. Leon needs our help folks. More importantly, there are going to be about 650 competitors who will be fighting late into the night if they don't get some referees soon. Jenny  4/18/2006 6:37:08 AM Jeannette 176 posts Re: Portland Qualifiers Word from our Correspondant The Portland Qualifier Master Leon Preston did an excellent job running the referee seminar for this event. Most of the seminar was “discussion-oriented” covering the more important aspects of refereeing. During one section, Master Preston had the participants get into groups, giving them a specific referee scenario to discuss. They were then asked to give their conclusion as to how they would have handled that particular situation. At one point, Master Preston called the WTF Referee Chair to clarify a “grey” situation and was therefore able to give the participants up-to-date, accurate information. My impression was that the seminar was well received. We barely had enough referees to work four rings and at times we only had five to a ring. The first day was a long day and we didn’t finish until after 9:00. The second day we were through by 5:30. Of the referees that came to work this event, I believe only four were from outside Oregon (excluding Master Preston and myself). Many of these referees were recruited at the last minute and most had no experience refereeing at this level. They were all motivated to learn and did their very best and we were lucky to have them. I don’t want to think about how late the tournament would have run with only two or three rings. The referees were also professional, returning promptly to their rings after all their breaks. The four TAs (not all were IRs) were asked to only use their more experienced referees for the Senior Divisions (there were about two per ring) and were asked to provide instruction in a positive manner. They were asked to make sure everyone was consistent in calling penalties such as falling down and going out of bounds. All the TAs were actively engaged and did a great job managing their rings. It was one of the few tournaments I’ve been to where all the referees were consistent with these penalties. I attribute this consistency to the fact that we had very little problems with the coaches. We had no protests – we didn’t even have any close calls. There were a few situations in which coaches weren’t happy because points did not come up for face kicks. We did try to address these situations as they came up in the ring by having the center referee confer with the other judges. We did have a situation where the 12th point was scored instantaneously by both competitors resulting in a 12-12 situation. We also had a Sudden Death Match end 1-1. Both of these situations were resolved quickly and to the satisfaction of the coaches/competitors. The only other oddity was in a match where the center referee had to be replaced. She was inexperienced but had done a great job the first day with the Junior Divisions. However, the Senior match was much more intense and was quickly escalating to a dangerous level so it was decided that, for her safety as well as for the competitors safety, she would be more comfortable judging. I think she was relieved. Frankly, I believe this situation would have happened to any other referee with her level of experience refereeing an event of this level. In my opinion, this Qualifier was a success and Master Preston should be congratulated for a job well done!!!! Respectfully, Valerie Long  Page 1 of 1   Discussions  Events  Portland Qualif... Flat View Tree View Oldest To Newest Newest To Oldest