Referees

Mentors

All experienced referees have a duty to the profession to support the development of potential and up and coming referees. By attending local and regional tournaments, senior referees may better understand the problems and common errors encountered by referees at lower levels and assist in their correction. Guidance and supervision at lower levels will nurture the development system and ensure a succession of top quality referees.

Mentorship and the ability to instill confidence in others take special qualities. Experienced referees must provide guidance to others without direct interference or domination. Interference may cause a referee to become embarrassed, insulted, and tense and spectators may get the impression that the referee team does not know what they are doing. Only if there is a great miscarriage of justice, such as a grave technical error, should direct interference be used to ensure the competitors are treated fairly.