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During the season I brought up the topic of a 'Mentoring Program' on a number of occasions to a couple of our guys whom work college level games and to our Assoc. Pres.. We are a small association by comparison to many of which you may belong to, but we do have our share of top flight veteran officials.
I've actively sought out these mentoring relationships and was fortunate enough to get to work with a couple of vets during some lower level tournaments, but still believe a structured mentoring program would be beneficial to our association for lower-level officials desiring to move up. And most importantly - to become better officials - and to not just work the "better games".
It's the end of our season and the Assoc. Pres. has notified me he is is wanting to visit about a mentoring program (I did offer to do the leg work in an earlier email to him).
Here is a brief outline of what I have come up with after utilizing the search function here and reading a buh-zillion posts on mentoring. Some post only mentioned mentoring but had nothing of real value. Look these over and offer up some input, areas I might have missed, comments on what worked and hasn't worked in your experience, etc.
A) Association Mentoring Program
a) Officers and Mentors have the right to choose participants
* Physically fit, appearance, attitude, long term potential, etc.
b) Can limit the number of participants in program
c) Mentors must freely volunteer
d) Optional - Assoc. Mini-Camps for participants
* A Saturday morning mechanics/rule meeting. Combining a "mini-camp" with a youth tournament.
e) Officers/Mentor retain the right to drop participant for legitimate reasons or concerns
B) Sr. Official/Mentor
a) Rookie has access for questions or game sitch questions
b) Mentor makes occasional phone calls to check on participants and how their games are coming along
c) Rookie travels with Mentor and his partner to 1 or 2 games
* Observes pre-game, captains, coaches,halftime and post game meeting. Discuss game sitch's which may have arisen.
d) Mentor attends 1-2 games participant works.
* Evaluate and attend pre-game, captains, coaches, halftime and post game meeting as observer. Discuss observations with participant afterwards.
e) Work a few youth level tournament games together
C) 1st Year Official
a) Desire to move up and improve overall officiating skills
b) When working a lower game, stay for the next higher level game to observe officials if there is one
c) Work on rules knowledge and application
d) Willingness to work games which are assigned or offered, to improve game management skills and overall mechanics
e) Willingness to travel to observe Mentor and act as possible backup if needed (carry their own gear in case they're needed to possibly work for emergencies)
D) 2nd Year Official
a) same as 1st year official requirements
b) Work towards taking certification test by the 3rd year
c) Establish and focus on personal POE's.
d) Willing to work with newer officials within their capacity
This is a brief working first draft and will no doubt be massaged as needed. Your input and help would be greatly appreciated. If it ever gets to a final draft I would offer it up as a PDF file for others to use as well if they found it to be helpful.
Thanks.
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