Mentor/Mentee Program

[sdoebler]

I'm heading up our mentor program for the coming season. Wondering if other areas have similar programs? Essentially all new officials are encouraged to get a mentor and volunteer to receive one. We then solicit current referees for volunteers to be mentors. We have a focus on officials in our "New officials class" prepping to take the test for the first time and work their first season.

Some things that we are doing
1. Pairing new officials and mentor geographically as to make it easier to get together
2. Laying out expectations from both parties, including feedback communication and encouraging rules knowledge and solid mechanics. Also on the mentee side reaching out frequently as you can only get out what you put in.
3. Working with assignors to pair mentee lower level games with mentor varsity games for observation and feedback.
4. Offering the program to current officials who feel they could use a mentor to advance. While the reception maybe low I think that these folks would be very engaged.

We are all pretty aware of the new officials attrition rates and want to do what we can to mitigate this in our association. Interested to hear if there are other programs like this and how they work. What works well what does not work? Open to other ideas to make the program the best for all parties involved.

[billyu2]

I think you are definitely on the right track. I might suggest not limiting your mentors to just "current" referees. There may be some excellent retired officials in your area that would be strong candidates to help out. Plus, they may have more time to put into the development of the newer official. I would strongly encourage your mentors to use their smart phones to take pictures rather than trying to jot down notes. Pictures say exactly what one is trying to scribble down and takes a fraction of the time. Pictures can show when an official is out of position, a late rotation, failure to close down, a head coach well out of the box, a head coach and assistant both standing and coaching, cheerleaders too close to the end line during play, obvious uniform infractions and a possession arrow that has not been switched among other things. If you need to take notes do those on the phone as well. They are easy to revise and correct following the game and can be easily sent to the newer official if requested.

[Kansas Ref]

The comments/suggestions made in this thread are great and if implemented will certainly add to both the skill as well as the retention of beginner refs. I would also suggest that you take it one small step further: have each 'mentor' give each of his/her 'mentee' a "new ref whistle" when you first meet up with him/her. Hear me out on this now, this is a small thing that the new ref will remember forever that someone as skilled, polished, and knowledgeable as you'all would think to give a new ref a new whistle [which is the icon of our profession] as a token of kindness, collegiality, and concern. This will add to the "affective domain" of the relationship.

[Raymond]

I prefer for mentor/mentee relationships to develop organically.

[sdoebler]

Originally Posted by Raymond

I prefer for mentor/mentee relationships to develop organically.

Agree, however brand new to the sport or area they are least likely to have someone to go to and most vulnerable to quit.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by sdoebler

Agree, however brand new to the sport or area they are least likely to have someone to go to and most vulnerable to quit.

Then it should be up to those individuals to find someone to look towards or the veterans to take them under your wing. We have a few of those "mentor programs" through the association and it often is not something I see that really works. One reason is when you assign the people, it is possible that they are not in a situation or of the personality to work together. At least if you build a relationship on your own, it is more likely to work because someone has a desire to make it work. Usually, these are developed by going to a game directly and watching and talking with the officials or seeing each other at a social and just having a conversation.

Peace

[Kansas Ref]

Originally Posted by Raymond

I prefer for mentor/mentee relationships to develop organically.

*?what is organically?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Kansas Ref

*?what is organically?

Relationships that develop naturally, not through assignment.

I show interest in those who show interest in the craft. I have been mentored over the years by those who I was either already friends with or who I developed relationships with. For me, having somebody assigned to me as a mentee, or having somebody assigned to me as a mentor just wouldn't have worked out.

I'm about to engage in mentoring an older official who is truly starting to show genuine interest in getting better. I've known him for a few years but he never seemed like he was really interested in getting better, so I never initiated anything with him.

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