Mentoring Programs

stripes · #1 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 11, 2002, 01:38pm

Our local HS association has tried to implement a formal mentoring program. Mentors are assigned to non-varsity officials who desire to have one. Participation is strictly voluntary. This was just started at the end of the last season so we are not very far into the program. I know what mentors are supposed to do for the mentees, but does anyone have any suggestions as to how we can get the program really going? I believe that all those involved are committed to making it work, but we want to head out in the right direction.

Any help would be appreciated.

zebraman · #2 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 11, 2002, 02:22pm

Our association tried this a few years ago. It worked for a few guys - you need mentors who are willing to put in the time to go watch and evaluate the new refs and you need new refs willing to accept constructive criticism. There weren't enough of those partnerships to go around.

One thing that would have helped is to have our assignor ensure that the mentors and the "mentees" get assigned to the same gym. In other words, the mentor works the varsity game at School XYZ and the mentee works the frosh or JV game at the same school. As thin as officials time is stretched during the season, you can't really expect mentors to go watch games on their rare "night off."

Z

JRutledge · #3 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 11, 2002, 02:59pm

I think Z makes a great point. It obviously depends on how games are given and what nights are game nights and off nights. I have been around a few associations that tried to have mentors watch games of younger officials in their associations, it can be very difficult. Most offficials have families and job responsibilities and when you do officiate on specific nights, you do not have a lot of time to watch someone else. If an officials does boy's basketball for example, they will be working 3 nights a week (unless tournament). To add to that, many of these officials that are accomplished to college ball too. Soe they might work another night or two doing college games. There is no guarantee that they could even be in the same places to watch any game. And finally if your association is not the entity that assigns games for your officials, then you might never get officials in the same place.

I think you need to come up with a "goal" of what you want to accomplish. If it is for older officials to watch and critque other officials, you might have to work that out with assignors and evaluators to accomplish this. If all you want is to provide and ear to officials to ask questions, that might be much easier to accomplish. It just depends on what the program goals are.

Peace

stripes · #4 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 11, 2002, 03:34pm

Quote:

Originally posted by JRutledge
I think you need to come up with a "goal" of what you want to accomplish. If it is for older officials to watch and critque other officials, you might have to work that out with assignors and evaluators to accomplish this. If all you want is to provide and ear to officials to ask questions, that might be much easier to accomplish. It just depends on what the program goals are.

Peace

Good point Jeff. Any suggested goals?

[Edited by stripes on Jul 11th, 2002 at 03:36 PM]

JRutledge · #5 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 11, 2002, 03:43pm

Quote:

Originally posted by stripes

Good point Jeff. Any suggested goals?
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Who assigns your games for your officials?

Peace

stripes · #6 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 11, 2002, 04:27pm

All of the varsity games are assigned by one by one guy and all of the non-varsity games are assigned by another guy. They work together(very loosely--only when varsity and JV guys are going way outside the metro area). Conceivably, they could assign mentors and mentees together in the same gym on the same nights. It would require more work on their part--they may or may not agree to do it.

But, back to your original thought--what kinds of goals would you try to implement or set for the program??

JRutledge · #7 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 11, 2002, 04:44pm

Quote:

Originally posted by stripes
All of the varsity games are assigned by one by one guy and all of the non-varsity games are assigned by another guy. They work together(very loosely--only when varsity and JV guys are going way outside the metro area). Conceivably, they could assign mentors and mentees together in the same gym on the same nights. It would require more work on their part--they may or may not agree to do it.

But, back to your original thought--what kinds of goals would you try to implement or set for the program??

I will try to answer that. All I think you can do as an association, is to simply assign newer guys with older veterans. Then have the older officials help them in any way they can. I do not think it is necessary to have younger officials always be watched by older officials. Unless you have older officials able to give up games to watch these guys or gals. Other than that, have older officials volunteer to be there for an assigned younger official. Because you really learn more within conversations with older officials than just watching official work. Because there are many things you can teach when you listen to veterans give stories and situations that younger officials may never think about.

All you need is for younger officials to not be on their own. That way they will stick around, instead of thinking the world is against them and quit when they do not see the light at the end of the tunnel. That should be your main goal, the rest is just a matter of doing the things to make that happen.

Peace