Mentoring New Officials

[chris s]

Originally posted by JMN
Looking forward to the new season, and along with that, introducing new officials to the joys of our noble hobby/profession.

Our association has a couple of guys that do our formal training. They spend classroom time discussing rules and mechanics. Then we all work with them during the scrimmages showing them positioning, mechanics, talk rules, and show them their area of coverage on various plays. We do a fair job in this area. Then, it just takes some miles on the field.

The area that interests me the most is to develop a mentoring program where some of the seasoned guys (with patience) work with the new guys. I've volunteered to take 2-3 of the new guys and call them once a week to discuss rules, answer questions, and even meet if necessary to do nothing but focus on them becoming better officials.

I guess I always wished that I had someone I could have counted on to ask "dumb" questions when I started. Now, I would like to give a little something back.

What kind of formal or informal mentoring programs do you guys use?

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Being a 2 year official, our assc. assigns us to crews. The top 5 are the Varsity crew, other 3 are sub V. Head guru whips up these 125 question study guides. We all meet at somebodys home(usually with a nice spred) and spend an evening or two going over it. Meeting comes and all of us go over the correct answers and discuss the tricky ones and how they should be ruled. We also have a field clinic, basics(such as relaying the ball back to U) are gone over, formations are explained and game management(for the wingers) are very well covered.

But basically, if your crew and crew chief want to mentor they do, mine does....some don't...the good ol boy system,(don't tread on me asttitude) But, it does have it's benefits! My Varsity Umpire( I am LJ or HL) started working baseball( I am Varsity level for a number of years) and I help him on the diamond and he helps me on the gridiron, way cool!!!!

Got a letter form the guru about study sessions coming up, I will be there..........chris