Being assigned head official at a youth tournament usually means you have extra responsibility, with no extra compensation. Here are some tips that should make your life easier.
Meet with the officials as they arrive. Meet with the wrestlers about 30 minutes before the competition starts, and the coaches right after.
In the officials meeting make sure you have the mats covered, and any possible rotations set up.
In the wrestlers meeting cover the following.
At Beginners.
Starting positions.
Locked hands.
Full Nelsons.
At Middle School Duals.
The pre-meet disc toss, and meeting.
At all
Aggressively trying to score in the ten foot circle at all times.
Report to the table three matches ahead of your bout.
Sportsmanship.
Special equipment. Any special equipment must be approved by the head official and includes shirts under singlets.
Report to the table 100% ready to wrestle, including secured laces.
Give them a chance to ask you questions.
Have the rest of the officials do a nail and visible skin check while you meet with the coaches.
Coaches meeting.
Ensure the coaches that the crew of officials is strong.
Ask them to coach the wrestlers, not the officials.
ensure them of the right to ask for a time out any time there is a break in the action.
For the time outs, let them know that if they question a judgment call and it is not a misapplication of the rules that they will be charged with coaches misconduct. If it is a misapplication of a rule the score will be changed.
Ask them not to distract the officials by yelling at the officials from the corner. distracting an official during a match to the point that they can not concentrate on the match in front of them is just not fair to the wrestlers, and is unsportsmanlike.
If there is a dispute, enforce the rules as they are written to the best of your ability. Settle disputes as quickly and correctly as possible. Remeber there is always somebody waiting to wrestle.
Good luck, and don't be nervous about the extra responsibility. The majority of the time you will just be officiating matches.
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One item that was missed is that the head official is responsible for getting the match count and working up the payment for all officials
ReplyDeleteWe should always mention during the kids meeting that they should show good sportsmanship and they should all have fun.
ReplyDeleteI recommend some extra preperation prior to the event. Get the names and phone numbers of all the officials assigned to the event and have it available so you can contact anyone that's late. Also, it's good practice to contact the tournament official prior to the event to let them know that you will be the head official and to contact you if there are any special instructions or changes. Not a bad idea to contact each of the officials as well letting them know that you will be the head official and to let you know as soon as possible if they will have any issues with the assigment.
ReplyDeleteThese are all great additions.
ReplyDeleteThe contact info for the rest of the officials is a big one.
Although all of the officials are responsible for contacting the tournament director to verify start times. It is often overlooked. When you contact the tournament director, giving a list of officials working the tournament is a great relief for the tournament directors.