Attention BJJ referees

[Howard Kinnard]

....Just a word of caution, doing the course may make you a certified ref, but it doesn't make you a competent or experienced ref, only the experience of reffing can make you that .....

...There also appeared to be some white and blue belts at the course, i wouldn't want anyone below purple (brown ideally) reffing really...

Hi J Sho,

this got me thinking (when I should be working)

I see where you are coming from with this (lower grades reffing) to an extent. However, as you mention yourself, experience is what makes a good ref.

I think a white or blue should  be able to understand the rules as well as a purple and above and surely getting them as much reffing experience as possible is the only way to make good refs.

What are the drawbacks of lower ranks reffing?
Or what reffing advantages are gained by the higher ranks increased time in / knowledge of techniques?

And what is the more important factor in a good referee? Experience in reffing (ie. matches reffed) or experience on the mat (ie. belt).

If reffing experience is the more important, then maybe a ref's licence would be beneficial, recording matches/competitions reffed, and only refs who had a certain amount of experience could ref "more important" (all relative, I know) matches, ie. finals or larger competitions.

Thanks,
Matt

[aashby]

I'll pop this in the tournament rules section.

Just a word of caution, doing the course may make you a certified ref, but it doesn't make you a competent or experienced ref, only the experience of reffing can make you that - just to remind people that being a certified ref doesn't mean you are good to go and ref the mundials.

Was there any form of testing done during Mansor's course?

There also appeared to be some white and blue belts at the course, i wouldn't want anyone below purple (brown ideally) reffing really.

There wasn't any testing so the course certifies that you have been on the course.
There were a number of blue and white belts.
As a blue at the seminar, I felt the course demonstrates more what I didn't understand rather making me think I could ref.
I'd now make a more competant table assistant and competitor.

[Howard Kinnard]

[/quote]
There wasn't any testing so the course certifies that you have been on the course.
There were a number of blue and white belts.
As a blue at the seminar, I felt the course demonstrates more what I didn't understand rather making me think I could ref.
I'd now make a more competant table assistant and competitor.

[/quote]

Hi,

Hmmm...in line with what I wrote before (licence with experience, etc.) maybe a time as table assistant before being allowed to ref would also be a good idea?

Matt

[Fighting photographer]

Good points made by J Sho and Howard as well; starting off on the tables is a very good idea, work your way up the ranks.

There will be experienced referees and guys just starting out, we all need to start somewhere and I think more seminars and practical courses should be organised as an ongoing process.

When I did my reffing courses for the UMA, we had guys on the mats rolling as if it were a comp and we all had goes at scoring the points and also got the guys to drop in some illegal moves etc

I'm happy to hold sessions at my club for the North West area, I think other clubs up and down the UK should do the same.

The more mat time refs get before a comp can only be beneficial for all concerned.

Fp

[GGuueesstt]

So with no testing required, it did not matter if you learned anything from the course or not...  So in effect, you received a 'certificate of participation' for showing up?  If I came 3 hours late, would I still have been given the certificate?

[Banana]

just to remind people that being a certified ref doesn't mean you are good to go and ref the mundials.

you need to be a brown or black belt + have done the course and passed the test or passed an assessment by alvero to work at any cbjj/ibjjf event...

[dave coles]

BJJ could learn so much from the BJA with regards to officials.

The BJA have courses for timekeepers, table officials, recorders, competition controllers, and referees (with many levels of qualification).

They also have a junior referee scheme and quite honestly some of the kids are better referees than the adults.

As part of my junior lessons I let the kids referee eachother, and they are quite good!

[OWDBUM]

I think reffing should be done by brown belts at the very least. Certainly not purples or below who go on a 1 day, guaranteed pass reffing course. No disrespect to the people involved on the recent course, but an afternoon of discussion and a  refereeing certificate doesn't make you Pierluigi Collina.

[Fighting photographer]

Experience comes over time and I agree with Dave, we should try and follow the BJA in how they train their officials.

With the head ref living in Rio it's going to be difficult to bring him over on a regular basis, question is who could we get in the UK to arrange courses on a regular basis?

Fp

[UMA]

The U.M.A. would like to ask if there are any Referee's that would like to help, assist and/or Referee at our next Event on Saturday 4th September 2010 at the U.M.A. British Open 'With Gi' Groundfighting Championships, EFN Forum Event Link: http://www.efnsports.com/forum/index.php?topic=9917.0

If you are an experienced Referee; BJJ, Grappling or Groundfighting etc, 'Gi' or 'No Gi' and would like to help Referee at this Prestigious Event, please contact the U.M.A., either via pm here on the forum or by email: uma@umauk.co.uk.

We will be running either 3 or 4 Contest Areas, and would like any volunteers to help and assist etc, all Officials and Referee's here at the U.M.A. are very well looked after, there is the obligatory Free access to the Ref's and Officials Chill out Room, Free Hot and Cold Refreshments available all day, and real quality home made Fresh Cold Buffet Food, sandwiches, cakes, rolls, pastries, snacks etc, etc, etc, available all day, and are also paid, to help toward they're expenses for volunteering they're time too etc., and you will be right at the heart of the action as it happens...

Thanks.

Jim McSherry
U.M.A. Chief Referee
www.umauk.co.uk