The Assesments Scheme

23/04/09 12:08
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The FA’s five-yearly registration programme for assessors has been scrapped and replaced by an annual re-registration programme. Prior to each season, workshops are arranged for assessors so that up-to-date information is provided about their roles and so that skills can be developed.
 
The front page of this newsletter mentioned the introduction for assessors of a
marking scheme out of 100 rather than out of 10. The report that the referee will receive has been re-titled and re-designed. It is now called a “Referee Assessment and Development Form”: the new name highlights a subtle change of emphasis in the role of the assessor, who in future will be tasked not merely with commenting on what s/he has observed but also with identifying strengths which should be built upon and with suggesting ways of developing in areas where there is still room for improvement. The sections of the new form are headed:-
  • Application of Law;
  • Positioning, Fitness & Work Rate;
  • Alertness & Awareness;
  • Communication;
  • Teamwork;
  • Advantage;
  •  Match Control.
Assessors have been trained to give a mark in each section of the form. A
different weighting is then given to the mark in each section which results in a
mark out of 100 being reached. Further information as to how this works in
practice will be given in the next edition of “Capital Referee”.
 
The candidate will still not see the marks awarded but will be provided with an aide memoire commenting briefly on the three greatest strengths and on up to three areas in which development work should be focused.  Interestingly, the first section of the old form (“Appearance”) is not reproduced anywhere in the new form. This emphasises the change of approach being required from the assessor. Previously, s/he just stated on every occasion what had been observed, e.g. “You looked very smart”. In future, appearance will only be mentioned if it is relevant. If someone has a brilliant, perfect game but looks a bit sloppily dressed, the appearance could well be completely irrelevant. If, on the other hand, the players had no respect from the outset for a scruffy looking official, the “Match Control” section might include a comment along the lines of “You should consider whether you might have encountered fewer challenges to your authority at the start of the game by creating an excellent first impression, entering the field of play in a confident manner dressed neatly and tidily in clean kit”.
 
For the benefit of assessors, the FA has described the skills which should be demonstrated by referees at each of Levels 7, 6 and 5. There has been a move to “competency based assessments”. More details of these will be given in future editions of this newsletter but this time round the guidance given under the “Teamwork” section can be used to illustrate the approach.
 
A Level 7 referee is able to:-
  • make effective use of club assistants as per competition rules;
  • encourage the provision of assistants;
  • provide instructions to obtain support to aid match control, giving adequate pre-match instructions to club assistants;
  • generally acknowledge signals from club assistants; and
  • be seen to communicate, respecting their support, achieving some communication.
 
A Level 6 referee is able to:-
  • do all of the above; and
  • acknowledge and overrule as appropriate.
A Level 5 referee is able to:-
  • do all of the above;
  • show satisfactory support for neutral assistant referees (where appointed) or club assistants;
  • provide encouragement actively to gain support;
  • demonstrate some team leadership skills;
  • promote communication through eye contact; and
  • provide “unseen advice” on marginal decisions.
Early experience of the new procedures suggests that promotion candidates will find the feedback more helpful and that there will be greater consistency between assessors. This is very encouraging for all concerned.