Accountability in Officiating

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Accountability in Officiating

• responsibilities of officials to the game
• responsibilities of the game to officials

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Accountability in Officiating
Expectations
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Accountability in Officiating

• PART 1 2003 NASO Conference
• Summary of what we (Sports Officials Canada)
  planned, how we did and where we go next

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Accountability in Officiating

• Overview
• The background of this talk is a discussion paper
  summarizing the content of an NASO conference in
  2003 intending to help chart the course for
  Sports Officials Canada

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Accountability in Officiating

• What were the targets?
• Howd we do?
• What next?

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Accountability in Officiating

• Three elements or focusing on
• officiating in a fair, objective and impartial
  manner
• becoming and remaining competent as officials
• others respecting the rights of officials

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Accountability in Officiating

• First element
• In order for sport to be contested, all of the
  participants must believe that the game is being
  officiated in a fair, objective and impartial
  manner.

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Accountability in Officiatingthe target

• We needed a code of conduct at the broad sports
  officials level
• Most sports officials groups had one but we
  didnt have a national or overarching one

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Accountability in OfficiatingHowd we do?

• Sports Officials Canada does have a code of
  conduct

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Accountability in Officiating

• Sports Officials Canadas Code of Conduct is
  based on sportsmanship
• and fair play in order to provide a positive
  experience for all
• participants.
• Officials must conduct themselves in accordance
  with the highest ethical standards and be a
  positive role model in behaviour and personal
  appearance.
• Officials must place the safety and welfare of
  competitors above all else, and will strive to
  provide a sportsmanlike environment.
• Officials must emphasize the spirit of the
  competition rather than its outcome.
• Officials must be impartial, consistent,
  objective, unbiased and courteous when making
  decisions.
• Officials must accept responsibility for their
  actions and decisions.
• Officials must know the rules and apply them
  within their spirit and intent.
• Officials must respect, support and remain loyal
  to other officials.
• Officials must avoid any situation that may be
  construed as a conflict of interest.

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Accountability in OfficiatingWhat next?

• What do you think needs to be done now?
• How do we audit the effectiveness of the SOC code
  of conduct?
• How do you audit the effectiveness of your (NSO)
  officials code of conduct?

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Accountability in Officiating

• Second element
• In order for officials to be able to provide the
  best possible service to athletes and coaches,
  they need to be competent and remain competent in
  their vocation.

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Accountability in Officiating

• Athletes deserve the best officials
• They (and their coaches) are those to whom we,
  as officials are ultimately accountable

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Accountability in Officiatingthe target

• SOC annual professional development conferences
• Increasing funding for upgrading and professional
  competence in general

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Accountability in OfficiatingHowd we do?

• SOC annual conference on professional development
  focusing on needs of members
• Most, if not all, NSOs have programs for
  upgrading of officials targeting on international
  standards
• Most of these programs focus on face-to-face
  training programs

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Accountability in OfficiatingWhat next?

• developing a long term officials development
  program (for sport or by NSOs)
• combining computer-based training and
  face-to-face interaction
• recruiting and mentoring of younger officials

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Accountability in Officiating

• Third element
• In order for officials to be able to perform at
  their best, other participants must respect the
  rights of officials

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Accountability in Officiating

• In order to do our officiating job we must feel
  safe and secure

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Accountability in Officiatingthe target

• Covenant between other participants and officials
  (NASO type)
• Less abuse and violence toward officials

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Accountability in OfficiatingHowd we do

• True Sport Movement has made some significant
  movement toward a covenant
• Quebec Federation of Sports has a covenant
• Some hockey rinks have respect for all
  participant posters etc.

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Accountability in OfficiatingWhere to next

• More work on a covenant of sorts?
• What do you have in your sport?
• What do you need in your sport?

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When a game becomes sport
why we officiate
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Accountability in Officiating

• PART 2 what we, as officials owe to the game

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Sport is life with the sound turned up

• Barry Mano, President NASO

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Accountability in Officiating
http//umpire clip
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Accountability in Officiating

• What responsibilities do officials have to the
  game?
• Overarching Principles we should
• Elevate the profession of officiating
• Improve the image of officials in eyes of the
  public
• Express expectations of officials
• Ensure a higher standard of behaviour
• Ensure consistency in performance

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Accountability in Officiating

• What responsibilities do officials have to the
  game?
• We can achieve these by
• Focusing on clear, measurable and significant
  goals
• Monitoring progress
• Concentrating on improvement in performance
• Having effective evaluation tools
• Having appropriate incentives
• Investing in results

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Accountability in Officiating

• What responsibilities do officials have to the
  game?
• In being accountable we must ensure that
  officials
• Practice
• Study
• Have clinics
• Have standards for physical condition
• Understand the rules
• And demonstrate them through game performance

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Accountability in Officiating

• What responsibilities do officials have to the
  game?
• To be accountable we must monitor progress by
• Having annual evaluations which focus on the
  goals identified
• Employing developmental tools including mentoring
• Comparing this years performance to previous
  years
• Comparing performance with that of peers

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Accountability in Officiating

• What responsibilities do officials have to the
  game?
• To help we must concentrate on improvement in
  performance by
• Avoiding intimidation tactics
• Accentuating the positive
• Providing examples of how the best officials
  perform
• Assigning senior or more experienced officials as
  mentors
• And demonstrating what we expect

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Accountability in Officiating

• What responsibilities do officials have to the
  game?
• To be accountable we must have effective
  evaluation tools
• Video tape
• Peer review
• Coaches assessments
• Observers assessments
• Whatever works in your sport
• Such as?

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Accountability in Officiating

• What responsibilities do officials have to the
  game?
• To be accountable we must have appropriate
  incentives
• Post season games
• National championships
• Travel opportunities
• Psychic income
• Whatever might work

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Accountability in Officiating

• What responsibilities do officials have to the
  game?
• To be accountable we must invest in results by
• assigning the best officials for the toughest
  situations
• rewarding performance in other ways
• Other ideas?

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participant expectations
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Accountability in Officiating

• PART 3 - What responsibilities does the game
  have to officials?

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Accountability in Officiating

• PART 3 - What responsibilities does the game
  have to officials?
• Respecting our vocation
• Rewarding us for our contributions
• Supporting our future development

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Accountability in Officiating

• PART 3 - What responsibilities does the game
  have to officials?
• Respecting our vocation
• Do you feel respected in your vocation?
• What can we do to feel respected?

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Accountability in Officiating

• PART 3 - What responsibilities does the game
  have to officials?
• Rewarding us for our contributions
• Do you feel rewarded for your contributions?
• How could this be improved?

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Accountability in Officiating

• PART 3 - What responsibilities does the game
  have to officials?
• Rewarding us for our contributions
• Some things that might help
• Making the experience fun and enjoyable
• Treating officials with respect
• Recognizing officials publically
• Reimbursing officials for expenses/costs
• Providing game fees honorarium, etc

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Accountability in Officiating

• PART 3 - What responsibilities does the game
  have to officials?
• Supporting our future development
• Putting money into development courses
• Supporting life-long learning objectives

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Accountability in Officiating

• Other issues affecting officiating
• Role of the media
• Using the media to advance officiating
• While officials may need training on how to
  control media interviews
• The media may need educating on the rules and how
  officials apply them

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Accountability in Officiating

• Other issues affecting officiating
• Disciplining officials
• What do you do?
• How should be discipline officials?
• Under what circumstances?

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Accountability in Officiating

• Other issues affecting officiating
• Disciplining officials
• Under what circumstances?
• For decisions on judgment 68 said no
• For decisions for misapplication of a rule 34
  said no
• If we see the play and make the wrong call thats
  bad
• Our objective is to get the call right

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Accountability in Officiating

• officials responsibilities