The Ref Stop

L4 Assessment Slump

L

lalec03

Loz
Just looking for some advice.

I’m in my second season at L4, and I’ve found that my observation mark has dipped significantly since I started. My first three of my first season were either average or above average. My final three, and my most recent one have all been the high end of 71, with one bad anomaly.

I learned quite a few lessons in my first season, and taking marks below 72 were hard pills to swallow but I tried to come back with a renewed sense of confidence. Mentally and physically I’m well prepared for games. There is usually one minor development point in all of these that will curb it slightly, but there were also minor developments in reports where I scored higher.

I have areas in which I find I am consistently above expected (fitness), but I can’t seem to get a mark above 72 recently. I’m not prone to having the same specific issue each time, but I cannot seem to get that mark up. Part of me thinks that I’m just having a bit of bad luck with games and observers, but how bad can luck be four times on the trot? I’m worried that, with group averages around 72.5, I could be reclassified.

Has anyone gone through a slump like this before? Any advice on how I can get more marks above expected would be most appreciated.
 
The Ref Stop
Firstly, getting 100% on the LOTG and development modules on the LMS is a huge step towards not getting reclassified, so control the controllables in that regard.

Secondly, are you getting similar development points from multiple observers? Or different ones from everyone? Look for common themes. But don’t just look at where you get development points. See if you can maximise your strengths for bonus marks too!
 
One of the issues is the question of "average marks".
As Observers, we (should) enter the appropriate mark in each section, based solely on that day's performance.
The criteria for each section of the report are published to referees and Observers.
Observers do not see the total mark awarded.
As another member of this group has written a couple of months ago, refereeing the game to the required standard should produce a mark of 70.
Most referees, however, seem to expect somewhere around 72+
Returning to the issue of "average marks", these are published to referees for their local league/area/group and may influence some Observers to be more generous than they should, if they consider the local average mark when completing the report. Although the averages are not published to Observers, some do have access to them.
My personal view is that average marks are an unnecessary distraction and worry for officials, so should be published only at the end of the marking period (December o r May)
As @RefereeX has said, you need to concentrate on improving any areas of your game that are commented upon in developmental terms, whilst at the same time building on your strengths.
This is the first full season in which Observers for Level 3 and 4 referees will not see the mark they award. It will be interesting to see in May whether any movement in "average marks" occurs.
All early season Observer reports are being analysed by a Peer Review Group currently, to address any perceived generosity or issues with the reports and marks.
All you need to do is to ensure that you get all the background administration correctly completed on time, and work hard on each element of your game.
Keep at it!
 
Totally agree @ChasObserverRefDeveloper

This "average mark" availability causes problems for observers with referee expectation.

I learned a few days ago that (apparently) the "average" mark on the Step 3 division on which I observe is currently 73.2!! 😳
 
Something I got told last season after a disappointing observation was to look past it as in January a new period starts, as was previously said control the controllable and look forward and boss the second half of the season.

I would also be interested to see what the average marks are across the pool, as you said yours was 72.5, we seem to have a bit of an anomaly that our average for last season and this season are sitting around the 72.7 area.
 
The early indications from the FA are that there has been very little movement of average mark following the removal of mark for the Observer to see - so that’s good.

However, I can’t stress highly enough is that the main focus for any Referee is their performance, improving their strengths and developing any shortfalls - easy to say I know and more difficult to do, but this is very likely to improve their observation marks. Of course it still relies on the game placed in front of them, but even with games that do not include KMI’s, Mass confrontations & formal/informal misconduct action, if the skill of the Referee is utilised & from being pro-active there should still be enough for an Observer to reward.
 
The average mark was never going to change significantly as you just to need to be able to add up to calculate it.
They should've brought it when they changed the marking system, and kept the calculation under wraps.

What frustrates referees is getting a well below average mark with no useful development and being told you've had a good game.

Say average is 72.5. Promotion is around 73.5.
Realistically If you get a 71.75 you aren't going anywhere that season, need 4*74 to go up.
 
bester said:
The average mark was never going to change significantly as you just to need to be able to add up to calculate it.
They should've brought it when they changed the marking system, and kept the calculation under wraps.

What frustrates referees is getting a well below average mark with no useful development and being told you've had a good game.

Say average is 72.5. Promotion is around 73.5.
Realistically If you get a 71.75 you aren't going anywhere that season, need 4*74 to go up.
Click to expand...
Realistically at step 3/4 a referee with an average of 72.5 is reclassification fodder.

I don't know what the fix is. I think there are some good suggestions here.

I expect it will all change again I the future.
 
bester said:
The average mark was never going to change significantly as you just to need to be able to add up to calculate it.
They should've brought it when they changed the marking system, and kept the calculation under wraps.

What frustrates referees is getting a well below average mark with no useful development and being told you've had a good game.

Say average is 72.5. Promotion is around 73.5.
Realistically If you get a 71.75 you aren't going anywhere that season, need 4*74 to go up.
Click to expand...
You may think that the average mark was never going to change with Observers no longer able to see the mark, but I can assure you that’s what they thought may happen. Also, there is also a possibility that an Observer may make a mistake on its completion with the mark reducing (or increasing) whereby being able to see the mark was a double check.

However, I definitely agree that if a Referee gets a well below average mark and being told he/she had a good game and no consideration points that would not only be frustrating but wrong. My experience is even if a Referee had a very good/excellent game, he/she would not have been perfect so there is always advice on something to be provided.
 
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JamesL said:
Realistically at step 3/4 a referee with an average of 72.5 is reclassification fodder.

I don't know what the fix is. I think there are some good suggestions here.

I expect it will all change again I the future.
Click to expand...
You are probably not far off with your final sentence, whereby the direction of travel is for Observers to come to an end and replaced by Match Day Coaches. It may be that this happens for the start of next season, or the season after or the season after that, but I think it will happen (my thoughts are that it will be earlier than later). However, whatever scheme it is, it may well contain a mark or grading.
 
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RefereeX said:
Firstly, getting 100% on the LOTG and development modules on the LMS is a huge step towards not getting reclassified, so control the controllables in that regard.

Secondly, are you getting similar development points from multiple observers? Or different ones from everyone? Look for common themes. But don’t just look at where you get development points. See if you can maximise your strengths for bonus marks too!
Click to expand...
Thanks. It's almost never the same issue each time. I had a look at all 6 of my reports last season collectively. The negative highlights were:

1.2 - Working Relationships - expected x6
1.3 - Stepped Approach - expected x5
2.4 - Assessment of Injuries - expected x5
3.4 - Positioning from restarts - expected x4
4.2 - Body Language - expected x5

I don't have too many marks of 6.75, I think it is more the fact that I'm hitting too many 7.0s. On a positive note, my first report this season had a mark of 7.5 for section 1.2.
 
lalec03 said:
Thanks. It's almost never the same issue each time. I had a look at all 6 of my reports last season collectively. The negative highlights were:

1.2 - Working Relationships - expected x6
1.3 - Stepped Approach - expected x5
2.4 - Assessment of Injuries - expected x5
3.4 - Positioning from restarts - expected x4
4.2 - Body Language - expected x5

I don't have too many marks of 6.75, I think it is more the fact that I'm hitting too many 7.0s. On a positive note, my first report this season had a mark of 7.5 for section 1.2.
Click to expand...
As an Observer apart from Section 2.4, the sections I found least strengths of are all the competencies you have highlighted. Some of them because not enough in the game to demonstrate (or not performed very well or inconsistent etc, so I include as Consideration Points). Especially with the Law changes there should be things happening for you/Referees to shine & Observers to identify with Section 2.4, viz player injuries, players leaving or not leaving the field of play as a result, substitutions including players leaving slowly for the replacement to be delayed by 1 min, time down to goalkeepers at drop kicks, goal kicks & throw ins. There is also ceremonial free kicks/defensive walls & potential restarts of play with a dropped ball etc etc. Of course, it’s not a tick box exercise - it’s whether the particular game you/Referees are doing require any, some, or all of the above etc.
 
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DavidObs said:
it’s whether the particular game you/Referees are doing require any, some or all of the above etc.
Click to expand...
This is key for the 5 second countdowns. Back yourself into a corner by using it unnecessarily, particularly early in the game, and you will have a long afternoon of counting and probably annoy participants, not helping your match control or your club marks or pleasing any Observer who no more wants to see this than the 'tick box' running into the penalty area at the first corner to manage a non existant holding problem.

Particularly whilst players and clubs are learning the new Laws, I think there is also a great opportunity to be demonstrably proactive with the 10 second subs. We want to catch players wilfully delaying procedings, not catch out a player who just didn't realise in time he was going off or a manager who didn't understand when the count starts. Unless it has changed a mark on the upside in 1.1. is also worth considerably more than the same in 2.4 !
 
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