Recruiting Officials
Build relationships with your regional referee association. The assignor who trusts you will send their best officials and give you priority when the schedule is crowded.
Compensation matters: research your regional rate and don't go below it. Simplify payment — pay on the day via digital transfer if possible.
The Pre-Tournament Briefing (20 Minutes Max)
Mandatory for all officials. Agenda:
- Introductions and field assignments
- Tournament-specific rules modifications
- Communication protocol with tournament control
- Incident reporting procedure
- Questions
Distribute a written game-day rules sheet. Officials who can reference the rules don't have to rely on memory under pressure.
Supporting Officials During the Tournament
Provide a dedicated officials' area — separate from coaches and parents. Assign an official liaison whose only job is to serve officials: water, logistics, communication buffer.
Brief all coaches on the interaction protocol before the tournament: one way to communicate with officials (calmly, between stoppages), and consequences for violations.
Handling Disputes
During games: Send the liaison. Do not overrule officials during a game — this destroys their authority for every remaining game.
Post-game: Direct coaches to the tournament director. Listen fully. Never discuss specific official performance with coaches. If a rule was genuinely misapplied, acknowledge it professionally and note it.
The rule to remember: The moment you publicly undermine an official is the moment every borderline call becomes contested. Protect your officials.
After the Tournament
Send officials a brief feedback form. Build an officials roster with names, contact info, experience level, and notes. This roster is one of your most valuable assets as an organizer.