OVERVIEW

A league can manage its referee assignments very effectively using the MySoccerLeague.com method of specifying the strength of a referee. This is particularly true of large leagues that have many referees.

The basic concept is that games have a Difficulty rating assigned to them based on the play characteristics of the teams (gender, age group, and play level). Referees have a strength rating based on the same system that is assigned either by the referee or the referee coordinator. As long as a referee’s rating is equal to or greater than the difficulty rating of the game, then the referee is considered to be within the comfort zone (see diagram below).


A Referee can specify his or her comfort level in terms the play characteristics. This will generate a strength factor that is visible to the referee coordinator who can use this information when assigning the referee to a game.

The referee coordinator can also set the strength of an individual referee in the same manner. This strength factor overrides the referee’s own strength factor when making assignments.

A Referee can only self-assign or request a game (see Referee Request/Confirm &Self-Assignment) that is within his or her comfort level. Note that the system by default looks at any information entered by the referee coordinator, and if information has not been supplied, then looks at the information supplied by the referee.

HOW IT WORKS

The referee strength system is related to the Difficulty rating system associated with the league Play Characteristics. The type of play characteristics that are available for the league to use are Gender, Age Group, and Play Level. There is a set of default settings for the relative difficulties for the characteristics in each group. For example, for Gender Girls has a relative difficulty rating of 0 and Boys has a setting of +3. For Age Groups, each age group is one level of difficulty above the previous (e.g., U-9 has a rating of +9 and U-10 a rating of +10). For Play Levels Rec has a rating of 0 and Comp a rating of +3.

So a division that is classified as U-12 Boys Rec will have a difficulty rating of 3 + 12 + 0 = 15.

A Referee that selects U-12 Boys Rec as his or her comfort level will also have a strength rating of 15. Any game on the schedule that has a difficult rating of 15 or less will be available to this referee to self-assign or request.

A Referee coordinator assigning a referee will see a relative strength rating next to the referee. A positive number indicates the referee is within the comfort zone. A negative number indicates the referee is beyond the comfort zone. The referee coordinator can assign the referee regardless of the relative strength rating.

For a referee with a Strength rating of 12 being assigned to a game of difficulty 10, the relative rating is +2. If the game has a difficulty 15, then the relative rating is –3.

A league can modify the relative difficulty settings for each play characteristic to suit its situation. This is done by the League Administrator. Go to Manage League > Edit League Play Characteristics.