 Purpose of Assessments The Upgrade Process The progression of a referee from lower grade to higher grade (e.g. Grade 8 to Grade 7) is prescribed by the Referee Administrative Handbook. Upgrade is based upon experience (number of matches officiated) at various age and competition levels and upon the recommendation of assessors. Assessors are trained and certified by the USSF to serve as evaluators and advisors to referees. Assessors are experienced referees trained to observe the skills and demeanor of referees. Assessors provide feedback to the referee and to the SRC - State Referee Committee, indicating the competency of the official and recommending areas of performance for enhancement. The assessors' feedback serves the individual referee's development and together with the referee's own report provides input the the SRC's instruction program to improve the performance of the referees across the board. Once a referee has accumulated the appropriate experience and received assessments as required by the Referee Administrative Handbook, the referee must document this information and submit a request for upgrade to the SRC. The SRC reviews the documentation and acts on the strength of the assessments and the needs of the state for referees at the requested grade and either approves or disapproves the upgrade request. Upon approval the referee's grade is changed upon the next registration.
Please review the Administrative Handbook to ensure you meet all criterion for upgrading (assessors do not verify whether the official can be promoted; they just assess). The onus is on the official to get the number of games, pass the running test, take the required written tests, and attend all mandatory clinics, etc. Grade Maintenance Assessments
As referees advance to higher grades they are required to demonstrate their continued qualification for their grade through "maintenance" assessments and sustained high level competition experience. Each referee at Grade 7 or higher is also required to successfully pass a physical fitness field examination which includes distance, agility and speed tests (as set out in the Referee Administrative handbook). The results of this testing are recorded to fulfill part of the annual registration / recertification qualifications. In rare circumstances referees who fail to maintain their qualifications are "down graded" by the SRC and this is reflected on their next registration.
Requesting an Assessment
A referee desiring an assessment for maintenance, upgrade, or constructive review, must phone or e-mail a request for assessment along with one or two challenging game assignments to the District Director of Assessment (DDA).
Each request will be added to the computerized list of requests on the date
received. The DDA will attempt to schedule an assessor for the requested game.
Effective Spring, 2006, an official requesting assessment will pay the
assessor at the game site before the game. It is recommended that payment be
made quietly and away from the pitch (not at mid-field.) The assessment fee
policy remains unchanged; the requesting official will pay their game fee to the
assessor.
When an assessor is scheduled and confirmed, the DDA will notify the referee as to who will be completing the assignment. It is then the referee's responsibility to notify the assessor of any changes in time or place. At the game site the assessor provides verbal feedback to the referee following the game. Written feedback is provided to the referee either at the game or soon thereafter. A report of Assessment is sent by the assessor to the DDA.
If you were assessed and didn’t receive written feed-back within seven (7)
days following the match, please notify the Dayton Area Director of Assessment,
immediately.
 Request an Assessment - OSSRC site
Joe Colvin -
jcolvin6740@yahoo.com
DASOA, Director of Assessment
To all Ohio South Referees
All assessments as Referee, AR1 and AR2 must be requested before the game. If not requested, performance will be marked as "further evaluation" and cannot be entered for maintenance or upgrade. Recommend that you contact your Area director of Assessment (ADA) for availability of assessor and verify the date/time/site. Officials are not to contact any assessor directly. Plan ahead, look at your schedule and leave some options open in case of conflict. If referee requests an assessment, the fee is the game fee. If an AR requests an assessment but not the referee or other AR, it is the referee's game fee. Both ARs request but not referee, it is the referee's fee. If all three request, the fee can be no more than $50. It is recommended that fees be forwarded to the ADA before the game. The ADA will not disburse the fees, to the assessor, until the assessment has been received by him.
Carl Wright - cbrite@webtv.net
State Director of Assessment, Ohio-South
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