FROM: Larry-web page co-creator, grade 7 soccer referee, 4 years experience and local assignor:
Readers,
The purpose of creating this sight was two fold:
1) Create a sight that would hold the data base for all the soccer referees in Western South Dakota. (This data base is not available to regular viewers of this sight.)
2) Recruit and retain current referees.
I have for the last two years, done the assigning for the local recreation program during the fall. We have not had enough referees to do all the games. I have also assigned tournaments for the Rushmore Soccer Club. Most tournaments go well, but the two outdoor tournaments come up short with referees. It is my understanding that this has gone for quite some time, and it is my goal to correct it. There are many reasons for the shortcoming. Communication is part of it, not having enough referees is most of the it. It is my hope that by creating this sight, we can increase our recruitment and retention so that over time, we will have sufficient referees.
We also share one other common problem with most of the rest of the country. We have an aged referee pool. So we in Western South Dakota need to find a solution. The youth is part of the solution. Another part of the solution is parents. Parents of current and past players. College students is also a possibility.
If you are not a referee and are reading this, consider joining a group of professional individuals that enjoy what they do, and get paid to be with kids and exersize. Go to Interested In Becoming a New Referee? for more information.
Larry