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The Successful Referee Team

How many teams are on a playing field at any one time?  The correct answer is 3.  Team A, Team B, and the referee team.  Unknown to many people, the referees are a team within themselves.  There is not one superstar referee that makes the difference.  Just like any paintball team, if one falls short, the entire team falls short.  The NPPL understands this principle as a result, it has created some of the best referee teams that have had the privilege of officiating 7-man paintball.

But how do they do it?  What does it mean to have a successful referee team?  The answer is simple which can be answered with 2 words.  Professionalism and trust.

Let’s start with professionalism.  Professionalism begins at the individual level, yet enforced by the team.  The individual should have the responsibility within him/herself to understand the rules, the intent, and the overall principle of officiating which is to keep the game fair.  This is further enforced throughout the entire team.  By keeping a high level of professionalism, each referee on a team should be able to make it their own personal responsibility to make sure that they do the best to their abilities.

Trust is the next essential principle.  Each team is exactly that; a team.  Therefore, like the best teams out there, each individual referee needs to be able to trust each other on the field.  This is absolutely essential to the success of the entire team.  A secondary-benefit that comes along with the trust principle is the communication.  A successful referee team is not only a team on the field, but off the field as well.  They socialized together, they live and eat together.  What this does is open the lines of communication which is important on the field.  At the same time, this also enables each individual referee to understand each other’s work ethic, methodology, strengths, and weaknesses. 

Now that we have the ideology down, let’s tackle the structure of a referee team.

Like every team out there, there is always a captain.  In the NPPL 7-man tournament series this individual is known as the Head Referee.  The head referee is the leader of the team and sets the standard.  Everyone on his team should be able to look up to him and respect that individual, his knowledge, and experience.  The Head Referee should be able to assess his crew, their strengths and weakness, and any other issues that his team may have.  This leads to a stronger team.  One can instantly tell the quality of the referee team by simply analyzing the Head Referee and his work ethic.

Apart from the Head Referee, all the other referees on a team are just as important.  They need to be well versed in enforcing the rules, proactive, and hold a high standard of responsibility.  If all the members of the team can demonstrate that level of professionalism, it is easier for the Head Referee to trust that individual.  As long as each individual can demonstrate the ability to enforce the rules to the standards that are required, the head referee should be able to strategically place each member based on their strengths and weaknesses to where there is no margin for error.

Essentially there is no one correct way to create a successful referee team.  However, the principles do remain the same.  And if each individual can take on the responsibility, as well as being able to work together as a member of team, then there is little in the way of obtaining a successful referee team.  Just remember, the purpose of the referee is to make the game fair.

Sincerely,

Edward Pei