MAY REFEREEING APPOINTMENTS - posted 5 May 2012

British Cycling has announced the following refereeing appointments for May.

Saturday 5th May at Astley & Tyldesley
Under-10 British Club Championships
2.00 pm - Darren Kent

Saturday 5th May at Sheffield (The Graves)
British Women & Girls League Round One
12 noon - Mick Knowles

Sunday 6th May at Bury
Under-13 British Club Championships
2.00 pm - Bill Phillips

Monday 7th May. At Sheffield (The Graves)
Under-13 British Individual Championships.
1.00 pm Boys Pre-Qualifier - Mick Knowles
2.00 pm Girls Final - Graham Lush
3.00 pm Boys Final - Mick Knowles

Saturday 19th May at Edinburgh
Celtic Cup
2.00 pm - Alan Hewitson

Saturday 26th May at Newport
Under-16 British Club Championships
Start time tbc - Colin Simmons and Richard Hughes

Sunday 27th May at Poole
U-19 British Club Championships
Start time tbc - Mike Legge and Robin Spicer

SOUTH-EAST REFS TRAINING DAY - posted 16 February 2012

The South-East region is staging a referees' training course on Sunday 26th February in the upstairs room of Gt Blakenham Village Hall.  The course will commence at 12 noon and a buffet lunch will be provided, funded by British Cycling HQ. The course will be held to a standard format being  delivered across the regions.
 
"The course is open to new and inexperienced officials but we would welcome experienced referees to share their views and experiences" explained regional chairman Mel Perkins.
 
"Under-18s can attend but are not allowed to referee any matches until they reach the age of 18" added Mel.
 
Places on the course must be pre-booked by contacting Terry Ashford by Thursday February 23rd.  Please specify any  special dietary needs.

Terry's contact details are Terry Ashford, TA Security, 8 Jackson Close, Kesgrave, Suffolk, IP5 2QL (tel 01473 831841 or 07860 262112.  Email: terry@tasecurity.co.uk

POSITIVE REFEREES' CONFERENCE - posted 12 February 2012

The multi-discipline Commissaire and Referee’s conference took place today at the Village Hotel Walsall. The meeting was opened by Jonathan Day and Bob Howden from British Cycling who outlined current BC policy. 

They explained that this is the last year of a four-year plan, whose main aspiration was to have 100,000 BC members.  This has not been achieved but the total is now stands at 44,000 against 23,000 just three years ago, so very positive inroads and scope to improve those
numbers.

It was hoped that that the conference would become a yearly event.  Attendees were asked to go away, look at the content, and forward any feedback to British Cycling.

There are 905 registered commissaires/referees but BC were concerned that the list may not always be the most current and are in the process of moving it onto the website instead of being in the Handbook. This will show current officials.  Other matters touched upon were the Event Manager system, logbooks and qualification review.  It was also stated that travelling expenses will be increased to 30 pence per mile.

The meeting then moved to specific discipline workshops with Mike Hack leading for CS. Members of BC also sat in during the workshops.  There were 10 cycle speedway referees present and discussions took place on a variety of subjects including:

• Referee presentation, correctly dressed, on time, communications, and report forms completed and forwarded appropriately in time.
• Attendance at training meetings and relevant events.
• Rule changes, especially the signing on sheet
• Red/Yellow Card penalties
• Starting regulations, with Referees being urged to ensure that Tape times are varied, and that Riders are ready to start as soon as possible, without the preamble that is starting to come into the sport.
• Team managers may only enter the track with the referee’s permission; it is not a right.
• Pits-Marshals are being urged to ensure that only authorised persons are in the pits, but note is taken of the BYJ issues.
• There are no assisted starts.  Riders under-8 may use a wooden block to assist them.
• Indoor-racing, a very quick and different side of the sport that has seen the rider skills improve tremendously but perhaps not always the referees.  There will be trials to see if two referees can determine any issues. At Eccles for instance, there would be a referee in the centre as normal and one up above, who could be used if the main referee was unsighted. Purely discussion and the main referee would make the final judgement.

Sian Smith presented a module on Conflict Management, identifying how to recognise and to deal with issues.  Mike Hack then detailed how referee gradings were compiled, and also indicated that BC were looking at other ways to measure how good /bad referees were.

Clubs will be urged to complete referee feedback forms which may become mandatory.

Mike stressed that on lots of occasions the losing club put in a poor report and the winning club a good one. The report should try to be objective in its summations.  Other considerations were debated about how to determine the standards of referees.

There was lots of discussion about the poor attitude of certain teams/riders to decisions, and the disrespect shown. Racing
scenarios were discussed, with the decision taken and was it the correct one.  Starting procedures were again touched upon, on-going training and possible mentoring, women'’s racing: and the need to encourage them to take up refereeing.

The overall consensus was it was a very positive meeting although it needs to be a bit tighter regards time management.  British Cycling and the Commission will look to that next year. Mike Hack and Paul West will send out minutes of the meeting along with information on Referee Assessment and the new Disciplinary Code.

REFEREES REMINDED OF RESPONSIBILITIES - posted 10 February 2012

Referees have been reminded of a number of key points ahead of this Sunday's national cycle speedway referees' conference in Walsall.

British Cycling has highlighted several concerns including the reporting of red and yellow cards, starting procedures, identifying first-aiders and proof of BC membership.

In a widely circulated email, national cycle speedway administrator, Paul West (pictured), stated

"It is imperative that all referees reports are sent to me where a red or yellow card is issued or where an incident has occurred during a match which could be deemed as ‘bringing the sport into disrepute’. In 2011 at least one case of attempting to discipline someone as a result of an incident linked to a cycle speedway match fell through because of the long delay in the receipt of the appropriate paperwork from the match referee. We cannot hope to tackle the poor discipline record from within the sport without the full assistance of referees.

"Referees are reminded to ensure that the starters keep to the rules in terms of the time gap before the release of the tapes (between two and five seconds). We have had a number of murmurings regarding this issue of late.

"Clubs have been reminded via the latest BC CS circular that they must ensure that for each match the first aider must be easily identified by the use of either a bib, arm band or other method clearly showing the words ‘First Aider’.

The requirement for all riders to produce a membership card before the start of each match still remains. This card will give evidence that the BC Membership is valid and that, for team matches, the rider can indeed ride for that team he is due to represent. £3 day membership (£1 for under 16’s) is due for those membership cards not produced."

SURPRISES IN REFEREES' GRADINGS - posted 9 February 2012

The 2012 Cycle Speedway Directory, due out later this month, will show some significant changes referees gradings.

There are now seven refs in the top A International echelon - Terry Ashford (pictured above) and Al Bentley, Mike Legge and Colin Simmons all stepping up a grade from twelve months ago. 

There are seven A National officials, two down on the corresponding time last year.  Richard Hughes and Robin Spicer move up from the third tier to National A.

But there are some big surprises in the 2012 listings.  Wayne Aris, arguably one of the best refs in the game, loses his A International status as does Ralph Doughty who took charge of last season's blue riband event, the British individual championship at Norwich.

The top 15 British referees are
A International
Terry Ashford, Albert Bentley, Michael Hack, Michael Legge, Robert Prince, Colin Simmons, John Whiting
A National
Wayne Aris, Stephen Copping, Ralph Doughty, Richard Hughes, Michael Knowles, Robin Spicer, Mark Winwood.

In all, cycle speedway has 137 registered referees, nearly half of whom are not classified.

"The grading exercise follows the principles set out by the BC Commissaires & Referees' Commission, in assessing and grading referees. A wide range of criteria has been used to determine the gradings" explained British Cycling's Paul West.

"This criteria includes attendance at training courses, rulebook test results, end-of-season feedback from clubs, match day feedback from clubs, match day assessment of Premier League referees, referees' report forms submitted, number of international and national matches refereed, adverse reports received, disciplinary and behaviour reports, instances of non arrival or late withdrawals" Paul added.

"A comprehensive assessment and analysis of the information received relating to the performance of all cycle speedway referees over the past season has been undertaken..and the gradings of referees have been updated in readiness for the 2012 season."

REFS GEAR UP FOR NATIONAL CONFERENCE - posted 9 February 2012

Referees across the country will be holding their breath this weekend - keeping one eye on the rules and the other on the weather!

Over 100 refs have been invited to attend the national cycle speedway referees' conference which takes place at the Walsall Village Hotel in Sunday 12 February. The event is being staged in conjunction with the national cycling commissaires conference.

Organisers, British Cycling, are keen that as many referees attend as possible.

"Attendance at this referees' seminar is a important to all referees to ensure that all are updated on current practices and can be part of discussions regarding current issues moving the sport forward from a refereeing angle" said Paul West.

"The Commission is keen to see a healthy attendance at this seminar which is open to all referees and those interested in becoming involved in this area."