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Referee - The SOCREF-L Mailing List

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One of the best ways to learn any skill is to talk to folks who have already mastered it. You may find comparing notes with other referees a bit difficult to do because you’re all so busy. The league has you running around on Saturday and Sunday to such an extent that you don’t have time to catch your breath. Besides, you may be over on the U-12 fields while the more experienced referees (the folks you need to chat with) are on the other side of the park, working matches for the older kids.

Where to turn? If you have an e-mail account, help is available right on your computer. The Soccer Referee’s Mailing List brings together more experience than you’ll ever find out at the park, playground, or wherever your league plays. The experience level runs from new guys like me to national referees who work some of the top matches in the country (including A-League and MLS).

If you’d like to join SOCREF-L, check out the list’s home page for details.

There are certain points of etiquette that you should know before joining SOCREF-L.

  • Flames: While the list does have a bit of social chatter, the list is relatively flame-free. Try to keep it that way. Most of the experienced folks are willing to help, but they’re not interested in being dumped on.
  • Criticizing professional matches: Many of the referees you see on the tube doing MLS, A-League, and indoor professional matches are friends of folks on the list (if they’re not actually on the list). If you see something in a televised match that makes no sense to you, try to couch your comments in a constructive form (e.g., "What did he see that I didn’t?") Sometimes even international referees miss calls. Learn from that. Don’t let partisan feelings for a particular club or team cloud your ability to learn and grow.
  • Share knowledge: You may be a new referee, but if you were a player or coach, you’re not new to the game. Your opinion and perspective define what you are, and we all can learn from each other.
  • Enjoy yourself! Even folks on hard-hat geek lists can have a good time. Sure, soccer is more important than life and death, but it’s still fun. Referees aren't in this for the money.

OK, time to go to school.  You need to attend a Clinic in your area before you can take the certification test.


Internet Mailing Lists

Electronic mail is still the backbone of the Internet.  Users discovered early on that it wasn't all that difficult to send an e-mail message to multiple addressees, not unlike a distribution list for an intra-office memo.  As this practice grew, users developed regular "mailing lists" of people with whom they shared information.  As the 'net became more and more available to the academic communities and the general public, these lists were also opened up to the public and maintained by computer programs.   The mailing lists evolved into formal discussion groups.  Most of the early lists were computer-related (reflecting the make-up of the user community), but they've expanded into all sorts of topics. 

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