2010
Edmonton District Soccer
Association
Rod Keys EDSA Referee
Director
DIRECTORS REPORT
This document covers the 2009 Outdoor season and the 2010 Indoor Season
Outdoor:
The 2009 outdoor season found the EDSA in an unusual position in that we had the highest number of registered
officials that made themselves available for officiating outdoor games. EDSA officials registered for EDSA outdoor
games exceeded 180 officials. We also welcomed 40 new officials to our ranks that took advantage of the EDSA
subsidized official training and registration programs.
We had a typical outdoor season regarding refereeing, availability, game cancellations, and disciplinary actions.
Nothing to report that could be considered out of the ordinary except the implementation of the EDSA Lightning
Policy during regular season play. It must be noted that this one policy may be the most costly to EDSA and its’
members however the resulting possibility of a lightning strike hurting or killing one or more of our members is
substantial.
The EDSA hosted the 2009 Senior Provincials, with officials being organized and assigned by the ASA. EDSA was not
involved in the selection or the provision of officials for this showcase event. Feedback from some officials that
worked this tournament reported a seeming lack of planning and disorganization. It would be in the best interests
of this type of event that the hosting association should be responsible for the supply of resources including but
not limited to Referee’s, fields, and volunteers.
The EDSA Technical Committee will be reviewing and making recommendations to the EDSA Board regarding the
Referee Fee structure for the upcoming outdoor season. Attached are two spreadsheets that show historically
what the fee structure has been and what it is currently. Part of the analysis for referee game fee structure will
look at competing associations both locally and regionally, competing sporting associations, our current team fees,
and cost of living. Any submission regarding this initiative should be addressed to the EDSA Technical Committee.
Indoor and Outdoor 2010:
The EDSA has experienced one major incident of violent conduct against an Indoor Referee this Indoor Season. The
official was attacked by a player during a stoppage of play, with this attack resulting in severe injury to the official.
This attack has been escalated to the ASA for disciplinary action as well as the civil authorities. The EDSA finds this
type of act cowardly and unacceptable. All attacks on officials, especially those of a physical nature (or any
persons) should not be a part of our game!
Major League Camp for Indoor Soccer


Reintroduction of the Two Official Format for Premier and Major League. Approved by the ASA for use in
the 2010 Indoor Season and 7 vs 7 season.
The use of a “standardized” non conflicting EDSA Indoor Officials uniform for the Major and Premiere
leagues. This was undertaken and the distinctive uniforms were purchased by the officials working these
levels of games.
2
Ken Atterbury Tournament

The Ken Atterbury indoor tournament ran from October 7th until Oct 21st. This popular pre-season
tournament is a great way for teams and referees to be re-acquaint with the indoor game. All proceeds
from the tournament are donated to charity, with the biggest portion coming from the referees that
volunteer their time. This year the donated game fees by the referees reached $7500.00. These funds
have been donated to Juvenile Diabetes and the Stollery Children’s Hospital

Major League Try Out Camp
o
o
o
o
This year’s tryouts for Indoor Officials were run in conjunction with the Ken Atterbury
Tournament. In previous years the tryout camp was used to set the standards for the
management and officiating of Premier and Major League Indoor games. The tryout camps were
also used to review the officials that were being considered for the upcoming Premiere and
Major League Indoor seasons as well as “up and coming” officials that wanted to be given
consideration for participating in higher level games.
Trialist and returning Indoor Officials were those officials that have worked outdoor games for
EDSA the past season as well as those officials that have worked other leagues e.g. EMSA
The tryout camp was used to reintroduce the Two Official System of game management.
The EDSA, in scheduling referees, looks closely at the referees competency, dedication to EDSA
programs, feedback from association members, availability, and ongoing development. The EDSA
has been moving towards a meritorious based assignment model and will continue to identify,
mentor, and reward “good” referees.

The formation of an EDSA Referee Input Committee

This initiative was not met with a high degree of enthusiasm as we only had two people come forward,
both from the Women’s program. Although the committee failed to get off the ground this indoor season,
it or some type of forum still holds the potential to offer great value to our association.
Forum Overview
o
o
o
o
o
o
The hope is to have a committee struck that will be made up of one volunteer representative
from each indoor division of EDSA teams. This commitment will run the full Indoor/Outdoor
Season and will meet on a monthly basis, time permitting.
The purpose of this committee will be to allow on-going feedback from the membership
regarding officiating issues and the Rules of the Indoor Game.
Feedback may be used in developing new programs for officials, training initiatives, educational
initiatives, remedial training, and other issues that arise during the Indoor Season.
The EDSA will be represented by the Referee Director, who will chair the committee meetings
and the EDSA Technical Director.
Once we have a viable number of Divisions (6) represented on the committee a notification of
the inaugural meeting will be forwarded to the interested parties.
If you wish to represent a Division on this committee please email Ralf Schmidt at [email protected]
3
Please find below all of the information regarding the EDSA Indoor Refresher & Conversion courses. Please note
The refreshers will be three hours long and will include a 1 hour exam. There is no on-field component to the
refresher for this indoor season. Here are all the details for the courses:
REFRESHER COURSES
It is a requirement that an official take a refresher before the start of every new season (indoor and outdoor).
There is no charge for any of these courses. The EDSA conducted 3 refresher courses this past fall and one
conversion course. Outdoor refreshers will be undertaken prior to the start of the 2010 outdoor season. These
courses are mandated and instructed by the ASA through the ASA’s Referee Development Committee.
EDSA Initiative 1:
1) EDSA Implementation of the: Two Referee System of Game Management (TRSGM)
This Indoor Season saw the re-introduction of the Two Official System of Game Management to the EDSA indoor
program. This system is being used in the Premier and Major League Divisions. Below is an overview of this system.
Effect: The TRSGM is a progressive tool of Indoor game management and supportive methodology of Referee
Mentoring.
Rational: The Indoor Game has with improving player skill development, rule changes (Pass Back) and the demand
of more seasoned and skill Referees, put more pressure on the EDSA to provide competent game management by
its’ assigned officials. The speed and the transition of play associated with the current Indoor game have placed
pressures on the system of “single official” game management. By placing a second official under the TRSGM on
the field of play and by utilizing a modified diagonal system of field management, on field officials are better
positioned to manage contentious phases of play at both ends of the field of play.
Another key bonus resulting from the use of the TRSGM and as important a rationale is that “less experienced’
officials will be mentored by more experienced official in “game situations” thus creating more opportunities for
“up and coming officials” to get much required game experience sooner rather than later. It is expected that these
higher level game opportunities will most likely lead to less frustration and lower attrition rates commonly
associated with younger officials.
Principles of TRSGM:

Game Management

Field Coverage

Mentorship of Developing Officials
Implementation: The goal of this system is to ensure that the “team” acts as a cohesive group and that the quality
of officiating and game management is enhanced at all times. To ensure the “look” of a team all Referees working
Major League Indoor games will be required to wear the EDSA Major League Gold kit, the official alternate kit will
be the Adidas Blue and Grey Kit. In lower level games (Premiere) this directive is less enforceable as we will be
using officials on a trail or evaluation basis therefore the minimum criteria for these games will be matching
outfits.
4
Additional Duties of the TKO - Statistic:
Being a pilot program there will be a requirement to evaluate/report on- field performances, collect feedback
from playing and non-playing personnel, and collect statistics from each game using the TRSGM.
Statistics to Be Collected
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
Penalties called by SR
Penalties called by JR
Goals waved off/called by Lead
FK managed by the SR
FK managed by the JR
Pass Back Infractions called by Lead/SR
Pass Back Infractions called by Lead/JR
Pass Back Infractions called by Trail
Infractions in Neutral Zone by SR/JR
Infractions in End Zone by SR/JR
The tracking of these statistics will be the responsibility of the TKO. Recording of game statistics will be done
on a TRSGM form provided by the EDSA. This form will be handed in with the Game Sheets at the end of the
game(s) to the control rooms for collection by the EDSA.
Statistics to January 10 2010 - Total Number of Games – 92













Total number of fouls called – 1,324
Percentage of fouls called by the Lead Official – 63.0%
Percentage of fouls called by the Trail Official – 37.0%
Percentage of fouls called by the Senior Official – 52.9%
Percentage of fouls called by the Junior Official – 47.1%
Total number of cards handed out – 195 (122 Blue, 55 Yellow, 18 Red)
Percentage handed out by the Lead Official – 63.1%
Percentage handed out by the Trail Official – 36.9%
Percentage handed out be the Senior Official – 47.2%
Percentage handed out by the Junior Official – 52.8%
Advantages Called – 176 which = 1.91/game
Only 6 Pass-backs have been called in the 92 games
Goals Waved Off – 31 in 92 games which = 1 every 2.97 games
EDSA Initiative 2: Centre of Excellence for Officials:
This initiative is at the investigative stage. It would involve the participation of varied sport related associations,
initially in meetings, to see if there are similar challenges faced by the participating associations, mutually
beneficial goals, and a common goal of proactive change to meet the demands of supplying competent officiating
at all levels games. Based upon the success of the initial meetings a more formalized plan that includes a Centre of
Excellence would be developed.
5
The basic premise of this initiative is that there are similar challenges faced by other sport related associations
relative to managing key resources, compensation, compensation format, education, professional development,
and retention. One of the byproducts of this sharing of knowledge will be the development of effective tools and
strategies that will help associations like the EDSA in its goal to provide increasing value back to the members of
the association.
Several associations that have similar membership numbers, cross age involvement, resource requirements (on
field and off field officials) have been contacted and asked if they would be interested in the nature of this type of
joint venture and the resulting information that would be derived from discussing common goals, impediments to
excellence, challenges of maintain standards, compensation, etc.
Associations that have expressed interest in meeting are the Provincial bodies that are responsible for the supply,
standardization, and training of officials for Volley Ball, Hockey, Basketball, and Lacrosse. Other potential
participants to be contacted will be Football and Ball Hockey. An effort will be made to contact Professional Sports
organizations e.g. The CFL and NHL to see if their participation may be of benefit to the process as well as
beneficial to their organizations.
For more information contact Rod Keys – EDSA Referee Director
6