Topic: Long Island Reffs
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| stephaiutoPosts: 1Location: Join Date: January 29, 2008 11:09 PMSend Message |  January 29, 2008 11:31 PMGoing to the high school meets and trying to fence and cheer and coach without strangling the refs has been increasingly harder to do with each passing year. And I am not just saying this because these refs make it hard for my team to win. I am saying this because every team deserves a fair shot to win and it is impossible to get that chance when not only is your director blatantly wrong on most calls, but also inconsistent with his/her calls. Now these directors may have been "around the block" but let's face it, since they got their reffing licenses (at least in sabre) the entire game has changed. Timing, right of way, actual rules. All of these have changed as a fact. Sabre has gotten faster and the right of way has gotten shorter. Different attacks mean different things. And I can see foilists struggle with trying to tell the ref the differences between beets and parries. Even the epeeists are freaking out about floor touches and the reposts while passing each other, and once a ref starts to mess up epee, there is no saving that ref. I submit that some sort of course of action be done to either remove or make each ref retake the reffing tests to renew their licenses. Something has to be done about this. And fast. | |
| alumni_fencerPosts: 10Location: Join Date: December 15, 2007 1:52 AMSend Message | January 30, 2008 12:47 AM stephaiuto wrote:
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Okay, you may all know me. My name is Stephanie Aiuto, I'm a sabrest at GNNHS and if you do know me, you are aware that I’m a decent fencer. I go to the national competitions. I travel internationally for competitions. I've been around. I'm not saying this to brag, I am saying this because some would think that if I do all of these things, I might know a little bit about fencing. In addition to my actual fencing records, I am also a USFA rated ref. So I do know a thing or two about reffing. Going to the high school meets and trying to fence and cheer and coach without strangling the refs has been increasingly harder to do with each passing year. And I am not just saying this because these refs make it hard for my team to win. I am saying this because every team deserves a fair shot to win and it is impossible to get that chance when not only is your director blatantly wrong on most calls, but also inconsistent with his/her calls.Now these directors may have been "around the block" but let's face it, since they got their reffing licenses (at least in sabre) the entire game has changed. Timing, right of way, actual rules. All of these have changed as a fact. Sabre has gotten faster and the right of way has gotten shorter. Different attacks mean different things. And I can see foilists struggle with trying to tell the ref the differences between beets and parries. Even the epeeists are freaking out about floor touches and the reposts while passing each other, and once a ref starts to mess up epee, there is no saving that ref. I submit that some sort of course of action be done to either remove or make each ref retake the reffing tests to renew their licenses. Something has to be done about this. And fast. As much as I agree with you, there are still holes. Now, I'm not about to go attacking directors here but any knowledgable fencer on Long Island has experienced the great frustration attributed to rediculous floor touches and blatantly incorrect attack-counterattack calls. But hey, I'm sure you've seen the same problem occasionally on the national circuit (not as bad but still present). Unfortunately, there are simply not enough directors on Long Island to just start getting rid of directors, or even filtering out the good ones from the bad ones as appropriate. There have been instances of coaches, alumni fencers, and even knowledgable fans being called on to direct. I believe it was last year when a parent who had formerly been a fencer was asked to direct a meet for Huntington and it was only earlier this year that former Commack sabre Adam Austin was asked to ref a meet between Commack and Newfield: a meet that his younger brother was fencing in. Yes, I have to agree with Steph Aiuto. Fencing has changed and while there are still greatly respected refs around, there's a significant number of directors who are no longer qualified. However, seeing as how there are barely enough directors to cover the meets on Long Island, getting rid of any would be counter-productive. I am strongly in favor of a retaking of the director's exam for Long Island directors as long as a failing grade on it doesn't simply result in their removal. Have them take the course again if they fail instead. | |
| TeleFoilPosts: 44Location: Join Date: January 12, 2008 7:48 PMSend Message | January 30, 2008 3:11 AM stephaiuto wrote:
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Okay, you may all know me. My name is Stephanie Aiuto, I'm a sabrest at GNNHS and if you do know me, you are aware that I’m a decent fencer. I go to the national competitions. I travel internationally for competitions. I've been around. I'm not saying this to brag, I am saying this because some would think that if I do all of these things, I might know a little bit about fencing. In addition to my actual fencing records, I am also a USFA rated ref. So I do know a thing or two about reffing. Going to the high school meets and trying to fence and cheer and coach without strangling the refs has been increasingly harder to do with each passing year. And I am not just saying this because these refs make it hard for my team to win. I am saying this because every team deserves a fair shot to win and it is impossible to get that chance when not only is your director blatantly wrong on most calls, but also inconsistent with his/her calls.Now these directors may have been "around the block" but let's face it, since they got their reffing licenses (at least in sabre) the entire game has changed. Timing, right of way, actual rules. All of these have changed as a fact. Sabre has gotten faster and the right of way has gotten shorter. Different attacks mean different things. And I can see foilists struggle with trying to tell the ref the differences between beets and parries. Even the epeeists are freaking out about floor touches and the reposts while passing each other, and once a ref starts to mess up epee, there is no saving that ref. I submit that some sort of course of action be done to either remove or make each ref retake the reffing tests to renew their licenses. Something has to be done about this. And fast. First the funny part. Beets and parries. Sounds like a sidedish. Secondly, I've come to accept that bad directing is just part of the sport at this level. What is really needed is some sort of way to challenge a call; throw the red flag so to speak. But, even at the Olympic level a director was banned after obviously innappropriate calls during a gold medal match. The standings were not changed but the director banned after the fact. China vs. Italy I beleive. I think what we need is to have specific weapon directors. Let the foil do foil and so forth. We had that last year a few times where there would be 3 directors and one was competent in sabre. They would start the girls sabre then move over to the boys as one of the others took over in foil. I think end judges would help too. sometimes i've noticed standing behind the action the parry is clearly obvious, however, standing on the side it does not appear the blade was moved . Like when the catcher and ump point to the third base coach the same can happen here. Before the call the director can point to the backjudge and see if the blade was moved then make the call with that info. Ehh just an idea. P.S.: That Newsday story said that you were injured. Hope all is well and that you have a speedy recovery. |
