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LOVE THY REFEREE

by Jules Foote

Being a referee has to be by far the most thankless job in paintball. No matter how hard you work or how much effort you put into calling a fair game, you're still the bad guy to someone. What is it about the average paintball player that he or she always thinks the reffing is substandard?

I've noticed that a decent number of teams feel as if they've been cheated by the refs when their team loses the game. Do they hate you? Do they think you look funny, that your jersey sucks, that your gun is the wrong color? Well, all the above are just plain false, but nevertheless, referees continue to go unappreciated in paintball. Maybe to better understand what referees go through, we should take a crash course in basic referee training.

Let's start with some basic tools that will help you on the job. First off, I love my eyes. Got to have them if I want to see. Unless you want to end up like Cyclops, it would be in your best judgement to invest in a great set of goggles. I personally really like JT flex-7's because they are super comfortable.

Next, the start and end of the game are among the most important aspects to us as players. How do we know when that time has come? A whistle comes to mind, boys. So when you get to your assigned field in the morning, make sure you have got a whistle all your own. Nobody likes swapping spit, unless it's with a girl of course.

Next, a brightly colored vest or T-shirt is key so you don't get shot up by sure you have got a whistle all your own. Nobody likes swapping spit, unless it's with a girl of course.

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Next, a brightly colored vest or T-shirt is key so you don't get shot up by players. It does you no good to blend in with the guy next to you if you have no marker to shoot back with. You will just end up with a bunch of welts and no cool stories to tell your friends. That is about all the gear you need.

Next, to become a really killer ref you should have some brainpower. You know, a little gray matter. Using the ol' cranium has always helped me out (Editor's Note: Take it from me, he's lying-IQ).
Knowing when players are going to move is really important. When I judge a game I am constantly scanning each and every player looking for movement. Observing little things like when a player is about to make a mad dash down field, his rear foot may lift off the ground a bit. This really helps in making the correct calls.

Also, the direction he looks in helps me know where he is going. I know that before I take off to my next bunker, I sure as hell look to see where the paint is coming from. This is to make sure I don't take two steps out of my bunker and turn bright pink. Just keeping your eyes peeled for such details will make you that much better of a referee. It will keep all of your players happy, too, when you make good calls.

No matter how hard you work or how much effort you put into calling a fair game, you're still the bad guy to someone.

On that note I would like to touch on how to keep big smiles on the faces of all your players. A big part of your job is to make sure everybody is having fun. Why do people play paintball? Well, it's not for the beaucoup bucks made in salaries, not for paintball groupies (not yet, at least) and definitely not for fame. People play paintball to have fun.

I make it my personal mission when reffing to make sure people do just that. Have fun. You should keep all of these things in mind when talking to your players.

Now, the most important job of the ref. SAFETY.
Safety is priority numero uno. Let's keep our beloved sport safe. Nobody has ever had a major injury thanks to well-trained and well-educated judges.

Show them some respect and you will receive it in return. Next, use your head. It does you no good to have all the training in the world if you don't put it to use. Keep in mind that if everybody has a good time, they will most likely come back to your field. Hopefully you have learned a few things about how to be a better referee by reading this.

Stay safe, and I'll see you next time.

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