Jul 28, 2010 6:43 pm US/Central
Referee Convention Hits Downtown Minneapolis MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO)
Referee Convention Hits Downtown Minneapolis MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO)
The referee convention took place in downtown Minneapolis this week.
To many, they are nameless -- the referee. Now, put together about a thousand of them and bring them to downtown Minneapolis for the week and you've got quite a national convention.Here, it's all about coming to learn and to gain self confidence.There is the topic of replay in the NFL."As technology has improved, it's going to be more involved in the game. And I feel like it's a real challenge. And if you're an official and you're afraid of technology, go do something else," said Mike Pereira, former VP NFL official. "Technology is something to look at as that ultimate challenge. And if you look at it, in an instant replay situation, 70 percent of the time it proves you right."There is the challenge of keeping up with the high-level athletes."The game keeps changing. It's different than when I played, it's different than it was when it was 10 years ago," Big Ten Director of Officials Bill Corollo said. "And if we don't keep adjusting to keep up with the game -- and sometimes we fall behind, as officials and we do not keep up with the athletes and what they're doing."Then there is the networking. Kelli Rolstad worked the gold medal women's hockey game in Vancouver, but she doesn't come here to talk hockey."For me to meet an NCAA basketball referee or a volleyball, or soccer, or different more experienced female officials, it was really neat connection for me, cause I could ask them questions that I might not be able to ask in locker rooms," she said. For locals, like Rolstad, for the big college, professional and even the youth officials just breaking in, it's a week to feel something rare -- appreciated."This is kind of meant to be a celebration, a feel good kind of thing," Kevin Merkle said, of the MSHSL. "There's nothing wrong with that because our people give a lot of dedication and you don't get rich refereeing, at least not very many people do, let's put it that way. So for them to get a feel for the impact that they have and to have some feel good, that's all part of it, too."
To many, they are nameless -- the referee. Now, put together about a thousand of them and bring them to downtown Minneapolis for the week and you've got quite a national convention.Here, it's all about coming to learn and to gain self confidence.There is the topic of replay in the NFL."As technology has improved, it's going to be more involved in the game. And I feel like it's a real challenge. And if you're an official and you're afraid of technology, go do something else," said Mike Pereira, former VP NFL official. "Technology is something to look at as that ultimate challenge. And if you look at it, in an instant replay situation, 70 percent of the time it proves you right."There is the challenge of keeping up with the high-level athletes."The game keeps changing. It's different than when I played, it's different than it was when it was 10 years ago," Big Ten Director of Officials Bill Corollo said. "And if we don't keep adjusting to keep up with the game -- and sometimes we fall behind, as officials and we do not keep up with the athletes and what they're doing."Then there is the networking. Kelli Rolstad worked the gold medal women's hockey game in Vancouver, but she doesn't come here to talk hockey."For me to meet an NCAA basketball referee or a volleyball, or soccer, or different more experienced female officials, it was really neat connection for me, cause I could ask them questions that I might not be able to ask in locker rooms," she said. For locals, like Rolstad, for the big college, professional and even the youth officials just breaking in, it's a week to feel something rare -- appreciated."This is kind of meant to be a celebration, a feel good kind of thing," Kevin Merkle said, of the MSHSL. "There's nothing wrong with that because our people give a lot of dedication and you don't get rich refereeing, at least not very many people do, let's put it that way. So for them to get a feel for the impact that they have and to have some feel good, that's all part of it, too."
Referees Convention Hits Downtown Minneapolis News
