Who picks the refferee's for state in all classes 1A through 6A. In what ways can we be assured we are getting the best reffee's. We have some really good ref's but we also have some who think they are ICON'S of the sport.
I just think the wrestler's deserve the best.

Dear Mike,

Rick Bowden the assistant executive director at KSHSAA is the one who picks the officials to work both Regionals and State. That being said he does this through the recommendations of the Athletic Director of each high school. A common misconception is that the coaches give the recs. Well in a way they do because typically they tell the AD who they should recommend. The problem is that a surprising amount of coaches and AD's never bother to send in recommendations, and thus the same people end up working the state tournament year in and year out because the same people who gave them recommendations the year before just continue to, because 1. The official asked them to. 2. They actually did something to impress said coach/AD and thus warranted the rec. There are a very good number of knowledable officials who work the state tournament every year like Mark Anderson, and Bob Warkantine. On the other hand there is room for improvement by nominating some of the deserving officials rather than the guys that just get picked every year cause they've been around.

Michael! If you could pick all the reffs would they all be fat?ready2rumble2

If I could pick all the ref's they would all be under 35 and not fat. I would have exceptions like if you were 45 or older and still had the desire to be a ref I would give you matt side seating and an american flag so you could wave it.

------------------
Just because your back is on the mat doesn't meen your pinned. :-)

Would you let me have a recliner and MABEE some POP?

I have to wonder if you could be one of those dads that embarrased himself severly by blaming the reff in front other respectable people cause your kid lost.

ready to rumble,
Your secret is mine. Even though your a ref and a darn good one at that I won't reveal your name. Your not as fat as some of your counterparts> lol and yes you can still get down and see a pin. You know me personally and no I have never embarrassed myself by blaming a ref because my kid lost. My kid rarely ever lost> lol and even though he wasn't a two, three, or four timer he was three matches away from being a three timer. HIGHSCHOOL STATE CHAMP THAT IS.

Your a purdy fart smeller if you think you got me pegged!HA HA!& besides that Id rather have a rock to sit on at matside than any old recliner you would give me.That way you could afford to provide me with some real sprits instead of POP!!!!!

One more thing ,YOUR kid is a STUD!! I just said that to rial u up.

Trouble with officials in Kansas is there are not very many new younger officials willing to put in the time and effort required to qualify for a state tournament. Goddard had a JV match where the young officals could work with "older more experienced officials" and only 5 young guys showed up. Most of these young guys don't attend the two required meetings to qualify for a regional or state.

where and how do you get qualified?

I also know that some of the good officials choose to travle away from the Wichita area to work better tournaments or better pay is on the table also. To try to fit in and be a highschool ref is next to impossible for a couple of guys keep the better duals and tournaments for themselves. Some have been told well you know how it is there's politics in everything. We have some really good ref's out there traveling to some national tournaments and I don't think enough is being done to keep them here.

IT'S ALL POLITICAL!!! It's not how good of a ref you are, it's about who knows you and who votes you!!! Rick states each year less than 25% of coach's/AD's recommendations/votes get turned in, and if thy do, there's only 2-3 names on there!!!

You've got to watch your schedule too. Stay in one area (Like I've done) and you'll only get seen by the same 10 or so teams. You've got to make sure ot spread yourself around and make sure a lot of different coaches see you to get more votes.

But that's difficult to do anyways!!! Make one bad call in December or enforce rules "that no one else does" and your marked by coaches and ADs and it's hard to get dates. Heck, it's hard just to break into the Varsity level anyway. Most ADs give the contracts out for the next year's tournaments before the ground thaws or new refs cycle in. Don't get me wrong, I understand that ADs and coaches want to keep good refs for their tourneys when they find 'em, but it is tough to work in when you'r new...

Couple key points for newer refs:
1) STAY WITH IT!!! Work the Kids tourney's, the Jr High and JV circuit!!! Get good with those coaches and they'll pass your name up if your worthy!!!

2) ASK QUESTIONS!!! Ask the Coaches, ADs and other "veterans" refs to tell you what to work on!!!

3) Go to all of the meetings! KWOA Clinic in Nov. and the Area Suprevisor meetings.

4) Go to duels and tourneys and visit with those refs, even if your just a "fan".

5) Give out your "card" (check KSHSAA Official's Manuel) ANYTIME you work. I still do and get gruff from those refs who "have been around" and even those coaches who know me. But if they have your card and keep it in their desk, they might see it in late Jan. when they fill out their votes...

6) Creat a business cards for yourself and give it to whomever you talk to wrestling. Never know when a ref your give it to, calls you to fill in, rides along or works with. THAT MIGHT JUST BE YOUR BREAK!!! Never know who might have your cards and needs a ref or is asked if they know a ref...

7) BE PATIENT!!! I've reffered for my 15th year now and JUST got my 1st Regional Last year!!! I knwo some refs who have worked 25+ yrs and never worked a State...You've got to put in the time and improve every match, every date, every year and maybe, just maybe...you'll make a conection out there that'll be in a position to help you to the next level..

I'll stop preaching now...

http://www.kwoa.org

I try to get quite a few places around the state high school and kids, I've been everywhere this year already except District 2 which is quite a ways away from me. I'm hoping to get to go to Kids state this year. I've been approached several times this year by people telling me how much they appreciated how good of a job I do. I'll just continue to do my best and keep giving out information and we'll see what happens.

What all paticipating wrestlers, coaches, and parents desire is competent officials. Officials who do not become confused in matches and raise the incorrect wrestlers hand in victory.

The same official made this error at the El Dorado Tournament in December 2004, and at the Circle Invitational last February.

It is of paramount importance for all involved in the sport to weed these incompetent officials out of the sport, even if they have been involved for fifteen years and finally received their first Regional assignment.

Encourage new, younger referee's, such as Nigel, to become involved to increase the pool of officials to choose from.

I will write Rick Bowden in an effort to ensure this official does not work another Regional.

Thanks Richard,
You was at a duel in the begining of the wrestling season where the official was just horrid. That paticular official had went around and told other fellow ref's that he had stunk up that particular duel. He wasn't worried about getting votes from the coaches or ad's at either of those two schools and had said he could get the votes he needed elsewhere. I'm not sure Richard but I think you know what duel and what ref. Might have been the only thing the coaches from both schools agreed on is how bad the ref was. However the duel was good But I truly beleive the wrong hand was raised several times.

The officiating at the Southwest Classic in Liberal this weekend, with numerous officials from the Wichita area, was OUTSTANDING.

There will always be a call in a close match which one side or the other may not agree with, but the officials were great.

Thank you to these gentlemen for a job well done!

Hey Richard,

Check your email...

I don't know what South's football record has to do with anything unless Richard is just making a pun, a rub personally against someone or what the deal is. I have respect for both Richard and Mr. Koranda. While South hasn't faired to well in football it isn't really all the coaches fault either. Though Mr. Koranda isn't at South now I still have respect for him as a person nor do I think their program has improoved that much since he is gone. I don't beleive Kapaun has to deal with one tenth the issues as South,North,West,East,Southeast,or Northwest has to deal with as far as sports is concerned. But we can all still be partners in one thing and that is the health and well being of all kids. Ohh by the way my stepchildren go to Carroll and I always enjoy the Kapaun Vs. Carroll football games at WSU's football field:-)

Lets Wrestle
Mike Church Sr,