AZFOA (link to Microsoft Word Doc for Printing)

MENTOR PROGRAM

GUIDELINES FOR MENTORS (CERTIFIEDS) AND MENTEES (SVO’S)

BASIC PREMISE OF THE MENTOR PROGRAM—All football officials are concerned with the progress of football officiating in Arizona, and thereby, they will interact so that all football officials will improve with each game. Remember—we need to treat each other (both mentor and SVO) with the respect that we would want to receive. This makes the mentor process a two-way street as the mentor needs to teach as well as listen to the concerns of the SVO. The SVO in turn needs to listen and communicate his questions in order to strive for constant improvement.

AREAS TO ADDRESS IN THE MENTOR PROGRAM

	MENTOR(CERTIFIED)	MENTEE(SVO)
Role of the official	The mentor needs to model the positive force that can encourage beginning officials to both do a good job in the present as well as develop habits the will be successful in the future	The SVO needs to understand the expectations of being an official. EX: uniform, physical appearance, and taking the role of an educator of the youngsters who play the game of football
Teamwork within the officiating crew	The mentor must demonstrate how the officials on the field work together and how they must help each other to get the call right	The SVO must understand that the officiating crew takes the field together and stands together on all calls
Person to person communication	The mentor should always address problems in as constructive manner as possible. The mentor should never use personal “put downs.” The mentor needs to remember that the SVO is new to officiating football	The SVO needs to ask direct questions of the mentor and request honest evaluations of the SVO’s skills as a football official. The SVO needs to understand that not all evaluations may be good, but all evaluations can be used for improvement
Rules knowledge	The mentor is expected to know the rules and the proper enforcements. They should not be so egotistical as to not listen to the SVO’s questioning of the application of the rules during a game	The SVO is expected to study the rules on a regular basis and should be asking the mentor about the proper enforcements along with the philosophy of the selectivity of making calls during a game
Mechanics	The mentor is expected to know the 4-man mechanics used on the freshmen/JV level, and he should help instruct the SVO on the proper execution of these mechanics.	The SVO is expected to know the 4-man mechanics and should be ready with questions that deal with game situations that occur

SUGGESTIONS FOR EACH GAME

	MENTOR(CERTIFIED)	MENTEE(SVO)
Days before the game	Discuss with the SVO 2-3 things that are expected observable behaviors	Study rules and mechanics. Develop 2-3 game situation questions to ask the mentor
Pre-game	Determine what aspects the SVO wants feedback on and give the SVO some game expectations.	Discuss 2-3 items that the mentor will be expected to evaluate at the game’s end. Ask for any special information concerning the teams
Half-time	Address the 2-3 items that were addressed during the pre-game. Identify skills that may need to be worked during the second half	Listen to the evaluation of the mentor about the skills identified during pre-game, and expect yourself to make adjustments. Review rules enforcements. Discuss game and sideline management.
Post-game	Discuss the pre-game identified skills along with any adjustments that were discussed at half-time. Make suggestions for improvement for the next game	Listen when skills are evaluated, and address game situations that surprised you. Develop with the mentor a possible course of action for the next game.
The following week	Get the evaluation turned into the AZFOA website.	Make sure the evaluation is turned into the AZFOA website. If not, call Steve Huddleson at 602-790-4710 or E-Mail at shuddle30@yahoo.com