This Problem of Officials
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Title
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en
This Problem of Officials
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Date
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March 1938
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volume
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3
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issue
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3
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page start
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8
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page end
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8
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list of authors
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James H. Flynn
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content
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en
THIS PROBLEM OF OFFICIALS
Editor's Note: Dr. James H. Flynn is the chairman of the New Jersey Bout Committee and ranks 10th in the National Sabre List of this year. He has had to meet the perennial judging problem and has arrived at some possible solutions which it might be well to consider.
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Much condemnation and very little praise has always been the lot of those brave individuals who come to the fore and serve as judges and directors. What can we do to create more and better officials and to improve those we have?
Miguel de Capriles' articles in The Riposte are fine. We also have an excellent official rules book, but we are all unaware of the fact that the written word is not enough and that some other method must be advanced to produce judges and directors in whom the contestants have a greater confidence—as well as officials who have confidence in themselves. With this in mind, I wish to offer the following plan with the hope that other plans may be brought forward or this plan encouraged:
1. An examination should be taken by all who wish to qualify as judges or directors.
2. The examination should be in two parts.
(a) An observation of the probationary officials by three qualified, graduated directors during a series of two or more bouts in which the probationer would attempt to prove his ability as a judge or director.
(b) A five or ten minute oral quiz by the examiners to determine whether or not the probationer knows the rules of the use of the weapon in which the examination is being conducted.
3. A record card would be given to each examiner on which he would keep a tally as to whether he agreed or disagreed with the decisions given by the one examined during the practical test. A suggested card is as follows:
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(Face Side)
Name of Applicant
Name of Examiner
Date
Agree Disagree
Agree Disagree
Agree Disagree
Agree Disagree
Agree Disagree
Agree Disagree
Agree Disagree
(Reverse Side)
RECOMMENDATIONS
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4. If a passing grade of about 80% agreement is recorded and the oral quiz has shown the probationer's knowledge to be adequate, he should then be given a card making him an official and also furnish him with a neat and inconspicuous badge.
5. A fee of fifty cents should be charged for the examination to cover the costs of record cards and buttons, and to give the examination substance so that it would not be regarded as something to skip through hap-hazardly.
In the following out of the above plan, or a variation of it, the rule book will be studied thoroughly and a good many of the bouts in the various salles will be judged by those preparing to take the tests. Without a doubt a large number of competent though at present dormant judges and directors would be brought to light. The process of such an examination and accomplishment of passing it with the reward of official recognition, should be an incentive for all fencers to strive and to make the effort to become qualified judges and directors.
A start could be made with the nucleus of officials who are at present recognized, but they should not be exempt and should start by examining themselves. Then at various times and the various salles, examinations could be conducted at the convenience of all concerned. Like a chain letter, the start may be slow, but as applicants become officials, the number of those able to conduct examinations would rapidly increase thus removing the burden from the "old reliable" at fencing meets as well as at examinations. The system could be spread throughout the country as various divisions sent their qualifiers to National events, and as fencers visited New York.
If the sport of fencing is to continue on to major status, and to justify its growth in popularity in this country, some concrete plan must be adopted whereby the fencer will wish to not only improve his fencing ability, but also his ability to officiate in order that he may be a credit and not a detriment to the sport of his choosing.
Yours for all the constructive criticisms we can possibly obtain,
James H. Flynn,
Chairman, Bout Committee.
New Jersey Division.
