As a part of the New Referee Development Program, MWSRA is also making a concerted effort to recruit, retain, and support female referees of all ages. While equally capable, female referees face a variety of challenges on top of those faced by all referees in general. Since March 2018, MWSRA has surveyed and interviewed over 200 referees, assignors, mentors, administrators, and others to better understand the disparities between male and female referees. This effort, including a detailed report with recommendations for referee associations, the state referee committee, and referees in general aims to address some of these additional hurdles and perceptions to directly target broader challenges that detract from the experience of female referee.
While this report is exclusively focused on supporting female referees, who are underrepresented in this profession, MWSRA acknowledges that many recommendations are not unique to female referees and do indeed carry over similarly to male referees and youth referees of any sex as well. As such, MWSRA will continue to expand its mentoring program and communicate opportunities for development to all referees.
The recommendations and information included here were approved by the MWSRA Board of Directors on February 24, 2019. On May 14, 2019, MWSRA partnered with CASRA and other regional referee leaders to meet with the Maryland Referee Committee and advocate for new programs and opportunities to support the development of female referees in Maryland. Subsequently, in July 2019, this group sent a list of 3 priority recommendations for the committee to embrace:
-
Language Matters – Adopt Terminology of “3-Ref” instead of “3-Man”
-
Better Incorporate Female Refs in State-Directed Mentoring/Instructional Programs
-
Endorse and Participate in the “Maryland Female Referee Task Force”
If you are interested in learning more or getting involved in this statewide and regional effort, please contact Matthew Popkin at mwsrapresident@gmail.com.
