Bangor MAFO Begins Using TheArbiter

Most people do not like change.  However, in our transition from our old system of sharing game assignments to using TheArbiter, I have been very pleased with the favorable response by our members.  TheArbiter allows officials to access school and fellow officials’ information while also providing a complete list of games.  Eventually the assigning and accepting of games will be very easy, but learning a new system can be difficult.  I must commend our two assigners, Alan Kochis and Tim Kenney, for their commitment and patience learning a system that isn’t always intuitive.  We have many little bugs to work out and some new features to explore including an online evaluation/feedback system, but I expect that by the end of our first season using TheArbiter, we will all look forward to next year when athletic administrators can enter their own games and be a more integral part of the system.  It is a great tool for them as well.

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My favorite part as an official in the Arbiter system is the ability to adjust my “blocks” as my availability changes.  In the past when we sent in our availability for the entire season in early August, I never really knew my full availability.   Now I can make that last minute change in my availability so my assigner can use me to fill a last minute game vacancy.  Also, the assigner won’t have to call several people to find an available official.  Saying no to your assigner makes for a difficult and uncomfortable phone conversation.

We have an excellent group of people choosing to officiate football in the greater Bangor area.  The information and communication that TheArbiter provides along with this blog and increased email communication will help us build an effective learning community that may even result in fewer weekly meetings.   Maybe we can begin some online learning experiences!  What do you think?   Please share your thoughts by clicking on the add comment below.