Your Browser must accept Cookies from referees.lwysa.org to allow individualized processing
Things that go wrong and other FAQs
Why Can't I Sign Up?... Mysterious Error Messages... and other stuff!
At the start of the season, especially for new referees, things can be pretty confusing. It doesn't help when the leagues change how they are organized every year, tweak the rules, and sometimes hand out conflicting information. With so much happening, there are delays in important things being accomplished as well. Things get even worse when your friendly webmaster just plain messes up! So look below and see some answers to some common items.
Fail - Wrong USSF Grade
The way things are SUPPOSED to work, we prevent a Grade 9 from accidentally signing up for a Crossfire game as a center referee. Well, this one was the webmaster's goof (that's me). That should be working correctly now. It was fixed mid Sunday. Unfortunately, you were blocked from games you SHOULD have been able to sign up for -- so, try again!
Fail - RMA not processed
Unfortunately, there are thousands of people going through the RMA process at the same time. After the state CLEARS you, they need to do one more update to a file to let the organizations know that use automated tools to check (like us). That sometimes takes a while to get done (a week or two). The other thing is that we need to match your name and birthdate to the name and birthdate you provided the state. If you provided them a different name ("Dave" instead of "David") we may not find you. You can fix this in your profile by specifying your "RMA Name" at the top of the Biography tab. In the meantime, forward the email you got from the state that indicates you were "cleared" and we'll force our system to show you are cleared for now.
Fail - Games Too Close
Well, the schedules got really twisted around this year - and the "rules" that we used last year were far too restrictive. On Saturday, we changed our rules to permit you to sign up for back to back games at the same field. We're having the code enhanced to allow for some of the new timeframes we have to deal with - so, in the meantime, its up to you to look carefully at the length of match you are doing - remember to add time for halftime and to get to and from the field, account for traffic - and don't overbook yourself.
I'm an Experienced Player, why can't I work that U14 game...
You may be a very experienced player, and you may do just fine on that game. But we don't know that yet. Frankly, if you are a new referee, you don't know yet either. The decisions you make as a referee and the skills you must use as a referee are different than those used as a player, coach, or parent of 5 premier kids. By "starting with the basic games", you get a chance to perfect your technique as you move up to higher levels. Its really for your own good. As an experienced person, you have an advantage that may help you progress faster... but you'll still be traveling the same path as every new referee.
Only 2 games? I thought you needed refs...
We DO need refs, and trust us - you'll have plenty of chance to work more games. The limits are explained in another article HERE. Giving everyone a chance to take "convenient" games helps ALL of our refs be satisfied. To be fair, we'll all need to take some of those inconvenient games if we want to work a lot of them. The "limits" increase very quickly. We need a LOT of games covered those first two weeks - so get ready.
Still having issues?
If you are still experiencing problems - your first point of contact should be Tim the Assignor (refereeassignor@lwysa.org). He can sort out for you whether the issue you are having is an error you are making - or things aren't working as expected. And if they aren't working, he knows who to call - and can often assign you to a game while we fix the system. Don't worry about bothering us. Right NOW - two weeks BEFORE the season is when we want to here from you - NOT the day before an assignment!
