Robert Wertz

Eddie Pearson Award - 2002

Assistant State Referee Administrator and coordinated referees for 1983 International Special Olympics, Baton Rouge, LA. Coordinated local referee assistance for National Sports Festival, 1985. Arranged for taping of all games for instructors (Pat Smith & Harry Baldwin), coordinated assignments of 4th officials, coordinated local staff to assist in data collections for assessments. Arranged for first advanced referee clinic in Louisiana in 1982 (Bob Evans & Wally Salois)

State Referee Administrator and developed assault pamphlet for referees. Later adapted for National Referee program (at request of Jack McCabe). Attended CONCACAF Instructor Course in Colorado Springs, March, 1988.

National Director of Referee Administration and revised and updated National Referee Program manual (1989). Developed 4th game log (1990) (design by Andrew Leblanc; pilot test by Brian Hall). Established Overseas Referee Branch with Overseas Referee  Administrator (1988). Organized/coordinated two National Administrative Workshops in Sept 1989 and March, 1991 (at request of Jack McCabe). Edited the Guide for National Assessors (1991) (at request of Pat Smith). Developed the Referee Administrative Handbook for all referees (1990). Redesigned instructions to accompany referee registration forms
-Redesigned the Referee Supplemental Game Report (inc. field diagram) (1991). Established policies regarding transfers for foreign referees to US  (1989). Researched and developed guidelines for State Referee Committees (at request of Jack McCabe and Werner Fricker). Consolidated three different registration forms into one general use form for referees, instructors, and assessors. Later adapted to include assignors, and assistant referees.

Chairman, National Referee Committee and developed/rewrote federation rules regarding Referee Assault/Abuse. Developed/Rewrote federation rules regarding the appointment of the SRA. Arranged to have the lst Referee Summit in l994 in Orlando, FL  to  develop a Referee program vision, mission, and five year goal plan. Established the USSF Referee Assignor Program. Developed program guidelines. Secured approval for program policies from the NBOD (Game Priority Policy). Secured approval from the NBOD to add assignors to the Ethics & Grievance policy. Had Rod Kenney & Mac Alarcon develop Entry Level Assignor Course and Instructor Course. Secured approval for assignor registration fee from NBOD. Developed, coordinated and secured approval for 1994 World Cup Video Project. Help to coordinate approval from WC Organizing committee for video “rights”. Coordinated with ESPN for copies of requested video footage. Had Angelo Bratsis train inspectors/statisticians used in each World Cup venue. Coordinated production of the actual training tapes (w/Greg Barkey) Three referee training tapes were developed from the video footage, two of which were endorsed by the FIFA Technical Committee for worldwide use. Compiled and cross-indexed a comprehensive manual of the decisions of the International Football Association Board- Vol.1 (1967-1996), published by Instruction program. Initiated experiment with the use of a summer referee uniform -1st proposed that a referee web site be developed in 1995.(not done until 1998). Negotiated and secured approval for AYSO cross-certification program. Coordinated instructor/assessor projects with NISOA. Encouraged  biannual/annual national workshops for SDA’s and SDI’s). Encouraged the addition of cases to the original Instructor’s Casebook (Alfred Kleinaitis). Encouraged the development of Entry Level/State Assessor Training manuals (by Angelo Bratsis). Encouraged the development of Entry Level, Intermediate, and State Level Training Manuals for Referees (Alfred Kleinatis, Jim Allen, Ulrich Strom).

National Director of Referee Administration and revised Referee Administrative Handbook and SRA Manuals. Chairman, Louisiana State Referee Committee and assisted in the editing of the USSF Advice for Referees. Assisted in preparation of pamphlet for brand new referees (LA). Region 3 Representative, USYSA Referee Committee where he oversees the referee portion of the Youth Regional tournament.