Good question. What ARE we doing? From my position, little or nothing. I understand your defensiveness on this, but you miss the point. Identifying a problem precedes its solution!
First, you cite cases. Then, you hold your existing resources accountable for improvement. (We obviously don't.)
You don't just repeatedly and blithely assign a guy and claim a shortage. You assign him LOWER, where he has a better chance to hone his craft, and insist he improve. Repeatedly assigning him to high-level games gives him no incentive (or venue) to improve.
We've had this discussion before, and I see your point. Now try to see mine.
I ask you, at what point does a whine/slam become valid? When a kid gets hurt? When an outcome is changed?
And why should we wait for that to happen?
I've been to several games this season alone in which an official's decision affected an outcome. I saw a TOTALLY mismanaged verbal skirmish escalate into a shoving match and red card (suspension) that affected the outcome of a subsequent match.
To me, that's calling a spade a spade. And until that's done often enough, nothing will change.
Why should this not be discussed? Because we might hurt people's feelings? Because the referees' "union" isn't willing to point fingers, lest fingers be pointed at them?
