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Can we eliminate the dark side of assessments?

May 21, 2017 By Ben Ramsden

Context

Budding technical officials require assessment in order to become accredited. This is a fundamental part of ensuring that officiating standards are maintained.

I am not an Assessor myself, but as SMNE ATSCC, assessments happen on my watch under my direction. Very occasionally a candidate reacts so badly to their assessment experience, that we never see them again.

Early on I put this down to a personality clash between candidate and assessor. However, after witnessing 4 occurrences over the last 2 years, each with different assessors and candidates, I am now wondering whether there may be a more systematic issue.

Issues

  • Candidate felt that the Assessor was assessing at a much higher level than this meet.
  • Candidate felt that the standards that they were expected to achieve were higher than those exhibited by those already accredited, or others had faced during assessments.
  • Implicit assumption that because this is a volunteer role, we shouldn’t be too fussy.
  • Some candidates do not take ownership for the result and seek to blame others.
  • The dynamic of teenagers being assessed alongside already accredited adults is particularly challenging.
  • Some Assessors appear to focus on evaluating performance with little empathy for the impact of their language or conclusions on the candidate.
  • Some Assessors appear to be on a personal quest to raise officiating standards. This is a fantastic aspiration, and I do wonder whether it may land for some candidates as ‘intellectual arrogance’ rather than developmental feedback to enable them to progress in future.

My conclusions

  • Assessors have a challenging role, are committed to their work, and do not want outcomes like this.
  • In my opinion, Assessors usually make the right decision, it’s more the way that is handled that is the issue. This is a far broader issue than simply for the Assessor.
  • Managing candidate expectations ahead of time is a fundamental issue for us.
  • Unfortunately, the ‘playing field’ is not level. Much as we may hope and want, Assessors do assess to different levels.
  • Some people have better inter personal skills than others. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it has implications.
  • Candidates unexpectedly appearing and / or with baggage often does not go well.

Filed Under: Technical Officials

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