The seminars are way too short. In France, reaching the top level requires three seminars. Even at the seminar in Montreal, the FIDE lecturer admitted that the seminar was too short. A proven system for seminars goes like this
2 days for RULES, round robin pairings, the philosophy of arbitration, team play, the role of the team captain and basic administrative skills. Also, tiebreaks and prize sharing are part of this step.
2 days for Swiss pairings, which includes the pairing of a full simulated tournament devised to show the future arbiters the hard situations that Lyle has mentioned. Unfortunately, we do not have such a tournament ready in Canada. Because the teaching material is for FIDE Dutch, there is no TD discretion, which does not means that finding the right pairing is easy. Also included is hands=on experience with a pairing software.
2 days of FIDE stuff: rating, titles, Tournament Rules.
After the first seminars, there must be two positive evaluations as a Deputy Arbiter. This is to evaluate what cannot be measured by a test. As Lye pointed out, there are other skills required to be an arbiter. Those skills are not the same at club level then at national level. At national level, ability to reach a correct decision despite the pressure is very important. Your next decision may decide who will represent Canada at the Continental or at the World. The players and in case of Youth events, there parent are looking at you. The decision should not be influenced by what is at stake, the parents or the coaches.
The seminar should go where there is a demand. It cost less to move the lecturer then to move 6 participants.
Why are we afraid to forbid those without a title for being an arbiter? Is there any sport in Canada that is so generous? I do not know any.
Have we considered becoming a member of Sports Officials Canada http://www.sportsofficials.ca/ ? They likely have brilliant ideas on how to run a good officiating program.
As I see it, this motion is too little. This program can in no way insure the competence of futures arbiters. Furthermore, as long as it is optional, I do not believe that there will be many participants.
This is an example of an officiating program that works in Canada http://www.baseball.ca/files/Operati...ual+v+2011.pdf .