Referee Extraordinaire: Miss Trial

The MRDA has had a tremendous year of growth in 2013, both in structure and in numbers, and behind that growth have been some tremendously hardworking people, one of whom is their Director of Officiating, Miss Trial.

A referee since 2005, Miss Trial has taken on more responsibility with each passing year, but without exception, she has logged her greatest number of hours working, miles flying, and forms filling in 2013. In addition to being Director of Officiating for MRDA, she has also taken on the role of Officials’ Coordinator for Men’s Team USA, Tournament Head Referee for the Men’s World Cup, MRDA representative on the WFTDA Rules Committee, not to mention her fifth season as Head Ref for the New York Shock Exchange.

Thankfully, Miss Trial came into the year with eyes open about the amount of work she was taking on: “I had a lot of goals for 2013, including the finalization of MRDA’s Certification Program; helping MRDA to work more closely/share resources with WFTDA; and growing our pool of MRDA Officials, both nationally and internationally. I am happy to say that our certification program is in its final stages and will be up and running shortly into the New Year. We have also come a long way in our relationship with the WFTDA, and we are currently collaborating with them on the Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby, Certification, and other ways in which our relationship can benefit our respective organizations’ members. I am also extremely proud that MRDA is at 180 MRDA Officials and growing, who live in the U.S., Canada and Europe.”

Team USA Men’s Roller Derby Head Organizer and New York Shock Exchange’s All-Star Jammer, Jonathan R., described Miss Trial as “having unparalleled poise, positivity, professionalism, dedication, and follow-through…a model of civility and competence,” and that she “brought officials from around the world together not only to empower their own self-determination but also to determine the fate of the sport as a whole.”

Knowing that all of this work comes from having a great deal of support, Miss Trial is quick to give credit to the great people around her: “All of this work was a group effort. I work with some pretty amazing people, and I am really happy with our accomplishments as a team from this past year.”

With 2014 on the horizon, she will look to continue to emulate the five traits she believes go into making a good ref: “Strong rules knowledge; the ability to be calm in a shitstorm; clear communication; consistency; and fairness.”