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California USA Wrestling's
Mat Officials Mentor Program

What is the California Mat Mentor Program?
The goal of the Mentor Program is to increase the number of new mat officials who participate actively in California events. All M3 mat officials at California state tournaments are matched with Mentors as part of the mat assignment process. Mentors are M2 or higher mat officials who help others develop their skills in a supportive manner that makes them feel welcome as a valued part of our wrestling family. State tournaments are three-day events, starting with mat assignments on Friday night and concluding on Sunday afternoon. The Mentors work on the same mat with their mentees on Saturday, the most difficult day for most new officials.

How does a Mentor differ from anyone else who gives feedback?
Mentors take time to help the new mat official have a successful event overall. In addition to giving technical help on rules and tournament procedures, mentors work in a supportive way to welcome newcomers at social events, make introductions, and generally provide a friendly face in a new setting.

What are key behaviors for mentors?

• Arrange for challenges that lead to success
• Encourage self-confidence
• Give feedback that emphasizes progress rather than shortfall
• Build team thinking
• Encourage participation in social activities
• Help each person be successful while still being themselves
• Value diversity as a source of strength

Do mentors need to have all the answers on every question?
No. On the contrary, the mentor should consciously model that it is OK to not know all the answers. Answers can be sought together by looking in the rulebook or by consulting other officials.

What are the benefits of the Mentor Program?
Benefits can be defined for the mentees, the mentors, the athletes, and for California USA Wrestling as an organization.

• Benefits for new officials
  New officials will improve their skills if they keep coming back to state tournaments where they can get feedback and strong mat practice. But they will only keep coming back if they feel the event was a success for them and that they were welcome and appreciated. By easing the entry of new officials into our system, new officials improve their skills and progress more rapidly.
• Benefits for mentors
  At the national level, the direction is that mentoring skills will become part of the evaluation process for M1 and M1E officials. The California mentoring program gives our mentors the opportunity to practice their mentoring skills in ways that will help them advance at the national level.
• Benefits for athletes
  Athletes deserve quality officiating. By increasing the number of skilled mat officials we improve the quality of the officiating experience which our athletes get at the state and local levels.
• Benefits for the state organization
  The Mentor Program will increase the number of new officials who come back to state events, and eventually will increase the number of officials who choose to advance to the higher ranks.