*Mentor usually meets with officiating team before game, @½ time, end of game; might follow up w/email/phone call, might arrange to meet again at future game(s)...
*Mentor's observations are usually made from boundary lines, but could be an official in the match as an AR or Referee or doing double duty as a 4th Official
*Some make written notes/sketches
*Mentor can focus on 1-2-3 officials, and, if adjacent to another field, could split time between them especially if KO times are slightly staggered
*Some are paid, most volunteer
*This classic mentoring format works well in virtually any sport

*Mentor is an official in the game; explains his/her role @ pre-game meeting
*While the ball is in play, Mentor fulfills the role of AR or CR as his/her primary function, taking occasional visual/mental notes / ‘snap-shots’ of other official(s) in moments like:
            -when play is transitioning into other ½ of field...
            -when ball is being booted way out of play...
            -prior to & during some substitutions, etc.
Then, as with Mentoring 101, feedback is shared at the ½, end of game, etc. (we know from experience that in lower level games, there are abundant opportunities for an official to observe 1-2 other officials in action without interfering with one’s duties as CR or AR...it’s just a matter of making the most out of those moments ...that’s what a Mentor does in Mentoring 102 & 103 )
*Overall, mentoring outreach is expanded when In the Game mentors self-assign to lower level games & carry on mentoring activities when deemed appropriate. Because new referees are found in abundance in lower level games, training can continue any time Mentors take these games, assigned or unassigned.

*This Mentor is an official in the game, using the same observational skills found in 101 & 102....but is undoubtedly having more fun because @ some stoppages he/she is actively but silently passing on the Art of Officiating using a set of Instructive Silent Signals ( ISS’s ).
* Instructive Silent Signals ( ISS’s ) are simple, uncomplicated messages sent with the hand...sent at a STOPPAGE...explained & demonstrated prior to opening kick off. Each ISS targets a specific mechanic which the new official can improve almost immediately in the next few moments in most cases.

         

This type of mentoring works best on smaller fields, with younger/beginner level players, where there is usually no shortage of stoppages and the likely home for newly licensed referees in their first 10-11 week season....

Sending Silent Signals is something we already know how to do: we've been sending and receiving them for years, such as: " call me!" or "stop!" or "come this way" or "we're # 1" or " time out"......there are plenty of SILENT SIGNALS sent in every day use . No words are spoken. The receiver needs to be looking when you send one and there's usually a head nod or smile sent back & forth that confirms ' message sent, message received.' In fact, TEXTING is a form of SILENT SIGNALS too, wouldn't you say?

INSTRUCTIVE SILENT SIGNALS work the same way...

-you've noticed a particular performance issue that you'd like to see changed
-wait for the right moment, and, if that person knows what the signal means,
-you send an ISS at a STOPPAGE - when you would normally make eye contact anyway. When sending an ISS, eye contact between Sender/Receiver is as critical as knowing what the signal represents.

Training The Trainer with ISS's: I recall training a new mentor (who was a seasoned CR ) in this technique. I was one of the ARs. He explained & demonstrated 3 ISS's prior to the game. In the first ½ he hadn't NOTICED that the other AR's flag was almost always in the wrong hand( the other AR and I agreed to deliberately 'mess up'). At a longer than usual stoppage-as the CR and I made eye contact- I pointed to my flag & then pointed to the other AR. He turned, took notice, but while looking toward the restart on my side of the field, fired off one of his 3 ISS's basically into 'outer space' because the other AR was moving about staying even with 2nd to last defender, not looking at the CR. The AR continued to keep flag in the 'wrong hand' which continued to annoy the CR/Mentor. Talking it over @ the ½ time break, he acknowledged his shortcoming when sending the ISS. In the 2nd ½, made a " 180" turnaround on his approach, locked in on the AR, sent the ISS, received acknowledgement from the AR that it was received...and on they went with the game, the AR now holding the flag in the proper hand while facing the field. 'Message sent, message received, performance improved, mission accomplished.'

Why the name Ninja? “Ninja” or “Unbriddled / Animated” Mentoring is the most active form of mentoring -the Mentor is fully 'animated' using hands / arms / legs / head to deliver 'mini - training - payloads' and it is a lot of fun too.
Here’s a ‘starter list’ of issues & ISS’s, but be selective / add to it or create your own