Recently, Lightspeed VP Kevin Fournier took upon the task of leading an ultra deep workshop on Lightspeed reffing, the first of its kind. Kevin kindly answered some questions about what it took to make it, how it went, and where things go from here.
> What inspired you to organize the first in-depth refereeing workshop for Lightspeed Saber fencing?
James Wallace from Georgia Lightspeed approached me. This is something they have done for their USA Fencing members and have benefitted greatly from it. I enjoy reffing and am passionate about helping others ref, so I jumped at the opportunity.
> What did it take to design the curriculum for the workshop?
Thankfully Lightspeed already has a wealth of documentation on these subjects, and as someone who updates the materials directly, I had a good handle on the subject matter. That being said, it took me a solid month just to distill the complexity of the information into a presentation format.
The clinic involves doing some live reffing that I can observe and critique. I honestly only had a rough idea of how that would work, but the Georgia guys helped me refine that process.
I also added my own material designed to help with the psychology of reffing.
> What skills separate a good referee from a great one in this sport?
The most important skill is confidence, which is one that everyone can develop. Another helpful skill is, and this might be a surprise, some performance. This can also be taught. Reffing is a performance. It’s technical, yes, and you have to do the job right, but if you can get into the “role,” it really helps everyone. In the clinic, I teach not just what a head ref needs to say, but how to practice saying it well.
> Were there any exercises or demonstrations that participants found especially valuable?
I got the strongest feedback on the psychology module. It really helps break down the mental barriers we tend to put in the way of being a capable ref. I was worried that the first module, which covers all the rules, was going to feel too academic, but it received positive approval for covering rules that often get overlooked or confused.
> What is the next step for Lightspeed and this level of in-depth referee instruction?
Take it on the road. One comment I got was that bases should be required to take this course before hosting tournaments. While that’s not really feasible for us at our current size, we can do the next best thing. Invite me to your base for a Saturday. One day and everyone will be reffing Lightspeed a lot better.
> What personal experiences or training made you an ideal candidate to lead this kind of workshop?
First, I have been giving technical presentations for years in my career. I’ve also taught classes from kids to adults for years, from Sunday School to Coding Clubs. I know how to assemble difficult content into a presentation and how to deliver it.
Second, I’ve been reffing since 2020 and garnered a reputation as a solid ref. Not because I think I’m spectacularly more accurate than anyone else, but because I train at it like people train at anything. After I ran my first tournament, I analyzed every call I made with a spreadsheet and used the video to grade myself. Not everyone has to go to that length, but my drive to be a better ref I think qualified me for this task.
> What moment during the workshop stood out to you the most?
I had a moment of pride watching one of the students head reffng and really putting in the effort to apply the standards he had just learned. It was shaky at first, but he kept at it and by the end of the bout, he was announcing with much improved clarity and resolving calls more efficiently. In a single bout, I saw the nerves melt away.
> If you run the workshop again, what would you change or add?
I’m going to expand the psychology module. It’s a short module to begin with, but I want to really help alleviate the fears and insecurities that come with reffing.
I might add a module focusing solely on sighting. I can give a person all the tools they need to perform their duties, but if you never see parries or can’t discern the difference between a hit and miss, it won’t do much for you. Ideas on drills to help with this are welcome in Discord.
> What role do trained referees play in the future of Lightspeed Saber League?
Referees are the black sheep of most sports. I hope to show people that it can be a fulfilling role. The reason most people hate it is because it’s daunting. It feels like too much to learn in the heat of the moment. Taking a day to do a clinic focused just on reffing gives people the breathing room to get comfortable with the job.
The clinic is just the beginning. As Lightspeed grows, I want every tournament to have certified referees. I want refereeing to feel like it’s own “sport,” that you can excel at. I want to see A fencers and A refs.
> What was your own journey from participant to leader within Lightspeed Saber League?
I have a motto: smile, be flexible, and participate. I knew nothing about fencing when I started, but when I participate, I try to go deep. I took the online courses and taught them to my base. When my daughter got into it, it became our thing. Nationals presented itself as a way for us to have a father/daughter trip.
I was mostly in the background at my first Nationals, though I did some secondary reffing. I was nervous about not being any good, but I did it anyway and learned that I had “the sight” since I had been reffing for a year at every single practice (take note, folks). At my second Nationals, I helped with the streaming and other administrative tasks.
I just kept putting myself where I was needed. Cang eventually needed to delegate some executive roles and tapped on my shoulder. Vice President followed shortly after. I didn’t really have any ambitions for leadership… I just kept saying Yes. Sometimes I say yes too much because I get excited about being a part of the solution, still the experience has been rewarding.
> Have you ever had a moment where you learned something important from a mistake while officiating?
I can’t think of a single moment, but I’ve made thousands of mistakes. And to this day, not a single member of Lightspeed has defriended me. I’ve seen tempers rise. I’ve been argued with. I’ve even been boycotted. Yet all of it has been forgotten. We play. We get fired up. We cool down. We get dinner.
> What kind of legacy would you like to leave within the sport?
I really am passionate about reffing in Lightspeed more than anything. Referees bring the fun. That’s what we forget. No one wants a sport where the athletes regulate themselves. What conversation is left at the sports bar if there isn’t an umpire to vilify or a foul to decry. Who doesn’t want to be Darth Vader? If you embrace the role’s lows as well as its highs, you’ll be surprised how rewarding it can really be. Making a call as a ref is no different than getting counterattack. You must invest in getting better at it. Anyone can do it.
And you get front row seats!
I want to extend a big thank you to Kevin for his hard work and dedication to Lightspeed, and also to LS Georgia for initiating this endeavor. We wouldn’t be where we are without Kevin, and we wouldn’t have nearly the body of knowledge and experience we do without Georgia!!
Cang Snow
Chief Executive Officer