The Pan-Am region held its Olympic Referee Selection camp in Mexico City. There were 57 referees from the Pan-Am region that were trying for 12 spots available to them at the Olympic Games.
Among them was Susanne Mitchell of Kee's Tae Kwon Do in Yorkton. The participants of this selection process were put through a series of drills and tests included a wide range of subject matter.
They included rule knowledge, hand signals, match management, video replay, agility, physical fitness, hearing, as well as vision. Says Master Wayne Mitchell of Kee's: "They attempt to create the stress of the event to test your psychological strength (as well)."
"It was awesome," said Susanne Mitchell upon return to Yorkton.
"It was very educational. It was a huge opportunity."
Allthough she said she did not make the final cut to the Olympic selection, she said she got a lot out of the course, including an idea of where she stands in comparison to other referees from all around the world.
She added that part of the course was tough because it's an international event, there is part of the referee book which she isn't familiar with. Working on a provincial level, she said she doesn't need to know it but got a good crash course in the international ways of Tae Kwon Do in Mexico City Mitchell added that of the 57 referees that were picked, seven are Canadian.
Two referees that had Olympic experience are from Mexico City, she pointed out, suggesting that Mexico City has a strong group currently training there. The advantage she said she brings home to Canada, and essentially Saskatchewan and Yorkton, is an ability to show what's she's learned from the other referees right here in her own back yard.
"I hope to be able to bring it back to referees in Saskatchewan," also noting that the stronger countries in the world for good referees seem to be Canada, the USA and Mexico. Among the other countries represented at the selection process were Puerto Rico and Argentina, she said.
