What's New

Officials now have two methods for declaring their availability in Ref Insight, giving them the flexibility to choose the approach that works best for their schedule.

The Two Methods

✅ Method 1: "Assume Available" (Default)

• Official is assumed available for all dates/times

• Official adds blockouts for when they CANNOT officiate

• Best for officials who are generally available with occasional conflicts

🔒 Method 2: "Assume Unavailable" (New)

• Official is assumed unavailable for all dates/times

• Official marks specific dates/times when they CAN officiate

• Best for officials with limited or irregular availability

Why This Matters

Some officials have limited windows when they can work—perhaps they have demanding day jobs, are students, or have other commitments. The new Assume Unavailable method eliminates the need for these officials to block out large portions of their calendar. Instead, they can simply indicate the specific times they're available to officiate.

For Assignors: Display which method an Official is using

Availability Method Column

We've added an Availability Method column option to the assigning workspace (Officials side of the page) so you can instantly see which method each official is using:

• ✅ Checkmark Icon = Official uses Assume Available method

  • They're available unless they've added a blockout

• 🔒 Lock Icon = Official uses Assume Unavailable method

  • They're unavailable unless they've marked specific availability

How to Display This Column

1. Navigate to the Assigning Workspace

2. Click the Column icon on the Officials side of the page

3. Select Availability Method from the column options

4. The appropriate icon will display for each official

Important Considerations for Assignors

⚠️ Pay special attention to officials using the Lock (🔒) icon method - these officials have chosen to explicitly mark when they CAN work, meaning their availability may be more limited than those using the traditional method.

When assigning games:

• Check the availability method to understand the official's scheduling approach

• Officials with the Lock icon are ONLY available during their marked times

• Officials with the Checkmark icon are available EXCEPT during blockouts

For Officials: New Method is Available

Officials have started using this new method to choose how to display their availability. A tutorial is available for them in the Officials portal and a step-by-step guide can be accessed in the Knowledge Base or through the AI-assisted chatbot.

Learn More

For detailed instructions on:

• How officials can choose their availability method

• How the methods display in the assigning workspace

• Best practices for each method

View the tutorial here

Questions?

This feature is designed to make scheduling more efficient for both officials and assignors. If you have questions about implementing or using these availability methods, please contact support@refinsight.com.

Happy assigning!

The Ref Insight Team