Become a referee and take charge - WP Rugby Referee

Become a refereeand take charge

Apart from playing the game, being a referee is one of the most satisfying contributionsyou can make to rugby. Are you interested in being a ref? If so, read on. In thefollowing pages, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions.Why should I become a referee?Refereeing a game of rugby is exceptionallyexhilarating; and the pressure of makingthe correct decision in an instant is a hugeadrenalin rush for most referees.Some of the reasons why people take uprefereeing include:• To remain active in the game• To give something back to the sport• Having an injury that stops the personfrom being a player• Realising that they may reach higherhonours as a match official than aplayer• The enjoyment of being involved in oneof the greatest team sportsIs there an age limit?Generally the earlier you startrefereeing, the better, but a lowerage limit of 16 years is mostcommon. The upper limit is oftengoverned only by the person’sfitness and desire to continue.It’s increasingly common forplayers at high-school level to takeup the whistle as they realise theyperhaps don’t have the physicalattributes to make it to the top asa player.How much time does it take?In any sport, success requirescommitment, and it’s no different inrefereeing. In addition to fitness training,there’s the law book that needs to bestudied and society meetings that mustbe attended. Many provinces also holdweekly meetings where the previousweek’s games are discussed andrefereeing techniques investigated inmore detail. Games are frequently onFriday nights and Saturdays.1

What previous experiencedo I need?People with previous playing experience havean advantage over someone who’s neverplayed, but this is not a limiting factor. If you’reprepared to put in the effort, watch school andclub games, and matches on TV, and diligentlyfollow the training programme, there’s no doubtyou can become a competent referee.What is the trainingprogramme?There are a number of core courses that needto be successfully completed before you cantake up the whistle.International Rugby Board (IRB) Level One –Introducing Officiating*This is an eight-hour programme designedto enable budding referees to acquire thebasic skills to officiate safely and enjoyably. Itincludes the playing charter, individual coreskills, communication, positional play and therole of the touch judge.IRB Level Two – Developing Officiating Skills*This is a 16-hour, more comprehensivecourse covering refereeing principles, riskmanagement, advantage, and openand set phases.IRB Assistant Referee*Where there are suitably trained touch judgesin place, their function has been upgradedto that of Assistant Referee. This upgradeentitles them to play a more meaningful role inthe administration of the game and provide anadditional set of eyes and ears for the refereeto rely on.* More details on the content of these coursesis available on the IRB website, www.irb.comBokSmartAll referees and coaches in SouthAfrica must undergo a BokSmart safetycourse. The objective of this programme isto ensure coaches and referees encourageand enforce high levels of player safetyin order to minimise player injuries. Thiscertification is valid for two years and mustbe renewed as required.National ExamEvery year referees must write the NationalLaws Examination. This is done on a provincialbasis at a date and time coordinated by theprovincial referee society.Fitness TestsAll referees must undergo regular fitnesstests as the ability to keep up with play andbe in a suitable state to make clear andrational decisions is what the role is all about.These typically occur at the beginning of andmidway through the season. The standardmeasurement tool is a multi-stage fitnesstest commonly known as the Bleep Test. It’sa widely acknowledged tool to measure anathlete’s VO 2max state.Results from the Bleep Test are one of thecriteria used to promote or relegate referees.A referee on any of the SA Rugby-controlledpanels will need to meet or exceed a BleepTest of 12.5.2

Do I get paid?Refereeing at school or club level in South Africa islargely amateur with the referee receiving match feesto cover travel and incidental expenses. However, atthis level you should not be refereeing for the money!If you make it onto one of the referee panels you willreceive a game fee for each match refereed. SouthAfrica has four full-time professional referees and,in addition to being well paid, they enjoy frequentinternational travel, often staying in some of the besthotels and exotic locations. At the top it is a well paidand extremely rewarding occupation.Can I become a Testreferee?What is the BokSmartstory?Any sport participant runs therisk of injury and rugby is nodifferent. However, the BokSmartprogramme is one of the mostcomprehensive yet introducedinto rugby across the world,designed solely to reduce the riskof serious injury – particularly tothe neck and spine.All coaches and referees need toundergo the five-hour programmeand re-certify themselves everytwo years.The reality is that there are far fewerinternational referees than rugbyplayers, so to make it to the very topis a long and uncompromising roadto travel. But it can be done andSouth Africa has produced some ofthe best referees in the world. AndréWatson is the only person to refereetwo IRB Rugby World Cup finalsand Jonathan Kaplan remains theworld’s most-capped Test referee.It all starts with small steps andonce you have been accepted asa member of a provincial society,your success is largely in your ownhands. You’ll be expected to startat the bottom and work your waythrough the ranks. With hard workand some good fortune, it’s possibleto end up as a Test referee.3

How is the referee set-up structured?Rugby is governed through 14 provincial unionsthat come together to form the South AfricanRugby Union (SARU). Clubs and schools ineach province are affiliates of the local union,together with the provincial referee society.The 14 provincial referee societies are, in turn,affiliates of the SA Rugby Referees’ Association(SARRA) and this is affiliated to SARU.All organised rugby in South Africa isadministered through the provincial unionsand ultimately SARU. All registered refereesare members of their provincial society and,again, ultimately members of and subject to thedisciplinary code of SARRA.What about player/spectatorabuse?Player and spectator abuse is part and parcelof modern-day sport. However, rugby is oneof the codes that’s determined to reduce thefrequency and severity of this phenomenon,and the provincial unions as well as SA Rugbyhave taken significant steps in this regard.The National Referee Recruitment andAwareness Campaign, along with initiativeslike the 3 CHEERS FOR THE REF campaign,are designed to educate the public about thelaws and change attitudes towards referees.Rugby is a tough and physical game but theLaws of the Game make specific provision tooutlaw referee abuse.4

SARRA refereecareer pathOnce you belong to a provincialreferees’ society and participate intheir training programmes, you’reon track to progression through therefereeing ranks. Everyone startsout as a beginner referee but asyou become more competent,you may be upgraded within yoursociety’s ranking system. TheSouth African Rugby Referees’Association is always scouting foremerging talent for higher honours.The flowchart below illustrates thevarious panels that are in place togroom referees with potential.SARRA REFEREE CAREER PATHTELEVISIONMATCH OFFICIALREFEREEIRBLevel 4ASSISTANTREFEREENATIONALNATIONALNATIONALWOMEN’S PANELPROVINCIALIRBLevel 3PROVINCIALWomen’sContender SquadCONTENDERCANDIDATEAcademyProvincialreferee societyIRBLevel2Development1st, 2nd and3rd DivisionIRBLevel15

Code of conductAll referees in SouthAfrica – whether onany of the SARRA Panelsor not – are subject tothe South African RugbyUnion’s Code of Conduct.Here are some of thehighlights of that Codefor you to familiariseyourself with beforebecoming a referee.• Referees should not publicly criticisefellow referees, match officials, playersor administrators• While on official duty, a referee shouldalways conduct him/herself in amanner fitting of the position• If a referee has a grievance, itshould be directed through theappropriate channels for resolution –in most cases, through the provincialreferees’ society• Unless a referee is specificallycontracted to SARRA, he/she isproviding his/her services on avoluntary basis, in spite of any gamefees that may be paid• Referees’ performance, rating andplacement on a panel are subjectto SARRA’s evaluation process andmay be reviewed at any time duringthe season• The referee is the sole judge offact and Law during a match. Thisis an extremely onerous andresponsible position, so it’s vitallyimportant that the referee conducthim/herself in a manner that is beyondreproach at all times.Provincialcontact detailsBlue Bulls RugbyUnion012 420 0700Boland Rugby Union021 873 2317Border Rugby Union043 743 5998Eastern ProvinceRugby Union041 508 7700Valke Rugby Union011 975 2822Free State RugbyUnion051 407 1700Golden LionsRugby Union011 402 2960Griffons Rugby Union057 352 6482Griqualand WestRugby Union053 832 8773Kwazulu-NatalRugby Union031 308 8400Leopards Rugby Union018 297 5304Mpumalanga RugbyUnion013 656 2647South WesternDistricts Rugby Union044 873 0137Western ProvinceRugby Union021 659 4500South AfricanRugby Referees’Association011 402 2960ext 2166

BLOW THEWHISTLEBECOME A REFEREEwww.sareferees.co.za • referee@sarugby.co.zaor sms “referee” to 082 328 4878’