Referees
Women Refs fast tracked
Julia Hutton
The Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football Union for Women are grooming the next generation of world class female referees through a new Fast Track programme. Fast Track is designed to identify and develop top female English referees to bring them up to the required standard for the next IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2010 and beyond. All potential Fast Track referees must prove their dedication and commitment to the game and to their own self development by getting involved in one of the most demanding aspects of rugby. The skill sets are varied but include mental agility, physical fitness, time management and a commitment to on going development. If successful they will be offered one-to-one mentoring, fitness and nutritional advice and be selected for various matches outside their normal Society and Federation appointments. The RFU are working closely with the RFUW, FIRA and the IRB to open opportunities for overseas matches as part of the referee development process. In the long term each referee will be assigned a referee coach to assist their development. So far six Fast Track referees have been identified. David Rose, the RFU’s Referee Development Manager, said: “The RFU is proud of its record in developing international referees who have participated in Rugby World Cups. What is less well known is that we have also developed three female referees, Sarah Stanley, Claire Daniels and Debbie Innes, who have also refereed at Women's Rugby World Cups. This performance programme hopes to add to that list and fulfil the undoubted potential of a number of current female referees for the next two World Cups in 2010 and 2014. “Currently we have a number of support systems in place with Michael Mellick from UWIC working on performance analysis and Anne-Marie Lategan from Tower Fitness London working on physiological support and nutrition.” Andrea Ttofa, a member of the London Referees Society identified to be Fast Tracked, said, “When I started refereeing five years ago, I did so because of a love of the sport. It’s great that there are so many opportunities to develop as a female referee both within the women's and the men’s game.”
Fast Track Referees:
Claire Hodnett (Notts, Lincs & Derbys),
Jennifer Lynch (Manchester & District),
Anne O’Flynn (Army),
Andrea Ttofa (London),
Natalie Amor ( Bristol)
and Becky Patrick (Kent)
Midlands leagues officials issue referee reminder
Paul Bolton
Paul Kaminski, the chairman of the Midlands Leagues Organising Committee, issued a reminder to clubs in the region of their responsibilities in confirming the appointment of referees following the postponement of Old Coventrians’ Midlands Four West (South) match because of the absence of a referee. Old Coventrians were initially docked two league points for failing to ensure the presence of the referee appointed by the Warwickshire Referees’ Society. That penalty has now been replaced by a £150 fine for being in breach of Game Regulation 8.3.1 (b). Kings Norton have also reimbursed £150 for increased travel expenses from MLOC funds and the match will now be replayed on the next available free Saturday. “It is important to remind clubs that in the Game Regulations covering the English Clubs Championship and the National Cups, it remains the absolute obligation of clubs to make direct contact with match officials,” said Kaminski, who chaired the appeal panel. This takes precedence over whatever protocols have been put in place by local referees’ societies. Messages left with a third party, such as a member of the referee's family, are not regarded as direct contact.” The appeal panel, which also included Keith Shurville, the RFU Council member for East Midlands, and Roger Rees, the North Midlands representative on the MLOC, also stated: “The panel believe that wherever possible, the outcome of leagues should be determined on the field of play. This is not an issue that may have affected the outcome of the game, such as the playing of an unregistered player. The panel have therefore rescinded the deduction of two competition points from Old Coventrians.”
Developing a six-pack
The Six new referees to the National Panel and their coaches met last month (November) to share their early successes and key development issues, gain further knowledge through presentations from more experienced officials and to discuss the game and refereeing with a highly experienced team of referee coaches. Steve Leyshon the Panel Development Manager and Steve Savage, the Panel Development Officer, also joined the ‘six- pack’ squad. Dr Mikel Mellick, Consultant Sports Psychologist to the National Panel Officials organised a series of workshops for the new referees including sessions on Media Training by Nick Clarke (National Panel Touch Judge & Director of Communications for the Anglican Church in Suffolk), Mental Skills Training by Dick Weaver (National Panel Referee Coach & Inspector with the London Metropolitan Police) and specific refereeing sessions by David Sainsbury and Greg Garner (Senior Panel Referees) and Andrew Small (RFU Elite Full Time Referee). The six new referees are, Ross Campbell (Midlands), Gareth Hodges (North), Richard Kelly (South East), Paul Knowles (South East), Luke Pearce (South West) & Michael Tutty (South East).
