NMSRFR
North Midlands Society of Rugby Football Referees: Est. 1920
Friday bulletin, 17 February 2023
Society Communications
A Message from our Chair: our Communications Director Julian Edwards will be stepping down at the next AGM; he’s done a great job but pressures of work mean that his North Mids post is the one that has to give! This gives the Society a great opportunity to review and revise its Communications strategies, including such things as this very bulletin, the Society website, our social media channels, communicating with our wider membership, and, perhaps most importantly, spreading and reducing workloads in this vital part of the Society’s structure.
The plan is to ask 4-6 volunteers members to take part in a brain storming exercise (almost certainly by Zoom) whereby we can consider options, think ‘outside the box’ and plan for the future. We would then offer the ideas from this small group to the membership as whole for their thoughts, other ideas etc. Could you be one of those 4-6 to help to shape the future of the Society’s communications?
Maybe you’re a WordPress Wizard, or an Instagram Influencer. Or perhaps you can just write good copy. If you would like to be part of this working group, please email Kelvin chair@northmidsrefs.co.uk to start the discussion!
Ask the expert
This week the Expert gives advice on some interesting ‘management’ situations, rather than specific law examples. Click here for the latest
Sevens
The Sevens season is already upon us, bringing with it not only the fitness challenge, but its own set of law variations. Many of us may find ourselves refereeing Sevens for the first time, so in the interests of consistency on our part please click here to view the Whistle Stop video on YouTube specific to Rugby Sevens.
Of course for Age Grade Rugby, as well as the World Rugby Sevens Variations the World Rugby U19 Variations and RFU Regulation 15 Age Grade requirements are also relevant so ensure that you are familiar with these too for each specific Age Group to which you may be appointed.
As each group of referees assembles at a tournament, agree the protocol for sanctions (e.g. YCs) etc if these are not already set out by the Tournament organisers.
(There are several videos in the Whistle Stop series all worth looking at – especially for our newer referees and not just our YMOs.)
Julian has made an outstanding contribution to the efficient working of the Society over the past few, incident strewn, years & will be difficult to replace. Many of the things he has undertaken will have passed unnoticed by most members but he deserves all plaudits coming his way.