NMSRFR

Friday Bulletin

Posted on 15 September 2023 by Communications

September Bulletin – Start of the Season

Posted on 7 September 2023 by Communications

Hope all those that refereed last weekend enjoyed their games, the weather certainly seems to be with us at the moment although I was hoping for a drop in temperature coming into this weekend!

The Weekend Ahead – It’s going to be Hot

This week has seen temperatures rise up into the late twenties with expectations continuing into the weekend. With all games, Players Welfare and Safety is paramount, as with frozen pitches during the winter check the playing surface to ensure it is safe for the players – can it take a stud? when a player goes to ground will it cushion them or does it feel like falling on concrete?

Unsafe pitch
“If either team objects to the state of the pitch, they must tell the referee before the match starts. The referee must not start the match if he believes that the pitch is unfit and therefore potentially dangerous (whatever the teams say). The referee can also stop a match once it has started if he decides that it is unfit.
If both teams believe the ground to be unsafe then the match does not take place. If one team believes the ground is safe and the other disagrees, the referee cannot force a team to play. The decision as to whether to play or not must be taken by the team’s coach.”

With regards water breaks these can be held at the quarter mark in each half. On the 20 / 60 minute mark at a relevant break in play, try scored, lineout or scrum or penalty (the online recommendation from searching is in and around the halfway line), pause for 1-2 minutes to allow players and yourself to get on much needed fluids. Once finished restart the game as per the stop in play.

During the game we recommend keeping an eye out for flagging players and don’t worry about stopping the game as Player Welfare is paramount.

In the pre match briefs / toss confirm with the captains ensuring everyone is on the same page.

From a refereeing point ensure you have plenty of fluids along with suncream.

Match Official Abuse

We have received a letter from Michael Priestley at the RFU explaining the process surrounding Match Official Abuse. The letter will be placed on our website under Forms. I have also included the full contents below, please review:

As the new season approaches in earnest, we hope that you have enjoyed the off season and some well-earned time off from rugby.

At the RFRU AGM held on 25 Jun 23, we had discussions around the issue of Match Official Abuse (MOA) and we updated on the work we have been doing with RFU Discipline over the last season.

In summary, the updated definitions of what MOA is are now in Regulations, The CB Discipline Conference will drive for consistency in how MOA is managed and also underpin the importance of reporting outcomes. We continue to strive to ensure that the “victim” is treated as such and provided the necessary support.

From last season’s Match Official Survey co-ordinated between the RFU Game Development staff and RFU Discipline, it is clear that Match Official Abuse (MOA) continues to be reported as increasing across the game. The survey also has demonstrated that some referees are unsure how to report instances of MOA.

The RFRU Board wishes to reassure referees and members that it remains a top priority for us, and we regularly engage on this issue; at our last Board meeting we had a briefing from Head of RFU Discipline and I was able to put directly to him the concerns raised at our AGM.

This note serves as a reminder for referees and referees’ societies on the definition of MOA and the ways in which MOA can and should be reported.

MOA, can and is split into several domains,

disrespecting the authority of a Match Official (MO),

verbal abuse,

using threatening actions or words towards a match official,

making physical contact with a MO or physical abuse.

Disrespecting the authority of a MO; although possibly of a low level, is persistent and despite warning or use of escalating sanctions (Ask, Tell, Penalise), challenging a MO, with the use of swearing could warrant a red card.

Verbal abuse is whereby foul or offensive language is directly aimed at a MO. This could include an attack on the integrity of a MO, regardless of any foul or offensive language. Often to distinguish verbal abuse from disrespect, a qualifier of you as a person has been added to any swearing. When it is personally directed at you, i.e., the use of ‘you’re’ this is verbal abuse and should receive a red card sanction.

Threatening actions or words towards a MO, are a specific threat to a MO and warrants a red card.

Physical contact of a MO, whereby incidental contact, which is non-intentional and merely more than an accident, warrants a red card.

Although, rare, physical abuse, contact intentionally made with a MO, will warrant a Red Card.

MOA forms are available via societies’ and RFU website, and if a Red Card is issued, a Red Card Form can also be submitted. If you have any difficulties accessing or with filling in a form, please do not hesitate to contact [your society, RFRU, RFU].

For reference a guide to MOA is located: https://www.englandrugby.com/dxdam/2f/2fc5e040-982d-48c7-a077-45937e207f43/MOA%20Guidance.pdf

We also want to share the best practice that we are sure exists in societies (either in training updates, preparation of match officials (how to manage / deescalate such situations), reporting, support to victims etc)

If societies, have any best practice we would be delighted to share it to benefit the wider MO community. Please snd any useful examples of best practice the the RFRU Secretary Dr Adam White (adam.white@rfru.co.uk)

If you have any questions or of concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the RFRU representative who is working closely with RFU Discipline (Nathan Howarth – nathanref@hotmail.co.uk).

Thank You and good luck for the Season ahead

Michael Priestley

Chair, RFRU

Next Training Date

Thanks to all of those that have attended the training sessions thus far over the summer. As mentioned in the close season we plan to hold regular sessions throughout the season moving around the different venues.

The next session is as follows:

19 September @ 7pm

Location – Edwardians Rugby Club, Streetsbrook Road, Solihull, B90 3PE

Items for discussion are:

Tackle Height Laws – How these have been implemented and your experiences so far
Match regulations – for example; how many subs, interchanges and the management of these
Q&A Sessions

We will put out a poll on our facebook page to get an idea of numbers for the session so keep your eyes peeled.

That’s all for this week, hope you find the above an interesting read.

Over the coming weeks I would like to pull together a collage of our Referees in action so if you have any pictures please send them through to me – webmaster@northmidsrefs.co.uk.

Enjoy your weekends and the start of the Rugby World Cup…maybe not as an English fan although I keep reminding people of 2007…maybe wishful thinking but there is hope.

Summer Bulletin – The Final Chapter

Posted on 16 August 2023 by Communications

3 Comments

Good evening all, hope you’ve had an amazing summer and looking forward to the new season commencing?

This will be the last summer bulletin as I’m off on holiday for 2 weeks so thought I would update on a few bits and pieces along with important dates etc.

Dates for your Diary

We are holding a Society Training Day this coming Sunday, 20 August, at DK Rugby Club. The day is an opportunity for you to meet fellow society members whilst running through the hot topics as we enter the new season…namely the new tackle height. Neil Chivers will host the session with a Bronco Test to begin with for those who have been unable to attend any of the other sessions, followed by a review of the new tackle height laws. If time permits he will also run through other areas that you have commented on in my last post.

Timings for the day are:

10.00 – 11.30 – Bronco Fitness Test
12.00 – 14.30 – New Tackle Height presentation and other updates

Lunch will be provided, if you can let Chivs know if you are attending – please click this link taking you to our facebook page, scroll to the post from ‘Neil Chivers’ and register accordingly choosing one of the options. This will allow us to cater for the correct numbers.

Bronco Fitness Test Dates

As mentioned above we will hold a bronco fitness test at the training day on Sunday 20 August @ DK Rugby Club. If you are unable to attend this we will also hold another session at Luctonians Rugby club on Tuesday 29 August @ 7.15pm. This is being run by Neil Reid-Warrilow.

New Season Availability

Our fixtures secretaries have started appointing games for the new season which you should start to see coming through now. If you haven’t had anything it might be that your availability is not up to date – please log on to WTR and update this and our team will appoint where games are available. If you’re unsure of how to do this we have created a new section on our website detailing how to manage WTR, click this link to check this out.

Refs on Tour!

In the last bulletin I updated on Julian, Theo and Theo’s sister refereeing at the European Championships in France. I have received an update on this from Julian:

Just an update on our experiences in France at the European Touch Championships last week
Both Theo and Julian gained their Level 4 badges (Level 5 is the top level, the Touch equivalent of Wayne Barnes!), and Theo ranked in the top 20 of over 80 referees, being awarded an appointment to the Men’s 40s division Gold Medal final between England and France
Julian & daughter Cara also refereed a Bronze Medal match between Wales and Switzerland in the Men’s 30s division.

Well done to the Edwards on an amazing tournament flying the flag for the Society!

Website Updates

Over the summer we have made a few changes to the website to now include ‘Referees Hub’. This section is designed to provide an overview of WTR, Appointments Team, North Mids League Structure, North Mids Referee Society Policies, Useful Refereeing Documents and Referee Reviewer / Match Official Documents. If you feel something is missing please let me know and I can review and add.

I have also created an area ‘For Clubs’ to help them navigate WTR, Fixtures, Appointments and anything else.

I hope you find these bulletins useful but if there’s something you’d like adding please feel free to drop a comment or email me through the contact form.

Weekly Bulletin – Training Dates & Updates

Posted on 31 July 2023 by Communications

Society Fitness Test – Tues 15 August @ 7.15pm

Posted on 24 July 2023 by Communications

1 Comment

Afternoon All, as we approach the start of the new season we would like to invite all current referees to a Society Fitness Session / Test at DKRFC, DY6 0AW.

On the night we will be running the Bronco Test which is used by the Society in line with the grading scheme applied to our referees.

The test is being run by Neil Reid-Warrilow, for those that do not know Neil he will be wearing an NMSRFR top with a big tape measure, but here’s a picture as well 😉

What is the ‘Bronco Test’

The Bronco Fitness test is over 1.2km consisting of a 20m, 40m and 60m run 5 times. End at the end you will be given a time that will be recorded by the society.

The society deem the following times acceptable in-line with referee levels as follows:

Referee Level/s	Completed Time Range
Level 7 – Level 10	<7 minutes for Males & Females
Level 6	<6m15s & >5m15s Males / <6m30s & >5m45s Females
Level 5	<5m15s Males / <5m45s Females

For those that pass their fitness test for their grade or above you would be considered priority in game appointments at the relevant level.
For those that attempt but fail their fitness test then you would be considered next.
For those that fail to attempt a fitness test you would be considered last.
Nobody will be re-graded whatever their test result although it may prevent promotion to the next level.

But I can’t make the 15 August…

Never fear we are also a running a second session which will be held at Luctonians Rugby Club on Tuesday 29 August @ 7.15pm.

I need help with my Fitness

Never fear, a group of Society members meet up fortnightly on Wednesday at Bromsgrove Rugby club to work on fitness. The event is organised by Lewis Courtney and starts at 7pm with the next session on w/c 31 July – Check out details on the NMSRFR webpage. These sessions are coached by former winter Olympian Stu Benson and are great way for learning effective warm-ups, sprinting techniques and cool downs all which relate to refereeing. As well as being good for fitness it’s also pretty good for a catch up with fellow society members.

Tackle Height Laws

We would encourage all refs to attend an RFU led tackle height course. Keep an eye out for these over the coming weeks. There are also TackleSafe clinics being run nationally, they’re free and you can book your space via GMS.

Please also take the World Rugby laws test, RFU headcase concussion awareness course online, to have a current DBS and to take the RFU introduction to Safeguarding course online which is a prerequisite for getting your DBS. All RFU courses are free and are to be booked directly through GMS.

We are also in the process of getting the recording of the training session available for members, we will update when this is ready and how to download.

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