NMSRFR
North Midlands Society of Rugby Football Referees: Est. 1920
AUGUST UPDATE – DAY 5 (late!)
Safety is so important in our game. All referees who are part of the new changes to our structure i.e. new referees, Development Squad members, referees applying for re-grading and the Friday night team will be required to take and pass the Headcase online course. The test was updated in December 2018 and certificates now need to be updated annually.
For the season 2020/2021 more members will be asked to take and pass the test. Below is the link and then scroll down to the officials page
AUGUST UPDATE – DAY 4
Level 6
Referees who reached this level have achieved the highest grade they can within the Society, they are the best in the group and are to be congratulated.
Further progress is achieved by getting onto the Midlands Group. Referees thought to have the necessary skills will be nominated by the West Midlands Federation and then watched by selectors for the Midland Group. The competition is fierce competing with the best from Staffordshire, Warwickshire, East Midlands and N.L.D. but many have done it, so why not you?
AUGUST UPDATE Day 3
The first two days of these notices have talked about referees; today is about watchers
The Society did not have any form of pathway for watchers and that has to change. The Board sees it following an almost identical pattern to a referee. First few games, ideally with an experienced watcher, would be where the referee is ungraded. The watcher would develop the best way to deliver advice and support with safety as a prominent theme.
Once achieved, the same as the referee, at levels 12-10 the watcher will be asked to focus his/her advice on the breakdown and set pieces. The next step are games at levels 9-7 where the emphasis is on management of the game and all that entails.
Report writing will play a part in a watchers development and once the referee is graded there is an expectation that the RFU forms will be used.
There are plans for a watchers get together mid season.
Finally, we do need to recruit more, so please try and be at next Thursday meeting (7pm at the Police Training Centre, Pershore Road, Birmingham) when thoughts about recruitment will be aired. We especially want your views and ideas.
AUGUST UPDATE – DAY 2
Pathway Continued. Within the structure shown yesterday there is an overriding expectation
Individual referees must take responsibility for their own development with the Society supporting them whenever possible.
Responsibility includes but is not exclusive to;
a) achieving the required fitness levels when relevant.
b) regularly passing the World Rugby online law test.
c) regularly passing the online Headcase test.
d) making themselves available to referee at all levels of the game including whenever
possible fixtures on Sundays, midweek, schools games as well as Saturday matches.
e) the regular submission of club cards (70%+ is the requirement).
attending training sessions, in particular those that come under the title of Continuous Match Official Development.
f) reached the standards described as essential in the pathway .
FRIDAY NIGHT GAMES
Last season re provided teams of three for at least 7 Friday night games. All the matches were a minimum of level 6 and we appointed our best referees and a selection of AR’s of varying experience and ability. This season we are going to continue providing officials for these games but this season they will all have had more appropriate training.
To be selected you must;
- Be available on most Friday nights and be able to get to the majority of grounds by about 6pm.
- Pass the fitness test for your current grade.
- Attend an inhouse course (date to be confirmed) which will concentrate on working in a team of three, using the coms kit etc.
- To be a referee be graded at level 6 (may also be used as AR1)
- To be AR1 be a minimum of level 7
- AR2 can be less experienced but should be someone who has the potential to reach at least level 7
IT IS HOPED THAT SPONSORED KIT WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE TEAMS OF THREE.
If you are interested please email Kelvin Roberts
AUGUST UPDATE – DAY 1
The notes over the next month are to give everyone the background and reasons for changes that have been made or in the process of being made.
For the full detail please try and attend either the meeting on Thursday 8th Tally Ho 7pm, or the one at Old Halesonians on Sunday 18th August 10am start.
The vast majority are because of what members have told the Board they wanted.
REFEREE PATHWAY
In simple terms the aim is that any referee will know what is expected from them at any level and equally what they can expect from the Society.
For this coming season the pathway will only apply to new members, the Development Squad and those referees and AR’s chosen for the Friday night level 6 games. This will give us all chance to resolve any issues ready for full implementation season 2020-21.
More details on Friday, together with thoughts on the Friday night games and how we can do better.