Panels, Grading and Appointments
COACHING AND APPOINTMENTS BOARD POLICY STATEMENT 2009
"The CAB mission is to facilitate the coaching of referees to their highest potential and appoint the most suitably qualified referees to officiate in the RugbyWA Competition matches and other matches as required"
Referee Grading Panels and Appointments
This document sets out the policy and procedures that will apply to appointments and grading of referees in 2009. This policy does not cover the Junior Competition.
The emphasis for 2009 is coaching and development of those referees who have the potential to progress to the senior grades.
Appointments General
Appointments will be made to games in the following priority order as determined by the Executive Committee of WARURA and RUGBYWA: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, U 20’s, PSA 1st XV, 3rd grade, U 18 and 4th Grade. The Referee Manager will make appointments to 5th grade, PSA 2nd XV and the Women’s Competition. The Junior CAB will appoint to all junior games below U16.
Appointments will generally be made weekly, with the CAB and the Referee Manager meeting on Mondays. The Referee Manager will disseminate appointments by the end of business on the Tuesday of each week. Appointments will also be published on the Association’s web page at www.warura.rugbynet.com.au.
As a general practice, referees will only be appointed to one game per day. However, there may be special circumstances that require a referee to officiate on more than one occasion on a day.
Referees are expected to stand by for the game following their match to replace the next referee in the event of injury or a 'no show'.
2nd Grade and U20’s referees are automatically appointed to run touch for the 1st grade game unless others have been appointed on the weekly appointments list. If unavailable, then they must inform the match referee so that a suitable replacement may be organized. No 1st Grade game should be without qualified touch judges. Touch judge appointments are deemed as formal appointments and thus referees are expected to attend. It is unsatisfactory to just “disappear” after your game and not fulfil your touch judge appointment or just fail to turn up. As with any failure to fulfil an appointment, whether as a referee or touch judge, without a sound reason and notification to the Referee Manager, your future appointments and grading may be affected.
It is the responsibility of individual referees to notify the Referee Manager (08) 9383 0706, or mobile 0413 570 788 or by E Mail anthony.o’shea@rugbywa.com.au as soon as practicable of their non-availability for forthcoming matches.
Following publishing of the appointments the onus is on the referee to make contact with the Referee Manager to advise of withdrawal from the appointed game. This must happen no later than noon on the Friday immediately preceding the game. After that time, the referee must check the appointments list and notify the referee of the grade lower to his appointment and request he take on your game. This will have a flow on effect so that the lowest grade game on that ground may be without a referee unless a referee is prepared to double up. It is imperative that any changes on the day are notified to the Referee Manager by the following Monday.
Following the publishing of appointments, referees will be able to swap with fellow referees subject to providing a satisfactory reason for doing so. Changes must be in the same grade and must not compromise the appointment process. In the first instance, the referee must notify the Referee Manager of any proposed swap for authorisation and coordination purposes.
CAB REFEREE GRADING PANELS AND APPOINTMENTS 2009
Grading Panels
For the 2009 season the CAB will continue to use Grading Panels. Panels are numbered A to D, which correspond to the general level of game that a referee in a particular panel can expect to be refereeing. The President's Panel is made up of those experienced referees who are now non-competitive.
Composition of Panels
Panels A to C will include the top 30 graded referees. Panel D will comprise:
- Referees graded 30+
- Inexperienced and unsighted referees
- Non-competitive referees
For 2009, Panel A will include those referees who will primarily referee 1st and 2nd grade. Panel B will comprise of referees who will move between 2nd Grade and other grades as the need arises for development and promotion.
Panel Lists
Panel lists will be reviewed three times per season as follows: just prior to the beginning of the season; after the completion of the first round; and just prior to the semi finals. Each review will examine the referees‘ on field performances by way of coaching reports, current fitness level and their participation in those off field activities as sanctioned by WARURA.
Approximately, three rounds before the final series, referee coaches will begin the grading process of referees in preparation for the finals. This will take the form of assessment using the ARU Community Rugby Assessment Sheet, which measures the referee against a series of accuracy and compliance criteria. Once the assessment is completed, the top referees will be graded in numerical order from one (the best score) to 16. This will then form the basis of appointments for the finals. (See page four).
Basis of Grading
Grading will be based on assessment of a referee's performance relative to the standard of the games being refereed. Qualified referee coaches will provide feedback to the referee primarily based on the referee's demonstration of accuracy and compliances. Where practicable, a DVD of the game will accompany the coaching and/or assessment repeort.
In determining grading, account willalso be taken of attendance at development sessions, referee training, fitness programs and accreditation courses. Relevant feedback from team coaches may also be taken into consideration in order to provide extra insight into the referees’ performance.
Fitness
The Referee Manager will conduct regular fitness testing of referees in the form of beep tests and other appropriate measures of fitness. These tests are designed to demonstrate to the referee and the CAB if the referee requires more work on personal fitness and to identify any injuries the referee may have which could effect their on field performance.
To be graded in, and remain in Panel A from a fitness perspective, a referee has to obtain a beep test of 10.5, and for panel B a beep test of 9.5. An alternative test may be permitted due to special circumstances on approach to Chairman of CAB who will liaise with the Referee Manager for the test to be implemented. The alternative test is the ARU and Royal Navy sanctioned 2.0km run in 9.03 minutes for an equivalent 10.5 beep, and 9.25 minutes for a beep of 9.5. (For explanation, see Alternative Beep Test in the Resource Library section in Referees web page.
When doing the beep test, the CAB will expect referees to continue past the prescribed time limit commensurate with their panel. In other words, for Panel B, referees should not just stop at 9.5 for example when they have more “petrol in the tank”.
DVD Recording of Matches
At each main venue there will be a facility for recording the match on DVD with the referee voice over. These DVDs are designed to assist in the coaching and development of both the referees and teams. They are also used by RWA for other purposes including judiciary hearings. It is therefore vital that all referees are wired up for sound for each match being recorded.
Appointments
To be appointed to games played under the jurisdiction of RugbyWA, it is a requirement that all referees have the following accreditation:
1. A minimum accreditation of ARU Level 1 Referee or overseas equivalent.
2. All referees must be current financial members of the West Australian Rugby Union Referees Association (WARURA), with the exception of exchange referees.
3. It is imperative that all members have completed and signed the ARU Rugbynet Registration Form in order to be covered by insurance. Those members over the age of 65 are not covered for accident or death whilst refereeing but are covered for liability in the case of negligence claims
4. Have undertaken the annual re-accreditation training as determined by ARU.
The underlying philosophy of appointments is that the top graded referees should referee games in order of merit. This is to ensure that a team has the best referee available at the time, however, this does not automatically follow that the No. 1 Referee will always be appointed to the No.1 game, as there are other factors that need to be considered. For example, the grading of games, particularly in the early season, is very subjective. Moreover, recognition will be taken of the frequency a particular referee has refereed either of the teams in the proposed appointment, the suitability and matching of a referee to officiate at a particular game, and the development requirements of other up and coming referees.
Panel A - Accreditation Requirements
In addition to the above criteria, inclusion in the Psnel A also requires the referee to have obtained, or be enrolled to attend the following accreditations in that year:
- Level II Referee
- Level II Touch Judge
- Level I Referee Coach
Grievances
Referees may approach the Chairman CAB to clarify their position on the panel list or a particular appointment. The WARURA President shall arbitrate at any unresolved dispute between the referee and the CAB.
Critical Incidents
In the event of an on field incident where a player has been seriously injured, the CAB and Referee Manager will assist the referee to complete an incident report in accordance with the ARU Policy. Moreover, if the incident is of such magnitude that the referee is likely to be traumatised, then WARURA will arrange necessary counselling for the referee.
Referee Abuse
Incidents of referee abuse by players are dealt with under the law and the referee has the power to deal with this situation. Abuse by spectators is to be noted on the respective team sheets and is also to be reported to the Referee Manager at RugbyWA within 48 hours. The Referee Manager will, in cooperation with the Community Rugby Manager, investigate the matter and undertake any appropriate action. Further the result of any such action is to be notified to the WARURA President and referee involved.
Finals Appointments Policy
For 2009, appointments to the finals will be chosen in order of ranking from 1 to 16 based on the latest adjustment of rankings taken immediately prior to the semi finals. Listed below is a table of how the system might operate: A potential variable may be for the appointments such as the U18 or U20 games in which the most suitable referees will be considered for appopintment even though this may appear to be out of ranking order.
Grade | Ranking based on pre semi finals | Ranking based on post semi finals | Ranking based on post finals | |
| Elim Semi | Major Semi | Preliminary Final | Grand Final |
1st U18 4th 5th
W
|
1 15
|
2
|
1 8 |
1 |
For the semi finals, those referees who are ranked one to 16 at the end of the last round will officiate as described above. Once the Semi Finals have been completed, the CAB will undertake a re-grading exercise with the top 8 referees from the semi finals being appointed to the Preliminary Finals. On completion of the Preliminary finals, the CAB will undertake another re-grading of those 8 referees to select the order of appointments to the Grand Finals.
Note that in case of injury or poor performance by a referee during the finals, the CAB may broaden its selection criteria in this regard.
Moreover, if for reasons beyond the referee’s control an individual is unable to make the final fitness tests prior to the finals’ appointments, and that referee has demonstrated a high level of fitness throughout the whole season, special dispensation may be granted on approach the Chairman CAB. The reason for any dispensation will be published to all members.
The Referees Executive and RugbyWA Executive will ratify the Grand Final appointments.
There may be an adjustment made to the above if WARURA is requested to provide a referee for Country Finals or the draw changes during the year.
Representative Appointments and Exchanges
Finals Appointments Policy
WARURA is often invited by ARU to appoint referees, referee coaches and other officials to the Australian Schoolboy Championships and other representative games as required. Referees and other match officials are also invited to undertake exchange duties with other State or overseas Unions. There is also a requirement for No's 4 and 5 match officials to be appointed to home games for the Emirates Western Force.
The procedure for appointment to these games is as follows: ARU or State Union notifies RWA of the match details and invites RWA to nominate the officials. Once received by RWA, the Referee Manager is to liaise with the CAB to select the most appropriate match officials.
David Procopis (Chairman CAB)
3rd February 2009
