Welcome to the pages of the Essex
Society of
Rugby Football
The society was formed over 40 years ago and has around 50 members. I say around because at the present moment Referees numbers are throughout the game are dwindling. Remember - without a referee you do not get a game.
For information on how to become a referee please contact Alan Gold on 0208 281 1041.
We have
regular meetings on the 1st Wednesday of each month at Essex County
Cricket Ground,
Greetings fellow rugby fanatic
We in
Without your help the lower sides of the
With an average of thirty-five matches to cover each Saturday
plus fixtures on Sunday and mid-week, we need as many referees we can
get.
Please discuss this matter with your fellow club members. I am
sure there are ex players, retired players or players coming to the end of
their playing career who will make excellent referees. We will train you, coach
you and advise you along your path – who knows there may be another Ed Morrison
out there. Even if someone is only available Sunday’s or only available
mid-week this doesn’t matter, get in contact with me.
You can contact me by phone, 020 8282 1041, mobile 07774 435 412,
email alangold@essexrugby.com .
Essex Referee’s
Society
Our Purpose
We are committed to ‘Better Refereeing for Better Rugby’ through
the efforts of our members and in partnership with others. As a result we are
constantly looking to improve both what we do and how we do it, both on and off
the field. The game of rugby is constantly developing and we aim to keep pace
with the change.
Aims
To provide competent and trained officials to all County
matches.
To satisfy all the refereeing needs of our affiliated clubs and
schools.
To assist our members to reach their full potential.
To constantly provide a sporting spirit, fair play and respect
for the laws of the game.
To adopt best practice on and off the field.
To have fun and make friends.
Principles of
Membership
All match officials should:
Always be ready for appointment unless they have given due
notice.
Prepare a personal development plan to support their ambitions.
Arrive at grounds in good time (at least one hour beforehand) to
complete pre-match preparations.
Apply the core principles of ‘Safety’, ‘Equity’ and ‘Law’ in all
matches.
Request an official of each team to report on their performance.
Access each club’s performance by way of the report cards.
All members should:
Be ready to assist with the running of the Society.
Cooperate with, respect and support the Officers of the Society.
Behave well and be smartly dressed whenever representing the
Society.
Regularly attend Society meetings.
Contribute to the friendship and fun the Society offers.
OFFICERS FOR SEASON
2006 – 2007
President: Ken Morgan
3 Crammerville Walk
Rainham
01708 520317 (h)
020 7582 6975 (w)
07771 448508 (m)
Secretary: Alan Gold
6 Boxted
Close
Buckhurst
Hill
020 8281 1041 (h)
020 8505
7084 (w)
07774
435412 (m)
Treasurer: Dayne Owens
8
Halyard Reach
South Woodham Ferrers
01245
324160(h)
0775
4900216 (m)
Appointments
Secretary: David Walker
Wickham Bishops
Witham
01621 892607 (h)
07986 638029 (m)
Re-appointment
Secretary: Eric
McLaughlan
Barking
020 8594 4576
eric@mclaughlan.fsbusiness.co.uk
Appointments
Mid-week &
Sunday: Jeff Payne
Writtle
01245
422917 (h)
07715 103936 (m)
Assessments &
Grading
Secretary: Tim Silver
Westcliff on Sea
01702
351427 (h)
07724 451386 (m)
Recruitment &
Publicity
Secretary: Ray Wilson
6
Pollards Close
Rochford
01702 547488 (h)
01702 542767 (b)
07860 205188 (m)
Training & Development
Secretary: Roger Northwood
29
Tudor Gdns
Leigh on Sea
01702
473315 (h)
07958 955150 (m)
Discipline
Secretary: Alistair Newton
Collier Row
Romford
Essex, RM5 3QT
01708 704563 (h)
020 8721 2590 (w)
alistair.newton1@ntlworld.com
Eastern Counties
Rep: John Adler
4 Green Close
Chelmsford
Essex, CM1 5SL
01245 259531
Guidance on
Disciplinary Procedures
You may issue a red card some time in your refereeing career;
therefore you should always prepare yourself for the event. If you do send someone off you MUST always
report it!
The sending off report must be completed and dispatched to the
appropriate constituent body within 48 hours. A copy must also be sent to the
Society Secretary and the disciplinary secretary. The forms can be obtained
from the secretary or downloaded from the RFU website. Generate them
electronically wherever possible.
The form should be filled out whilst the facts of the incident
are fresh in your mind. If you are in any doubt then contact the disciplinary
secretary who will help in completing the form.
If you are in any doubt as to where to send the form then please
send it to the secretary asking for it to be forwarded on.
Take care in completing the front page of the report, in
particular, the full name of the player which you must obtain from an official
of the club after the game.
Separate forms must be generated for each player sent off.
The prime purpose of the report is to give the Disciplinary
Panel a clear picture of the relevant facts leading up to, during and after the
incident. Be clear in your own mind what happened and convey that clarity to
the Panel. The report is read out to the Panel so avoid long and complex
explanations.
It is not necessary to provide a lengthy description of the
incident if the facts are straightforward. Avoid vagueness and be clear. For
example, do not state ‘he struck an opponent several times’. You should state
how many times, where the blows landed, how violent they were and whether they
caused an injury. Mention whether ‘the victim’ required medical treatment and
carried on playing or whether there was provocation.
Provide a fair and balanced account and not seek to secure a
conviction in every case. It is not weakness to mention any mitigating
circumstances or to admit that you may have not seen something prior to the
incident which led up to it or on refection to consider that you acted too
hastily in sending off the player.
Before you dispatch the report it is recommended that you read
out to or send the report to the Disciplinary Secretary. Any possible ambiguity
or omission can be identified and any questions anticipated. This precaution
may avoid the necessity of the Disciplinary Panel to seek clarification from you.
If upon reflection you wish to add a supplementary note then
ensure the secretary and disciplinary secretary also receive a copy. This
letter will also be read out to the Panel.
Always attend any hearing, your
attendance may affect the outcome. Attendance at a hearing is only required if
the player disputes the report.
Never advise the Disciplinary Panel what it should do about the
report. Never use such phrases as ‘I think the sending off was sufficient’.
Clarity and brevity are essential for a good report. Seek advice
if you have any doubt about what to say or about the administrative process. If
you are satisfied that you were right to send the player off, be content with
that and do not concern yourself about the level of punishment imposed – you have
done your job.
The Disciplinary Panel has powers to inquire into and inflict
punishment where a player has been dismissed from the field of play by the
referee or cited for foul play or has been reported for misconduct in the
playing enclosure. This includes abuse of the referee returning from the pitch
to the clubhouse after a match.
Dealing with Verbal
Abuse
This referee advice is a simple approach when dealing with
verbal abuse that often starts on the field with a player disputing a decision.
If, at any time during a match, a referee considers that was has been said is
unacceptable, the referee should send the player off immediately. This advice
applies equally to verbal abuse of the referee from a coach or spectator. The
authority of the referee, respect of the Laws of the Game and the disciplined
behaviour of both teams must be preserved.
A referee has a duty to the Game and to other referees.
Therefore verbal abuse must not go unchecked.
What constitutes
verbal abuse?
This is a subjective judgement. A seasoned campaigner might
choose not to hear a remark that could prove unsettling and off-putting if made
to a novice referee.
For all purposes verbal abuse is taken to mean:
What to do about it
Before the match:
·
Develop self-confidence and effective communication skills.
·
Practice in advance what you will say when you admonish, caution
or dismiss a player.
·
Be prepared to take a little criticism as part of the game.
·
Seek advice from senior referees regarding how much to take.
In the pre-match briefing, stress to the captains that they are
to inform their players and club officials that verbal abuse will not be
tolerated and all verbal communication should be through them as the captains.
They are responsible for maintaining the discipline of their players. Say
something like’ If I have problems with
your players, I will look to you for assistance’ or ‘ We are a team of three today Gentlemen, you look after the discipline of
your players whilst I facilitate the Laws of the Game’
Get the captains to buy into this agreement by promising you
their support and keeping dissent under control.
During the match:
Start controlling any dissent or verbal abuse by using whichever
of the following levels of action you feel is appropriate, taking into account
the tone and content of what was said and the temper of the game. Deal with it
efficiently without going over the top.
First Level –
reprimand
Second Level –
severe warning
Third Level – formal
action
More effective measures are called for if dissent is repeated or
verbal abuse is unacceptable.
When suspended player returns to the field warm him about his
future conduct and make it clear that any more such trouble WILL result in a
red card.
Enough is enough. You must be effective and assert your
authority but still remain cool and calm.
After the match:
Referees must report to the secretary and/or disciplinary
secretary and verbal abuse they receive after the match from players, coaches,
club officials or spectators so that action can be taken to prevent a
recurrence.
This applies to abuse on the pitch, off the pitch, in the
changing room or in the clubhouse.
A different form is used for verbal abuse from the normal
sending off form for any abuse save that from a player on the pitch.
If the game has gone well with no abuse then compliment the
captain and his team on their good behaviour.
Discuss your performance with your mentor and seek advice if
required after assessing how you managed the match and dealt with any problems.
Appointments
Policy
The Society recognises that it has a duty of care to the match
officials it appoints.
This policy is based upon the core refereeing principles:
The Society will only appoint suitably qualified, experienced or
sufficiently competent officials appropriate for the level of match concerned.
The Society will also try to take into account any special circumstances about
a fixture that may require a referee of a higher level or of particular
qualities and experience to be appointed to it.
Referees will be graded according to their competence to
officiate at matches.
Appointment as Touch Judges is an important development tool.
Referees may be appointed as touch judge at a match of higher level than their
grade in order to prepare them for refereeing at that level.
General
Information
1.
Local kick off times
August/September/October 3.00pm
November 2.30pm
December/January 2.15pm
February 2.30pm
March/April/May 3.00pm
2.
Monthly meetings 2006 - 2007
Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of
each month at Essex County Cricket Ground commencing 7.30pm sharp.
3.
Members subscriptions
4.
Recruitment
The best recruiters are those active members of the Society who
are seen to enjoy their refereeing. Always be prepared to chat with anyone
interested in learning more about the part the referee plays in the Game.
The Society is not solely responsible recruiting referees. It is
a responsibility that must be shared between clubs and schools. Clubs and
Society members should let the Secretary or Recruitment Secretary know should
they meet anyone who is interested in becoming a referee or joining the
Society.
5. Post Match Duties
Talk with the players, coaches and spectators being pleasant and
hand to each captain the critique card (stamp applied) to fill out as a measure
of your performance. Do fill out the club critique and send off.
Do ask the captain for your travelling expenses – 36p per mile
up to a maximum of £25. (Any more seek balance from the Society treasurer)
6. Change of Address,
Telephone or email
Do not forget to let the secretary know if any of your details
change during the season. The secretary will inform the necessary people.
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Are you interested in being rewarded by involvement with the
skilful art of refereeing the international game of rugby union? Then read
on! Alternatively, if you feel that refereeing is for you, please
complete the registration form below and forward it to Alan Gold Benefits of becoming a Referee How far can you go? At what level can you Referee?
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Become a member -
click on the link below, complete the form and send to Alan Gold as above: |