Referee Course Information

Refereeing provides one of the best pathways  to being involved at the elite level. With the growth and popularity of the game each year, more referees and touch judges are needed to service midweek and weekend games at both junior and senior level. If you love the game and want to allow other players to enjoy it also, give  refereeing  and  touch judging  a try.
If you have rugby knowledge and want to help the development of referees, become a  referee coach. The ACT has enviable experience in referee coaching and is acknowledged as providing some of the best support for new and up and coming referees and touch judges.

Below are a list of courses and their explanations.  Please check back for further information on course dates and locations.

SmartRugby          < back     

SmartRugby is a national program designed by the ARU to ensure participation in the game of Rugby in Australia is an enjoyable experience.  It aims to inform coaches and match officials of best practice techniques, minimise the risk of injury to players, and increase the level of confidence that participants and families can gain from their association with the game. SmartRugby is mandatory requiring qualification once every (2) years. It is the minimum requirement for every coach and referee participating in Rugby where there is a tackling component. For 2008, participants will be able to re-qualify on the internet using the on-line resource.
 

Pre-requisite for any further accreditation.
Cost: FREE
Dates: TBA

Refereeing Kids (Pathway) Course          < back

This course deals specifically with the Pathway games of Mini/Midi Rugby and being able to referee U9 to 11 year olds under modified game variations. Whilst the course does not provide full accreditation, it is an excellent introduction to later progress to 15 a side rugby.  This course is perfect for the mother/father who volunteers to referee and also provides an ideal introduction to rugby for High School & College students. It includes SMART RUGBY and is available to those 13 years of age.

Cost:  FREE

Resources:  Introduction to midi and mini laws. Refereeing Kids Booklet, Smart Rugby DVD

Dates & register here          

Foundation Course          < back

The Foundation Course is a newly developed education course combining components of the current coaching and refereeing courses.  The aim of course is 'to provide coaches and referees with the ability to identify and coach/referee correctly the roles a player will perform in a match and to facilitate a game'.

SmartRugby is included in the course content so there is no need to attend a SmartRugby seminar. The course is 8 hours in duration and requires no assessment tasks or exams. Those who become accredited referees will be reimbursed the $66 course cost. Click here to register for the Foundation course.

Cost: $66 (incl GST)

Resources:  Participant workbook, Law book, Foundation certificate, Smart Rugby DVD

Dates:   Sunday 14th March 2010 

TBA
Level 1 Referee Accreditation          < back

This is an assessment only process, resulting in participants becoming accredited Level I Referees.  Pre-requisites include attendance at a Smart Rugby seminar and either foundation course certification or Recognised Prior Learning (RPL). RPL relates to those who can demonstrate good rugby knowledge and player experience. Participants will be required to pass a Law/Safety exam (100 questions), officiate in 4 games and be field tested on key referee competencies.  Mentor referee coaches will assist participants in the lead up to their field test.

 Cost: -

Resources:  Law Book, Referee in Practice Book and “Line ball your call” pdf

Dates: TBA

Level 2 Referee Course          < back

 A 2 Day Course designed to provide referees with greater technical and tactical knowledge. The course covers such topics as Philosophy of Refereeing, Management of the Game and Effective Positional Play. In particular, it helps the referee prepare for managing the tackle, lineouts and scrums with experienced players. Participants should demonstrate their ability be able to referee Under 15s or above.  They need to have attended a Smart Rugby seminar within the last 2 years and are required to complete the Level 2 Touch Judge accreditation at least before or 1 year after attaining the level 2 accreditation. Referee Accreditation includes completing the level 2 law exam and demonstrating referee competencies at a senior grade game by passing a field test. Contact Mark Snow m.snow@brumbies.com.au if you are interested in attending the two Sundays. Approval by the senior coaching and grading committee is required.

 Cost:  $40 (incl GST)

 Resources:  Participants workbook, Referee in Practice book, CD resource

 Dates:  27th-28th February 2010

Level 1 and Level 2 Touch Judge Courses          < back

Level 1 and 2 Touch Courses Commence at 9.15am and run through to 12.30pm and 3pm respectively. Participants are introduced to four units of management, communication, decision-making and game understanding. Level 1 TJ accreditation involves demonstrating game competency for junior and senior games except 1st grade. Appointment to 1st grade matches requires completion of both level 1 and level 2 TJ courses and passing a competency field test. Level 2 TJ includes the new assistant referee role and using the communication system. Click here to register for the TJ (assistant referee) coursea

 Cost:  $10 (incl GST) for level 1 course and $20 for level 2 course

 Resources:  Participants workbook, TJ relevant Law Book, Line Ball Your Call booklet, TJ Law exam

 Dates:  TBA

Level 1 Referee Coach Course          < back

Level 1 Referee Coach Course is designed to give the participant knowledge of the coaches role, communication skills, observation skills, key factors linked to a referees performance and report writing. Accreditation includes completing the course workbook, a take home exam and successfully submitting coaching reports. Prospective referee coaches may also be active referees. The aim is to increase the number of suitable referee coaches that assist in developing less experienced referees. Even completing one or two referee coaching reports is a great help.

 Cost:  $20 (incl GST)

 Resources:  Participants workbook, Referee Coaching in Practice Book, Law exam

 Dates: Satruday 6th March 2010

  
Level 2 Referee Coach Course          < back

 Level 2 Referee Coach Course is a 2 day course that looks at referee management, assisting referees to identify problem areas, use of statistics and video, listening skills, advanced problem solving skills and mechanisms by which to empower referees to discover their own problems. Both level 1 and level 2 referee coaching include practical elements.

 Cost:  $40 (incl GST)

 Resources:  Workbook, Referee Coaching in Practice Book, Match Stats form, Communication Planner, Law exam

 Dates: next one will be held in 2010

REFEREEING COURSES