YOUNG REFEREES’ SCHEME
The following advice is based broadly on the experience of a scheme setup in Hampshire and were written by Nigel Spencer, the Society Community Training Officer.
The Young NW Referees scheme is open to all. It has to be acknowledged that an official must be fit enough to keep up with play, even as a touch judge, so fitness and mobility are fundamental.
As most applicants tend to be players, fitness is not usually a problem. The theoretical age range of the NW scheme is 14-18 years of age, but in practice most applicants fall into the 14-18 range. University students have not been included to date.
It is hard for any young referee under 15 years of age to cope initially with the mental and physical requirements of the full game on a full pitch and to have the experience and confidence to manage the players/coaches. Ways of resolving this are suggested later.
It is essential to use ELRA as an introduction, and to test a person’s understanding of the laws of the game so that there is a firm base - a lot of confidence comes from knowing that you are making the correct decisions.
Parents are a very important part of all this, as they have the problem of providing transport as well as support systems at home. Discussions with parents, on enrolment and subsequently at regular intervals, ensure that communications are clear and they understand what is happening - teenagers don’t always put parents in the picture nor reply to requests about availability!
At an early stage, it is important to identify what the young referee wants from being involved and there are generally three categories:
1) A minority who want to referee regularly and wish to progress (we would normally recommend continuing as a playing member of a team for developing teamwork, as refereeing can be seen as a very isolated existence for one so young);
2) The majority who are players and wish to remain so, but are keen to assist on specific occasions;
3) A small number who go through the motions as part of a school or Duke of Edinburgh award process, and who seldom proceed onto the pitch.
Parents need to be aware of the choice and what it may mean to them and their family life.
INSURANCE
The ideal situation is for each young person to be a junior member of a Referee Society, but for occasional referees this is not necessarily practical.
Where clubs appoint the young referee to a match and ensure adequate touchline supervision, there should be no problem under the club’s RFU insurance package. For tag, which is non-contact anyway, the organisers of tournaments should ensure cover. Mentors should clarify with clubs/organisers and referees before matches as to what arrangements are in place.
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