2004 RRSNY New Referee Guidelines

If you have played the game of rugby, you have no doubt noticed the individual on the field with a jersey that matches neither side, carries a whistle, and to whom all the players look to in keeping the match under control.  That person is known as the referee.  If you are reading this, you have decided to join the ranks.  Welcome to “the Dark Side” as Darth Vader put it…. 

The rugby referee is a unique individual.  In other team sports, there are as many as six officials for 22 football players, 2 for soccer 22 players (at high school and college level), 2 for 10 basketball players, 4 for 9-13 baseball players, at least 4 in Australian Rules Football,  and 2 for 22 Cricket players.  In rugby, there is ONE official to handle 30 players.   It is quite a challenge and requires a special blend of mental and physical fitness to do it well.  For most, rugby refereeing is easy... until they have to do it.   However, for those who persevere, refereeing is an enjoyable and rewarding pastime.   It is not easy, but then if it were, everyone would do it! 

This article is for the benefit of those players who are thinking about how to become a referee.   As a new referee, I am sure there are some questions that you may have.  This document will attempt to address some of the most common ones asked by new referees (and occasionally by older referees).

1. What is the Rugby Referee Society of New York?
   
   The Rugby Referee Society of New York covers matches for the Metropolitan New York Rugby Union.  We are active in New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
   
   We have five elected officers:  President, Vice President, Secretary, Match Secretary, and Treasurer.  We also have appointed Chairs to handle exchanges, evaluations, the website, and an elected Referee Representative to address referee issues to the officers.  We have monthly meetings in NYC.
   
   Our website address is www.rugbyrefsny.org.  It is the primary resource for the clubs and referees to get their assignments, contact information, and news on upcoming events and law changes.  It has proven to be invaluable in handling the affairs of the Referee Society.
   
   
2. How does a person become a member?  How much does it cost?
   
   The new referee contacts the Society and CIPP registers with the RRSNY if they do not have a club affiliation.   If the new referee is a member of a club, they MUST be CIPP registered with that club in order to become a certified referee.
   
   CIPP dues for full time RRSNY members are $50/year.  One of the benefits of CIPP registration is that you are covered for $3M in insurance.   RRSNY members can also join NASO (National Association of Sports Officials).  Dues are $81.  NASO also provides $3M in insurance coverage in addition to other benefits.  While NASO membership is optional, CIPP registration is required.
   
   Dues can be paid for directly or deducted from games fees paid by the Met Union (see below).
   
   
3. How are referees trained?  How are they promoted?
   
   All referees must take and pass the Level 1 Clinic and eventually take the Level 2 Clinic if they want to advance in grade.  All full time referees must also take the Touch Judge Clinics.    These clinics are given in the spring and in the fall.  More clinics may be added if needed.
   
   The RRSNY assigns “local” grades.  The first grade is “D” (new referee).  The individual referee progress is tied to the amount of effort they put in.  If they do a lot of games and get regularly evaluated, they can progress steadily up the local grade scale (C3, to C2, to C1).  A C1 referee is a referee that is capable of handling any level match in the Met NY area.
   
   
4. When are games played?
   
   Matches are played Saturdays and Sundays.  Senior Clubs play matches on Saturday and Colleges currently play on Sundays in the spring and Fall Season.   There are not as many Sunday College games in the spring as there are in the fall, which has a full college schedule.  The Spring Season also has High School matches, which are played during the week.   In addition, during the summer, there are several sevens tournaments and the Monmouth 15’s tournament in August.
   
   
5. How do referees get games?  How do clubs contact referees?
   
   Prior to the start of the season, referees complete availability forms with dates that they are available for matches to the President. Based on the availability of refs and the requests of clubs, the RRSNY makes assignments for matches.  
   
   The referee assignments are posted Sunday evening.  Assignments for two or three weeks may be posted at a time, but clubs and referees should always check every week in case there are changes.  Sometimes, changes to the schedule need to be made after a schedule is posted.  In this case, the referee(s) and affected clubs are contact directly as soon as possible.
   
   Clubs must contact their assigned referee(s) for their matches by Tuesday evening, at 8PM.  If the referee hasn’t been contacted, then they contact the President and they are either re-assigned or we chase down the club.
   
   
6. What kind of equipment do I need to referee?
   
   At minimum, you will need a whistle, a set of touch flags, a law book (for reference of course, not to be read or referred to during a game) and a jersey that does not match the clubs that are playing in your game.  You should also have a pencil, spare whistle, watch, coin, paper/match data sheets, red and yellow cards.
   
   At the Level 1 Clinic, you will be given a whistle and a law book.  The touch flags and other items mentioned above you will have to make and/or purchase yourself.  RRSNY jerseys are available through our Secretary and Quartermaster Rob Dial.  The Society colors are royal blue and red.  On occasion, these will clash with the teams and you will need a different jersey.
   
   Appearance as a referee is VERY important.  If you look good you will be treated with respect.  If you look like a slob, you will be probably be treated as such!  If you have to wear your club jersey, make sure it is clean!  Socks should be pulled up, and jersey should be tucked in the shorts.   It is OK for players to look a little ragged.  It is NOT OK for referees.  Remember, you will usually be the sole representative of our Society.  Your appearance is vital in our being perceived as a professional unit.
   
   
7. How do I prepare?  When should I arrive at my game? 
   
   When you are contacted by the club’s Match Secretary, you should cover the following items:
   a) Time and Location
   b) Directions  (Tip:  Exchange street addresses so you can run “Mapquest”).  Or get club website.
   c) Arrange for expenses to be paid before the match starts, we should not have to come looking.
   d) The Match Secretary and Referee should exchange cell phone numbers (if available) so that calls can be made in a pinch!
   e) Club colors for Home/Away sides (so that you can wear a contrasting jersey)
   f) Make sure clubs will have sideline barrier ropes or markings in place.  Stress that the game will not be played without them.  Contact the RRSNY President if this becomes an issue.
   
   You should always make it a point to arrive at the field ONE-HOUR before kickoff.  This is to give you time to inspect the field and have the home clubs make any adjustments that may be needed.  It will also give you enough time to warm up and to speak with both teams prior to kick off.
   
   When you arrive at the field, you need to inspect the field for hazards on side lines and end zones, chunks of glass/rocks/syringes on the pitch, proper marking of the field, flags in place, ropes/barriers up, etc.)  Referees should collect their travel expenses prior to the match.   Also, do not let the game start unless there are barrier ropes on the sidelines.
   
   
8. Just how fit do I have to be to referee anyway?
   
   Anyone can “ref” a game, but refereeing well requires tremendous mental and physical fitness.  You will need to make hundreds of decisions in an 80-minute match while covering up to 5-6 miles sprinting, running, jogging, or walking.  You need to be in position to make calls and you have to be fit to do so.  You actually will be doing more running than the players and will need to be sharp mentally in order to make split second decisions.  Mental and Physical fitness go hand in hand.
   
   All referees should have an individual fitness plan that includes sprinting as well as jogging.  To prepare mentally, constant review of the law book is required.  Also, a valuable tool in mental preparation is watching game tapes.  Watch the referee on the tape and how they position themselves.  Often penalties are pointed out and replayed.  You can rewind and replay as many times as you want to see what constitutes a penalty.  However, on this item, I would recommend you do this at home and not at the club bar while your teammates are watching.  You may get tossed out or worse  J
   
   
9. What do I do when I finish refereeing my match?
   
   Referees are asked to complete a game report form and email or fax it to the President no later than one week after the assigned match.  The report covers the score, and also reports any disciplinary issues that need to be followed up on.
   
   Referees are usually invited to attend the post match function.  Referees should always try to attend, as it is a good time to get to know the players and to discuss the game.  Since you really cannot and should not answer questions of law during the game, this is the time to do it!   Always ask for feedback and be receptive to constructive criticism as well as praise.  Most clubs appreciate what referees have to go through and will treat you well.   But remember, while respect is mandated by law, it is truly earned by your demeanor on and off the field. Remember, referee abuse is NOT tolerated and any instances MUST be reported to the President so appropriate action can be taken!
   
   
10. What happens if there is a serious Disciplinary Issue (i.e. a Send Off)
    
    If there is a Send Off or a Sin Bin, then the referee MUST send in a game report.  The report should concisely and subjectively describe what took place, along with the names of the players cited.  The President forwards the game report to the Met NY Disciplinary Committee.  The Disc. Committee takes over and assesses any sanctions on the cited player.  The referee may be contacted by the Disciplinary Committee to provide further information, but that is not usually the case.  One important item to note is that is not the role of the referee to recommend what sanctions should be imposed.
    
    
11. Do referees get paid?
    
    Ah, the $64000 question.  The answer is “Yes, …”
    
    Referees who at a minimum, complete Level 1, in good standing with the RRSNY (CIPP registered), and SEND IN A GAME REPORT are eligible for a payment of $50/game from the Met Union.  This is in addition to travel expenses paid by the Host Club.  The Host Club is ALWAYS responsible for travel expenses.  The referee is paid eligible for $50 PER Game, so if they do an “A” and “B” game and send in a report, they are eligible for $100.  The kicker is the report MUST be sent in within a week of the assigned match.  Reports received after 1 week are not eligible.  There are exceptions, but the referee and President handle these on a case-by-case basis.
    
    At the end of the season, a tally of games eligible for payment is sent to the Met Union.   Checks are sent at the conclusion of every season when the Met Union sends us a check.
    
    
12. How are referees paid for tournaments (i.e. Monmouth Tournament, NY Sevens, Etc.)
    
    For obvious reasons, a pay arrangement as described above would be impractical for tournaments!  Referees that take part in tournaments are reimbursed for their travel expenses by the Head Referee at the tournament.  The RRSNY charges clubs hosting a tournament a standard 15% of collected game fees.  From that collected amount, travel expenses are paid to the referee.  Any surplus remaining goes to paying for things like refreshments at the tournament, lodging, etc.  Any surplus remaining from paying those expenses goes to the RRSNY operating budget.  On occasion expenses for one tournament may exceed the amount collected.  Surpluses from other tournaments are used to balance the shortfall.
    
    Tournaments are good time for the referees to get together as a group.  In addition to hanging out with fellow referees, the newer referees are usually coached by the more experienced referees.  Also, tournaments are a good time to get formally evaluated.  Referees who have not had the chance to be looked at during club matches can get that chance at tournaments.  So, while the financial rewards are not as great, other “perks” make up for it.
    
    
13. How are new referees evaluated?
    
    As much as possible, new referees will be paired up with an experienced referee.  The new referee will usually handle the B game while the experienced referee handles the A game.  The experienced referee will coach the new referee.   Sometimes, the new referee may be assigned an A match.  The assignors will make sure that if this is the case, it will not be a match that is beyond the capability of the new referee.  If a senior referee is not available to coach the new referee, the new referee will be given as much preparation as possible via phone or email.
    
    The new referee will also be formally evaluated on several occasions by a member of the RRSNY Evaluation Committee.  How quickly the new referee moves up depends on how these evaluations go.  The Evaluation Committee will review the collected evaluations once a season and will promote deserving referees at that time.
    
    As the new referee gains experience and moves up in grade, they may get the chance to go on “exchange” to other Unions to do games and get evaluated there.  The referee’s expenses are usually paid in full by the RRSNY up to $150.  Any amount above that may require some out of pocket expense by the referee, but the bulk of expenses will be borne by the Society.
    
    Once the referee attains C1 grade, they may be considered for territorial (B panel) grade.  Their names will be submitted to the territorial evaluation committee and they will get opportunities to show if they are ready for that step!
    
    But, for now, as new referees, your main job is to get comfortable being a new member of the RRSNY!

Welcome aboard, we are glad to have you!

Sincerely,
Tom Tani
President/RRSNY

Rugby Referee Society of New York
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