CRefC Newsletter – September
Introduction
Welcome to the first Newsletter of season 2011-12. With the Rugby World Cup just around the corner, the early weeks of the season promise to be really exciting and we are confident that the tournament’s two English referees, Wayne Barnes and Dave Pearson, will do themselves proud. You’ll be delighted to hear that there are no Law changes to worry about this season, although the World Cup will no doubt throw up some interesting discussion points! We’d like to thank you for the excellent work that you do and I hope you and your referees have a great season.
Referee Development Opportunities
The RFU Referee Department offers a wide range of training courses, support and development opportunities for club referees. Key initiatives for 2011-12 include the provision of practical refereeing workshops and feedback to referees at your club on a Sunday morning. The documents below provide all the information you need to kick start, or build on, referee development activity at your club and can be printed for your club notice board.
Touchline Behaviour
You will be aware that inappropriate behaviour by spectators and coaches can have a detrimental effect on your club’s referees and young players’ quality of experience. Your club’s Secretary will be sent, with September’s ‘Touchline’, a batch of ‘Spectator Cards’ (see document below) and you may also wish to use the ‘Dear Spectator’ letter, also below. The idea of the letter, thought up by Hampshire Society referee Martin Balls, is to add your club’s logo, print and have your mini and youth team captains sign it, before distributing to parents and coaches. We are certain that if the message comes from young players it will be more effective.
Club Referee Schemes
Establishing a Club Referee Scheme can be a great way of enhancing the quality of experience enjoyed by your referees. With the support of your Referee Development Manager (RefDM), your referees can be provided with kit, trained, further developed, appointed and supported in a coordinated way. For further information, please contact your Referee Development Manager, whose details can be found at http://www.rfu.com/TakingPart/Referee/BecomingARef/RefereeContacts.aspx
IRB Law Clarification
From time to time, the IRB issues clarification on Law questions from countries from around the world. The first clarification of 2011 concerns uncontested scrums and can be found at http://www.irblaws.com/EN/clarificationdetail/year/2011/77
IRB Medical Regulation 10 - Concussion
Please note that, effective from 26th May 2011, the IRB approved a revised Concussion regulation. Please see http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2043181.html#irb+tackles+concussion+players+first
The Regulation can be found at http://www.irb.com/mm/document/lawsregs/regulations/04/23/26/100518gfirbhandbook2010freg10english.pdf and the accompanying guidelines at http://www.irbplayerwelfare.com/concussion
The key new changes are:
· Players with suspected concussion must be removed from the field of play (and not return)
· Players with suspected concussion must go through a graded Return to Play (RTP) Protocol with medical practitioner clearance before a return to play
· The mandatory three week stand down for the age group player is replaced by advice around a more circumspect individualised RTP protocol
I would ask you to make your referees particularly aware of the following extract from the guidelines, relevant when concussion is suspected and neither a Medical Practitioner nor Healthcare Professional is present:
“If there is no Medical Practitioner or Healthcare Professional present the Player who is injured may be disorientated and unable to make a judgement about their own condition. Fellow Players, coaches, Match Officials, team managers, administrators or parents who observe an injured Player displaying any of the signs in Table 1 after an injury event with the potential to cause a head injury or concussion MUST do their best to ensure that the Player is removed from the field of play in a safe manner”
U13 Girls – Transitional Contact Rules and Regulations
You may be aware of the move by the RFUW to establish U13 girls’ teams. The RFUW does not anticipate that there will be a significant number of competitive matches played this season, as clubs look to establish teams at this age group. However, should your club referees be asked to officiate at these matches in the coming season, please find below the applicable rules and regulations. An online educational resource is currently in production and the link will be supplied once established.