COMMUNITY RUGBY
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module and as part of the ELRA. Four Referee Development Officers (RefDOs), were recruited in September 2006 to oversee delivery of both the Mini/Midi and the Entry Level Award.
The Society Referee Award was replaced by the Continuous Referee Development Award (CRDA), a collection of ten modules designed to cater for the diverse needs of Society referees. It is intended that Society referees will complete the ten modules over a two-year period through both classroom and distance learning.
Non-Society referees also have access to these modules by attending Referee Education Evenings, two hour sessions delivered by the RefDOs. It is envisaged that a number of those attending will be motivated to undertake the ELRA or, indeed, join their local Referees’ Society.
Support for non-Society referees has never been stronger, with the Referee Development Team being instrumental in creating both cluster schemes and sub Societies. Particular progress has been made in universities, where significant numbers of students are becoming qualified to referee, thereby relieving societies of the pressures of appointing to midweek fixtures.
Six new referees were promoted to the National Panel in May 2007, each potentially capable of progressing quickly. The selection process now ensures that only the very best referees progress to National Panel level, ensuring that standards of refereeing in the National Leagues remain high. National Panel
Officials continue to benefit from the very best development programmes and exchange opportunities, with video analysis and web based DVD access coming to the fore.
An army of willing volunteers ensures that rugby can be played throughout the land and the RFU supports and trains these helpers who give an estimated 8,516,648 hours a year to rugby. The national network of Volunteer Co-ordinators (VCs) has grown to 454, all using tools like the Activate e-newsletter, Pitch In DVD and On Side booklet to dramatically increase the numbers of volunteers in rugby by 11.7% to 43,854. With more than 2,000 16 to 24 year olds volunteering in rugby, more than 750 young Step Into Sport Sports Leaders received information about rugby volunteering opportunities. More than 40 outstanding young volunteers were awarded Nike branded clothing and the YV+ scheme saw four attend an England U20 team training session and their match against France U21s. Twelve young volunteers also supported the BBC as microphone runners during international matches. In 2006/07, the Recruitment Fund allocated over £235,000 to 39 CBs Federated Referee Societies to support 167 recruitment projects and £65,495 is being used to recruit a total of 2,537 new volunteers.
Thirty six future club and CB leaders completed this season’s Leadership Academy and 18 graduates from last season’s pilot reported their progress at a follow up workshop. CB volunteers provided 32 updated strategic plans and
An army of willing volunteers ensures that rugby can be played throughout the land and the RFU supports and trains these helpers
