Competence Based Referee Development System

 

This system is used by Referees, Referee Coaches and Advisors as a structure to promote recruitment, retention, coaching and development of Referees at all levels of the game.

It is designed to produce high uniformity and consistency in Referee performance evaluation, coaching recommendations and feedback to provide Referees with solutions to develop their areas for development.

 

Units of Competence

Management    Scrummage    Line-Out     Tackle Ruck
Maul     Advantage  Open Play    Communication  

1. Overall Match Management and Continuity

Elements

Demonstrated empathy for the match, allowing it to develop in accordance with the temper of the match

Demonstrated a recognition of the changing patterns of play / tactics and responded effectively to them, both physically and mentally.

Demonstrated mental reaction  an d concentration throughout the match

Demonstrated a calm temperament

Used preventative measures to control the match wherever possible

Used appropriate punitive measures if preventative measures did not work

Managed situations of foul play and persistent infringements effectively throughout the match

Demonstrated intent to provide solutions to problems so that the same offences were not penalised throughout the match

Identified flashpoints and dealt with them effectively

When making 'critical incident' decisions, apparantely had time to make them correctly and remained unflustered

Demonstrated body language which was confident and open at all times and was unaffected by the pace of the match, player or crowd pressure

Managed appropriate situations without resorting to penalties except in situations where players did not respond to management measures

2. Scrummage

Elements

Dealt effectively with unsafe engagement procedures by managing :

Dealt effectively with the ball not put in straight along the middle line

Dealt immediately and effectively with collapsed and 'stood up' scrummages and ensured there was no repetition

Dealt effectively with players who were no fully bound throughout the whole period of the scrummage

Dealt effectively with offside by participants

Dealt effectively with offside by non-participants

Moved to maximise view of the ball, players and developing play

Set scrummages in correct position and place

Dealt effectively with scrum-half who was not one metre from the scrummage when putting the ball in

Dealt effectively with opposing scrum-half when touching the scrummage

Dealt effectively with wing forwards swinging out

3. Line-Out

Elements

Dealt effectively with throws that were not straight

Dealt effectively with the safety of jumpers

Dealt effectively with offences across the line

Dealt effectively with offences along the line

Dealt effectively with offside by participants

Dealt effectively with offside by non-participants

Moved to maximise view of the ball, players and developing play

Dealt effectively with the quick throw-in

Established and maintained the one metre gap

4. Tackle and Post-Tackle

Elements

Arrived at the tackle early

Dealt effectively with tacklers who did not release the tackled player and moved away without delay

Dealt effectively with tackled players who did not release / play the ball immediately

Dealt effectively with next participants who were not on their feet

Prevented pile-ups from occurring and did not allow players to wilfully fall on or over players lying on the ground

Moved to maximise view of the ball, players and developing play

Aware of and dealt effectively with tackles near in-goal

Demonstrated recognition that there is no offside line in the tackle situation 

Dealt effectively with participating players going beyond 15 metres before the line out ended

5. Ruck

Elements

Dealt effectively with players who were not on their feet

Dealt effectively with players who wilfully collapsed a ruck

Dealt effectively with players who did not join level with or behind the hindmost player

Dealt effectively with offside by participants

Dealt effectively with offside by non-participants

Moved to maximise view of the ball, players and developing play

Dealt effectively with players who were not bound correctly

Dealt effectively with players whose heads and shoulders were below their hips

Penalised handling in a ruck

Dealt effectively with rucks that were turned into mauls

Awarded scrummage to the correct team when the ball becomes unplayable

6. Maul

Elements

Dealt effectively with players who did not remain on their feet

Dealt effectively with players who wilfully collapsed a maul

Dealt effectively with players who did not join level with or behind the hindmost player

Dealt effectively with offside by participants

Dealt effectively with offside by non-participants

Moved to maximise view of the ball, players and developing play

Dealt effectively with players whose heads and shoulders were below their hips

Dealt effectively with mauls that became stationary or moved sideways and did not restart

Awarded a scrummage to the correct side when the maul became stationary or moved sideways.

7. Advantage

Elements

Played advantage, giving territorial and/or tactical advantage with consideration to the temper of the match and safety of the players 

Played advantage without putting non-offending players under pressure

Demonstrated an appreciation of the differences in application of advantage when the outcome was a penalty, free kick or scrummage.

Applied advantage consistently to each team when attacking and defending in both halves of the pitch

8. Open Play

Elements

Dealt effectively with players who were offside from kicks ahead

Dealt effectively with early, late and illegal tackles

Dealt effectively with obstruction in open play

Dealt effectively with players who were not onside at kick-offs

Dealt effectively with players who were not onside at kicks taken from the mark 

Made correct in-goal decisions when awarding scores, scrummages or penalties

Positioned to make critical decisions, especially in or near in-goal

Positioned to see 'off the ball' infringements and offside lines

Positioned to see knock-ons and throws forward

Positioned to adjudicate drop goal attempts

Dealt effectively with penalties  and free kicks that were not correctly taken at or through the mark

Dealt effectively with players who were not retiring appropriately at penalties and free kicks

Dealt effectively with players who prevented opponents taking quick penalties or free kicks by moving the ball away

9. Communication

Elements

Demonstrated effective verbal and non-verbal communication

Communicated decisions effectively - Whistle, Signal, Explanation

Dealt effectively with players who did  not act on communication given

Communicated advantage through the use of voice and signals

All signals were clear and conformed to RFU guidelines

Personal signals were not used

When an Adviser watches a referee, the following criteria will be applied to each "Unit of Competence" and the overall match performance is given one of the following grades : 

Good (G)

clear evidence that ALL THE ELEMENTS of Competence must have been applied consistently. Players may have not responded but the referee ensured that all the elements were refereed consistently

Minor Development (MD)

clear evidence that PRIORITISED ELEMENTS of Competence must have been applied regularly. There will also be evidence that the referee adhered to the non-prioritised elements occasionally.

Needs Development (ND)

clear evidence that the Referee had knowledge of the Elements of Competence and adhered to them occasionally throughout the match.

Significant Development (SD)

referee will have demonstrated knowledge of the Elements of Competence but had only adhered to them seldomly throughout the match.

Challenge of the Match

Advisors provide a fuller description of the challenge the match gave to the Referee including :

 

Match Management

This separate Unit of Competence is an overall score for the match. A Referee can achieve a G for Management and MD or ND for other Units.

 

Finally a measure of Potential is given 

This is a measure of the Referee's potential displayed within the match being observed.

High Potential (HP) Referee displays high degree of proficiency in Set Phases, Management and Continuity of the match.

Shows Potential (SP) Referee displayed some degree of proficiency in the Set Phases and Management of the match.

Low Potential (LP) Referee must have displayed a degree of proficiency in the Set Phases of the match.

Enjoyment (E) Referee will have demonstrated that he has reached the level of match he wishes to referee and has no desire to progress to a higher level. This does NOT mean that he does not wish to receive, or would not benefit from, appropriate coaching feedback on his performance.