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DORSET & WILTS
RUGBY REFEREES

Dorset & Wilts Referee Information Pack

Assistant Refereeing

Appointments
Expectations
Improving & Grading
Communication
Kit
Assistant Refereeing

Usually in the latter months of the season the society will appoint teams of three (To3) to cup semi-finals, finals, playoffs and county games.

A To3 consists of a referee and two assistant referees who run the line in place of touch judges, commonly referred to as AR1 and AR2. Unlike touch judges ARs can provide details of infringements of the laws to the referee.

It is expected that, should the referee be unable to continue with a match, AR1 should be a sufficient level to replace them. Communications kit is normally provided to allow the team to talk to each other during the game.

Assistant Referee Tips

General Tips

  • You are a Team
  • All teams have leaders (referee)
  • Good leaders listen to all available information before making a decision
  • Own your decisions
  • Clear, Obvious & Expected
  • Clue is in the title “Assistant Referee” means you are there to assist the referee in whatever they need or want, you are not there to referee the game
  • If you start refereeing the game you are not doing your job
  • Triangulation to cover all the angles
  • 6 eyes are better than 2
  • Know the laws, especially touch as most referees don’t
  • Touch, Foul Play & Kicks at Goal (everything else is a bonus)
  • Don’t turn off when whistle is blown
  • Boss the 15m area with voice

Breakdown

  • If play coming towards you get to the hit line
  • Watch for high/dangerous tackles, obstruction, forward pass
  • At tackle/ruck/maul watch for foul play and material incidents on the blind side that the ref can not see
  • Dwell if people are on the floor if the play is going away from you (you can always catch up)
  • Far side get to off side line (Never on sides….no 50:50)
  • Use voice and talk to wingers and players close to you (prevent)

Scrum

  • If Ref facing you go to hit line, if Ref’s back to you go to off side line
  • Hit line – front rows and safety. If you can play away safely better than making a call
  • Only make a call if scrum going forward and 100%, if static play away
  • Remember the flankers and No8
  • Hands in the scrum

Touch and Line Out

  • Hold the flag in the hand facing the ball carrier, saves changing hands while the flag is above your head
  • Better late than early and it isn’t actually out
  • Watch the ball for quick throw
  • Stay north or south of the touch area to get a better view of players and ball
  • Don’t be too eager to get to the mark as you may miss foul play or the ball being touched by spectator
  • Put out non-flag arm when quick throw is no longer available
  • Try to put the defensive team on a line to make it easy for the ref
  • Ensure there is a defensive player in the 5m
  • Ensure the gap is maintained
  • Ensure ball goes 5m
  • Ensure the thrower stays on the mark
  • Far side AR mark off side line

Kicks at Goal

  • One on each post
  • Both up or one up and one back
  • Make sure you can see the top of the post and the ball at all times
  • Remember it must go through the posts not over them
  • Watch your post and confirm with other AR before flags go up
  • If miss stay close to the post until clear to run for your touch line (the ref will mark touch if needed)

Kicks in Open Play

Foul Play

  • Strong Flag in
  • If defending team and no flash point go with play and then re-flag at next break in play “I have foul play by……”
  • If attacking team keep flag out and “I have foul play by…… stop the game”
  • Remember at the very least to get the number and don’t forget it
  • If need be keep eyes on player until you can see the number (use clues such as scrum cap etc)
  • When reporting to the ref keep calm, keep it short and to the point and hold your flag with both hands (stops you from waving your arms around)
  • Referee should repeat what you said back to you and then suggest the sanction.
  • If you agree say yes, if not say “let me repeat….”
  • The sanction should always match what has been reported
  • All in….get the first players from either side and any players running in from distance to land a punch. Don’t get too close or you will narrow your angle
  • Remember to breathe
  • Make notes for any report there and then

Open Play

  • Play going away dwell or trail
  • Play coming towards you lead

Penalty Kicks

  • Get to the corner flag if near side
  • Mark 10m on far side

Communication

  • Comms kit keep it clear, concise and in words the referee can just repeat to the players
  • Don’t turn into white noise
  • Referee should acknowledge if going to overrule AR or the AR will keep repeating call
  • No Comms kit, agree hand signals before game and keep them low
  • Only signal if the referee is looking at you (referees remember to look up)

We are a forward thinking Society and are actively looking to increase the number of referees available to cover the games throughout the Counties and support new referees to accomplish the highest standard possible at whichever grade they reach.

Quick Links

Images

Images are used on this site with permission from their creators.

Thanks to:

Simon Folkard

Roger Rhymes

Marc Bolwell

Nick Perry

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