Resource Pack
Useful documents or information for referees can be found using the links below:
Appointment Process
Qualified referees are appointed to official matches by their Service Area Secretary (SAS), the RAFRURS Training Development Officer (TDO) or, in extremis, any current member of the RAFRURS committee. Therefore, RAFRURS members ARE NOT to officiate in any capacity at any unofficial matches, or any ‘short notice’ fixtures, or fixtures not arranged by their SAS, unless they have a written letter of appointment from one of the officials listed above for the fixture in question. Failure to abide by this requirement will invalidate any third party insurances held by the individual as a member of the RAFRURS and so members have the potential for leaving themselves open to litigation should an injury occur to a player, coach, spectator or other participant involved in that fixture. Advice on appointments can be sought from the Hon Sec.
If you are aware of a fixture requiring an official, you are to direct the organising body responsible for the fixture to contact the appropriate SAS or if you are unsure of your local SAS, the Hon Sec who can advise accordingly.
Travel Authority
Unfortunately, the DSB(RAF) cannot provide a single authority for all referees for transport to officiate at matches. Therefore, you are to use your local UIN agreed with your PEd staff and your line management. If you experience difficulties in obtaining financial support to officiate, then inform the Hon Sec immediately so that we can log such occurrences for the whole society and bring them to the attention of the DSB(RAF).
IRB Law Clarification
Match Roles Documents
Template Referees Match Report
Replacement Notification Cards
Referee Captains Assessment Cards
Discipline
CRBs
Please note that, with immediate effect, it is no longer necessary for referees to be CRB checked to referee U18 matches.
The following note from the RFU’s Safeguarding Team clarifies the position:
'A recent Government review, carried out by Sunita Mason, into the CRB and vetting processes in place throughout England recommended that CRB checks were scaled back to common sense levels. As such, the CRB themselves have monitored and assessed many of the roles declared on applications submitted.
The CRB have been working with several sports, including the RFU, on the role of match officials/referees. As a result the CRB Policy Team have confirmed that the role of a match official or referee does not meet the eligibility criteria for enhanced CRB clearance. In order to be eligible for enhanced CRB clearance the role itself must be a Regulated Activity. The definition of Regulated Activity is as follows –
“Any activity which involves contact with children or vulnerable adults and is of a specified nature (e.g. teaching, training, care, supervision, advice, treatment or transport) frequently, intensively and/or overnight.”
To meet the threshold for “frequent” or “intensive” the individual must carry out the role at least once a week or more, or four times in a month or more.
CRB checks are not required for adults who are simply “around” children in a club environment – only for those who hold a role that meets the Regulated Activity threshold set out above. The supervision of players and vulnerable persons would be the responsibility of the respective team coaches/managers, not the referee. This would mean that even if a referee or match official meets the frequency test, he or she would not meet the eligibility test as they would not be deemed to be in a "supervisory" role for these purposes. If the individual is a Club Referee, they may also hold another role within the club e.g. coach, assistant coach etc. If this is the case they can be CRB checked so long as this role meets the Regulated Activity definition. In this scenario the eligible position must be used on the CRB application.
'The RFU’s full CRB eligibility guidance can be viewed on the following link –
http://clubs.rfu.com/Clubs/portals/RUSafe/CRBEligibilityGuidance.aspx
Serious Injury
It is the clubs responsibility to inform the RFU of any serious injury or a injury which leads to hospitalization. However, as a referee, you must make a note of the time of the the incident, the score at the time and any relevant notes. It is also advisable to inform your appointing society, civilian or RAFRURS.
Law Clarifications
The IRB has published various clarifications sought to the Laws of the Game. These are available here.
Weather Advice
British Universities & Colleges Substitution Clarifications 2011
Referee Adviser Documents
Letter to Parents Spectators and Coaches
Basic Stats Form plus Comm Card
CSRR Coaching Form Completion guidance
