From Andrew Hall : 

I am very excited to announce the introduction of the 2009 Rugby Ontario Referee Academy.

Below is the contents to the program for your information. If you could please make sure this is sent to the referee community I would be appreciative. Know that I will be calling upon representatives of the ORRS especially to help build and produce the program.

Purpose

To engage and develop young referees after completion of level 1 referee course.

Target group

Young referees from the age of 15 - 20 who have completed their level 1 and want to learn more about refereeing.
Referees who completed the L1 under the RDO program and others who have completed with societies in the past 2 years

Aim

1. To develop the basic refereeing skills for age grade rugby
2. To build confidence in young referees
3. Close the gap from the L1 course to actual refereeing in practice
4. Have a young group working together away from societies where they can get lost amongst experienced referees
5. Increase the likelihood of retaining them in refereeing rugby
6. To have them refereeing age grade rugby for Rugby Ontario
7. Long term to introduce these referees to societies for further development
8. Fulfill the criteria set out by RO Referee Task Force

Background

After the RDO clinics held in Oakville in late 2008 I have been speaking with David Haslam (Cru) and Michael Curran (Miss Blues) about the great number of referees that took the course and how they jump from a L1 to actual refereeing. The idea of a West End Academy was developed but never really followed through on. I have taken the idea and expanded it to include referees from the whole province. I know for a fact there is a lot of young referees out in the province that want to be involved that are still playing and are not too sure about societies at this point in time. The culture of youth sees them excelling in a group of their peers with out the fear of embarrassment that can be felt when older people are involved.

Method

I am already organizing to have a session of the shadow Academy at Cru on May 2nd. A number of the young referees involved at the RDO clinics are going to be refereeing the age grade rugby at both the Cru and Blues. The first session will be a quick refresher some words of wisdom and ideally some coaching from other referees. The session's focus will be "Building on the things you already know".

I would like to extend this to invite a large group and use the day as a launch of this iniatve.

From this I will be holding monthly practical sessions that help build on the junior skills. I am currently planning during the school holidays (July)  the Academy will hold a weeklong rugby refereeing summer camp (like hockey does) that has a huge number of activities, practical and theory sessions. I know I can enlist the help of individuals within the ORRS, Rugby Ontario and wider rugby community.

The culmination to this would be the Junior Finals day held at Fletchers in Sept where all going to plan referees would rotate all grounds to referee Flag - U14s.


 The best aspect is the clubs are onboard and are ready to go. There is potential for another 15-25 young people wanting to do a L1 course in the very near future to help build on this. This is not a way to circumvent the ORRS or Branch Societies but can be a model which recruitment and retention can be developed and over time the societies will again hopefully by additional members. I have presented the Academy to the ORRS Board and it was meet with positive acceptance of junior refereeing development.

Further details on the Academy over time will be on the Rugby Ontario website under the Referee's Tab.

Please feel free to send the information to those you know in the bracket indicated on the attached material and invite them to the Crusader's Club House for this Saturday or let them know to keep an eye on the RO website.

Yours in the development of our game.


Andrew Hall
Community Development Manager & RDO    
Rugby Ontario

Cell: 905 464 74 86
Work: 416 426 7181
Skype: flagrugby
Email: flagrugby@osrc.com
Webpage: www.rugbyontario.com