Dedicated Assistant Referee's

[chief]

All year, I've seen South African dedicated Assistant Referees, who soley AR for games. I think this is a poor decision, as AR's who actually have refereed professionally can work out the scrums and their issues. Last nights Semi's were examples, where AR's were about 5 metres away but they didn't have a clue. Also we had an example of Ruben Russouw coming onto the field to report a high tackle that was obviously not high. They really need to get a feel for the game.

Deadset, this should be scratched.

 

[Dickie E]

Certainly looked high to me

 

[PeterH]

catch - 22

I am interested in going on the AR panel in England
(old and fat - Liverpool wont make me L6 unless I am capable of L5 etc)

But - having AR'd a dozen games this year - often people say you have to concentrate on AR and not think like a ref...
different job - different mindset
too many refs when acting as AR try to ref the game :chin:

 

[Phil E]

I thought you couldn't become an AR unless you were already a society ref.

Club TJ course, open to anyone.
Society TJ course, only for Society refs.

You can't be an appointed AR unless you have done both courses, ergo all AR's are referees as well...................I think?

 

[Donal1988]

I know our association has several referees who having done less than a season realised that they werent cut out to referee and thought about packing it in. Instead of losing them altogether now we have a few specialist touch judges and are actually pretty handy to have. Great armchair referees but just lacked the ability to control a game. Had one for a final this year and found him very helpful.

 

[Phil E]

Instead of losing them altogether now we have a few specialist touch judges and are actually pretty handy to have.

A specialist Touch Judge, is not an Assistant Referee.

 

[Donal1988]

Touch Judge - Assistant Referee. Its same difference at our level. Im only providing an example. The lads who do it are qualified referees who have elected to act as touch judges only.

 

[Phil E]

Touch Judge - Assistant Referee. Its same difference at our level.

Actually it's not (well not in England anyway, I am unfamiliar with the arrangements in Ireland), you can only be an Assistant Referee if you are appointed as such by a Society. An Assistant Referee has far more power and responsibility than a Touch Judge. Touch Judges do not have to be appointed.

 

[Donal1988]

Phil I meant I just used the word by mistake. We have a similar situation in Ireland. These guys are assistant referees. They are referees who choose not to be the guy in the middle as they find fitness/ game management/ control/ pressure to be problematic.

 

[Taff]

I know our association has several referees who having done less than a season realised that they werent cut out to referee and thought about packing it in. Instead of losing them altogether now we have a few specialist touch judges and are actually pretty handy to have. Great armchair referees but just lacked the ability to control a game.

A specialist Touch Judge, is not an Assistant Referee.

... These guys are assistant referees. They are referees who choose not to be the guy in the middle as they find fitness/ game management/ control/ pressure to be problematic.

The only problem with that as I see it, is what happens then if / when the ref has to go off for any reason and the "Assistant Ref" can't or doesn't feel he can assist. :chin:

It struck home with me a couple of weeks ago, when I was AR2 for an U15 District Final. While in the changing room, the ref happened to mention that we should have our kit on under our tracksuits as one of us may have to replace him in case he had to go off. Apparently the month before he had to leave the field at half time due to feeling light headed. Luckily AR1 was more than capable, but what if we'd both been as inexperienced as me, because I wouldn't have felt comfortable reffing a District Final? :Nerv:

 

[Dixie]

Luckily AR1 was more than capable, but what if we'd both been as inexperienced as me, because I wouldn't have felt comfortable reffing a District Final? :Nerv:

Taff, you need to trust your Appointments Secretary. AR1 is in the hot seat; the chance of AR2 touchingthe whistle are remote in the extreme. The Appts Sec should not appoint anyone to AR1 who could not make a decent fist of the match. AR2 can be a complete no-hoper as a ref, so long as he's a competent AR.

 

[Taff]

... AR2 can be a complete no-hoper as a ref, so long as he's a competent AR.

Have we met? Your description is uncanny.

 

[Donal1988]

Taff, Dixie sums it up. These guys tend to act as AR2. Its nice to be able to keep them involved.

 

[Robert Burns]

The RFU has been using Specialised Assistant Referees in the GP for a few years now, the 'spare' referee is off the park waiting as No. 4. No. 5 is No. 4's replacement.

The IRB have also taken to this with a number (3 I believe) of these specialised Assistant Referee's on the IRB AR Panel.

Trust me, once you've had a specialised AR on the side line for you, a normal referee seems poor in comparison. And don't believe these guys arn't referees, most are actually very good referees, but have decided that they can't make the grade they want too in the middle, so have decided to do it on the sideline.

I also believe these guys still referee a game every 1 or 2 months to 'keep their hand in' and those games are normally at least a L7.

 

[OB..]

Brian Ravenhill, who drops in here occasionally, is a panel AR and a Level 5 referee, who seems to referee for the society on the last Saturday of every month.

 

[PeterH]

The RFU has been using Specialised Assistant Referees in the GP for a few years now, the 'spare' referee is off the park waiting as No. 4. No. 5 is No. 4's replacement.

The IRB have also taken to this with a number (3 I believe) of these specialised Assistant Referee's on the IRB AR Panel.

Trust me, once you've had a specialised AR on the side line for you, a normal referee seems poor in comparison. And don't believe these guys arn't referees, most are actually very good referees, but have decided that they can't make the grade they want too in the middle, so have decided to do it on the sideline.

I also believe these guys still referee a game every 1 or 2 months to 'keep their hand in' and those games are normally at least a L7.

That's where i want to get to Rob

 

[Robert Burns]

Good Luck to you PeterH.

There should be nothing to stop you bar your performance (Which the RFU has AR Assessors for).

 

[Wert Twacky]

And if you bring sweets with you to enable the man in the middle to obtain a sufficent sugar fix before KO, you'll be amazed at the positive feedback you can obtain :biggrin:

Never underestimate the power of Haribo...

 

[Wert Twacky]

And if you bring sweets with you to enable the man in the middle to obtain a sufficent sugar fix before KO, you'll be amazed at the positive feedback you can obtain :biggrin:

Never underestimate the power of Haribo...

 

[Phil E]

Have you been taking your own advice?

Too much Sugar has made you Hyper and you are repeating yourself!!