Gents
All Societies try to follow RFU guidelines on gradings and as we are all in Federations and Groups, and assessors' do training meets and exchanges the same as referees, there should be broad consistency. How they handle the first ever grading may indeed be different.
Gradings follow the League structures (RFU standard system) and so as Alan says we have a linear model down to L11 (Hampshire 3), plus we have one more grade below that at 12 for 'starter' refs. Once a Hants Ref reaches level 6 he cannot go higher, unless selected for the SW Group at 5 and National Panel at 4 and less by the Federation & Group Grading Committees, which is a competitive selection with limited places, and not just on current achievement level.
We run level 10 and 11 exchanges with both Sussex and Dorset & Wilts and from those refs I would say they are very similar in level criteria - so about right. Likewise when we exchange at level 7, 8 and 9 we don't often find anyone out of line - only occasionally perhaps not capable of going the next step up.
In Hampshire our Grading Committee meets twice a season - at Christmas and May. These meetings are timed to be before submissions have to be made to Federation Squad and to Federation for National TJ Panel candidates (both of which have RFU rules in terms of how many reports at what levels are needed), but 90% of our time is spent on the main membership's gradings. We review every active referee based on the Assessment & Coaching Reports for Development Squads, and Assesments for all other members. We also look at the 'returned Club Card' summary for each referee.
Finally we see if the referee has attended Training Meetings, is doing Continuous Development Award, how many matches were done, and how available he is for re-appointments.
From level 10 upwards once a referee has consolidated at a grade level (which may take a season or a matter of weeks) and he is considered to have the potential to make the next level by assessors/coach), he is appointed to first an in-County match at the next level and then an external exchange - those assesment reports will be critical in any promotions.
For level 11 & 12 referees we will promote based on one assessment rerport *(at the higher level) and 10 or more club cards. Hence being keen to take re-appointments can accelaerate your progress !
When joining the Society with ELRA the part III enables us to do a basic safety check and also a 'potential' assessment - knowledge of law, management & communication skills, rugby knowledge, etc.
Once the referee has done 10-12 matches he will have his first full assessment and that will determine his grade. Usually it will be 12 (the lowest grade Hampshire gives) and sometimes 11 or even 10 - once or twice we have someone go straight to 9 (for example - ex County player, 15 years 1st XV experience at level 5, stage 2 RFU Coach) but that is unusual. Also we have been asked by RFU to 'fast track' people in the past and we have seen a couple of guys get to level 7 in one season (one was an injured (neck) ex-pro Premiership guy doing 5 matches a week !), but they have to then do all the Society, Federation and Group Squad steps and prove their potential and actual performance in the same way as everyone else.
The Grading Committee are not mind readers and will make decisions based on the evidence, based on refs enthusiasm and commitment and from feedback that indicates ambition AND ability. Almost all referees think they are better than they really are (by varying degrees), I know I did until I saw myself on video !
