Referees
This is an exciting time for referees who will be invited to take part in the World Cup. All expressions of interest to officiate in Edinburgh should be directed to Ian Mathew, FIT Director of Referees at breezmat@bigpond.com.
The complete FIT Referees Panel will be in attendance during the tournament and the whole referee experience will be motivational, directional and outcome based with coaching programmes implemented during the week of the tournament.
All FIT referees will be required to pay their own travel and accommodation costs but will be exempt from paying a participants levy. In addition referees will be given official kit, some food and beverages during the five playing days of the tournament and free attendance at the closing party.
The FIT Panel members will be headed by Ian Mathew, FIT Director of Referees and will include Lou Tompkins from Australia and Darrin Sykes from New Zealand. Darren has been coaching at the very top end of touch for around fifteen years. The experience that these guys bring will really assist the standard of refereeing at the Touch World Cup 2011.
We are going to give you our best and all officials will have one on one coaching with each of you. The new trends and referee techniques will be employed in our coaching to ensure you are fully versed and up to speed with to ensure that the standard of officiating is equal to counterpart referees with top class experience from Australia and New Zealand.
Locally, Lucas Von Hoff and Thys McCurdy have now accepted positions as associate members of the FIT Referees Panel. This now allows a more defined career path for referee coaches in Europe and a voice on the panel as FIT moves forward.
FIT are more dedicated than ever as to the ongoing development of referees and referee coaches from Europe and the inclusion of more Northern hemisphere referees (subject to them meeting the criteria below) at the Touch World Cup 2011 will leave a longer lasting legacy for the development of the game ensuring that all officials come away with an experience never to be forgotten.
FIT Referee Criteria
1. Definition
1.1. A FIT Referee would be considered to be a referee nominated by a Member country to officiate at a Federation Event. Federation Events are described in FIT Operational Policy No 1 – Classification of Events.
1.2. Reserved.
2. FIT Referee Criteria
2.1. To be considered for duties at a Federation Event a referee must meet the following standards:
2.1.1. Be of peak physical fitness prior to nomination to any FIT event/tournament. This would be irrespective of category being, Open, Senior, Male or Female.
2.1.2. Possess a complete knowledge of the rules of the game and how to apply them. Further to this, the referee must have the ability to adapt to any by laws or tournament rule amendments introduced by FIT.
2.1.3. Possess the ability to manage players, coaches and officials at all times, both on and off field.
2.1.4. Be able to officiate solely as a Referee at FIT sanctioned events. (i.e. Non Playing)
2.1.5. Assist in the coaching, organization and development of Touch Referees within their nation/region.
2.1.6. Assist the FIT Director of Referees in the conducting of rules lectures, seminars and examinations in their respective nation/region.
Selection Policy
1.1. The following criteria and expectations must be met for a referee to be considered for selection to officiate at a Federation Event:
1.1.1. The referee must be a member of an affiliated Member country.
1.1.2. The referee must be endorsed by the Director of Referees from their Member country. If the Member country does not have a Director of Referees then endorsement would need to come from the President, Chairperson, CEO or from the person nominated by the President, Chairperson or CEO of the Member country as heading the referee structure for that Nation. Such endorsement would need to be in writing and submitted to the FIT Director of Referees sixty (60) days prior to any Federation Event or FIT sanctioned tournament.
1.1.3. Referees would be expected to have attended national events and related Member country commitments within their respective nations prior to nomination and subsequent selection.
1.1.4. World Cup Referees would be expected to be a minimum of Black Badge Referee. Dispensation can be sought from the FIT Director of Referees for Referee/s not at the required Badge Level, but who would be considered to have the necessary skill set both on and off field to attend this event. Decisions on this would be made in consultation with the FIT Referee Panel and the Member country and advised quickly. Consideration would be given to tournament requirements (Referee numbers required) and developmental prospects for that nation as well as the need to have credible referees officiating in the World Cup.
1.1.5. In the majority of cases the FIT Director of Referees or a member of the FIT Referee Panel either appointed or designated would have assessed the referee over a twelve (12) month period on the lead up to a World Cup.
2.1.7. Be the type of person who will always be a good ambassador for FIT and FIT Referees.
Selection Policy for FIT Touch Referees to attend International Tournaments
1.1.6. FIT Referee Checklists to support referees not at Black Badge would also need to be provided with the nomination.
