Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00The following video gives you an insight into how the Welsh Rugby Union develops and supports
00:04referees within our game. It will inform you regarding which course is available to you,
00:09as the age group you intend to officiate and what are the opportunities to progress.
00:15There are three entry points into becoming a referee. Starting with the youngest age groups,
00:19Tag Rugby is for players at under 7 and under 8 years old. There is no separate formal referee
00:25course for these age groups. The introduction and development of you as a referee is found
00:31with the Tag Rugby coaching course. On completion of this three-hour course, you are qualified and
00:37can referee at both these age groups. The second entry point into refereeing is at under 9s to
00:43under 11s. Again, the same as the Tag course, the refereeing element is entwined within the
00:48coaching early contact course and on completion of this one-day course, you are qualified to
00:54referee up to under 11s. It's essential that we support our players and our clubs by attending
01:01these coaching courses and becoming appropriately qualified. The third entry point into becoming a
01:06referee is the Level 1 course. It's a two-day course and a combination of both practical
01:12and observational-based learning. Whether you just want to referee in the junior game or have
01:17ambitions to progress into the senior game, this course is the starting point for all 15
01:23Rugby officials. Successful completion of this course will certify you to referee the under 12s
01:29to under 16s age groups. The WRU offers additional digital guidance and support on the WRU Game
01:36Locker where you can find videos and lots more referee-specific information. The Welsh
01:41Tribune also offers more opportunities to develop through informal continuous referee development
01:47events which are run online or at our local club and referee corners where referees of the same
01:53level are offered the opportunity to meet up and discuss topical refereeing scenarios. These are
01:59generally online or held monthly at district referee societies. The next stop on the pathway
02:05is Level 2. There is no course but an active learn as you're introduced to the induction period
02:12where support is offered through guided mentorship. There is no set time to complete this induction
02:18but it's down to the discretion of the referee mentor as to when they feel the referee is
02:23competent enough to officiate and support it. Upon sign-off the referee will be certified
02:30to referee under 18s, senior second team matches and the senior women's games.
02:36Finally, Level 3 is the highest qualification that can be achieved within the community game.
02:42It's a progression reward to those who have been identified as the most consistently well-performing
02:47Level 2 referees. Level 3 referees officiate in the national leagues. Referees of both these levels
02:55receive an enhanced programme of development support which has been appropriately designed
03:00to reflect the level of matches at which they'll be officiating. This is again supported digitally
03:06through the WRU game locker and delivered informally through the continuous referees
03:11development opportunities, referee corners and district societies. Whatever level you choose to
03:17referee, there is plenty of support to help you on your journey. Good luck and enjoy your refereeing.