High Performance Unit helping out local talent
RUGBY LEAGUE: Toowoomba’s next crop of up and coming referees is deriving benefit from having the state’s best in town.
The QRL High Performance Unit features a number of Toowoomba-based referees, and they are bringing that knowledge back to the association on a monthly basis.
Rod Spain conducted the training session midweek, and said the program offered local referees an insight into the training habits of those at the next level, and highlighted the pathway they can follow to get to that next stage.
“We have the High Performance Unit down in Brisbane, and once we were committed to getting back into the local regions and getting the referees out there on scene,” Spain said.
“Once a month, all the referees that train in Brisbane go back to their local associations to run skills sessions and show the local refs what we do in Brisbane.
“It’s about providing the pathways. There is a real pathway for referees, and even though a few of these guys play footy as well, we’re very supportive of that.
“We want to come back and enhance the referees in the TRL and show they can develop whether they are U7s or A-grade referees.”
Spain was on hand with last year’s TRL A-grade grand final referee Greer Beck to run the session this week, who has been a successful part of the program, last week making his Intrust Super Cup debut in a trial fixture.
Having these doors open for local referees is one of the main aims of the program Sapin said.
“The biggest part is learning about basic skills of the game. We’ve been through the system and we’ve got an idea of how to work with it,” he said.
“We like to show that these are the drills that the referees on TV are doing, and it’s about setting those skills that are the key basics of refereeing, whether they have a whistle or flag in their hand.
“The end goal is to provide local guys opportunities.
“We have the U18s statewide competition with the Mustangs based out here, so we’re looking to use local guys for those games and on the U20s games.
“We don’t want to be bringing people up from Brisbane, we want to be able to develop the referees that are here.”
For those interested in taking up refereeing in the TRL or TJRL, a Referee Foundation 1 course will take place at USQ this Sunday.
Cost is $30, and you can reserve your spot at www.learn.playnrl.com.