‘Definitely struggling’ for enough referees
WHISTLEBLOWERS are in short supply again.
Otago Rugby Referees Association chairman Chris Hart reckons there is a shortfall of ‘‘between 10 and 15’’ each week.
‘‘We are definitely struggling,’’ Hart said.
‘‘We lost some of our top tier with the likes of Mitchell Will and Adam Morrison, and we’ve lost some from the next group as well,’’ Hart said.
‘‘Even though we’ve replaced one with James Doleman, because he is on the international circuit, we have not had a lot of game time out of him yet.’’ Doleman has a good tournament in Singapore at a World Sevens tournament, getting to referee the final between Fiji and Australia.
Hart said students moving on after graduation had always been an issue.
‘‘It’s about promoting guys and giving them the opportunity to grow. We just have a few teething problems that comes with any union that has a transient student community.’’
Hart said the association was low across all the grades. Had junior rugby not been cancelled in the weekend, it would have been a real stretch to provide officials.
‘‘Thank God we’ve had bad weather because last weekend we were in all sorts of trouble.
‘‘We had 16 referees away doing different things and we had guys doubling up.
‘‘We need between 10 to 15 more referees to cover right down to the under13s and then we would be right.’’
Hart said the number of referees needed each week was a case of ‘‘moving goal posts’’ with teams defaulting or dropping out of grades.
The association recruited 12 new referees last year but attracting new talent was an ongoing challenge.
‘‘It is a tough sell. If we could pick up some expremier players who want to put a bit back into the game it would help.
‘‘There are pathways there but it is also about putting something back into the game that you love and that is why a lot of people do it. That is a big part of it.’’
Hart stressed people would need to be patient with new referees while they developed their skills.
Sideline behaviour had been an issue in the past. The amount of unreasonable flak referees had to put up meant you needed a thick skin and that could prevent people taking on the role.
‘‘It is too early to tell whether [sideline behaviour] has improved or not this season. But I’m on record as saying we are away to a good start.’’
Experienced referee Rob Wells will bring up his 100th senior game this weekend.
At this stage he has been pencilled in for Green Island’s home game against AlhambraUnion.
❛ Thank God we’ve
had bad weather because last weekend we were in all sorts of
trouble