Match Observers

Match Observers and Coaches

Somerset Rugby Referees Society invests significant time and resources to develop referees to reach their potential and achieve their personal objectives. To enable this development feedback and support is essential. We have 3 clear support roles for referees within the society to utilise at different stages of their development.

The Mentor

A mentor could be given on a game by game basis or a period of time. Mentors have a genuine interest in helping a match official to achieve their personal development aims.

Like the coach, the mentor does not have set duties to follow as it is what best works for the Referee.

A mentor can be assigned to a referee for various different reasons. These can be to improve a referee up a level or give them more confidence, but most commonly are given to our first year referees to help them transition into senior rugby.

The Coach

The role of coach is to help all match officials to reach their full potential. A coach will be partnered with a referee for a period of time & not just a game.

A coach needs to be able to understand the referees strengths and weaknesses, working with them to improve all areas of their game.

The coach is not expected to be at all games & will select the most suitable games to attend. Coaches will commonly review video of the referee if available and provide feedback and areas to work on.

Referee Advisor

Referee Advisor or Match Reviewer’s goal is to provide a snapshot of a Referee’s skills on a single game basis.

The relationship between referee and referee advisor is built on trust and a belief that feedback will be honest, straightforward and will ultimately help to improve the referee’s skills.

Following the game the reviewer will compile a report to document the feedback to the referee and serve as evidence for their suitability to be promoted up a level.

★★★★★

The Society has a great mentor scheme allowing me to use someone with experience as a sounding board “this is the situation, this was my decision, what do you think?”. In addition to this from time to time I have one of the referee advisors come out to watch me referee providing valuable feedback to help with my development, this often involves being mic’d up so they can hear what I’m saying and how I’m controlling the game which is just as important as the actual decisions.

Sven Bassett (Joined 2018)Company Name

Joining SRRS as a 16 year old could have been very daunting, but I was made to feel very welcome. The society emailed me to grow as a referee to level 6, before injury struck & I decided to take a step into coaching; the members were very helpful with this step & helped me every step of the way. Coaching is a very rewarding role. SRRS supported me in setting up the tournament arm of the society which allows me to support referees right across the experience spectrum.

Harry Garmston (Joined 2009)Company Name

Becoming a coach, mentor or match observer! Want to help a referee develop to reach their goals and potential? Contact Brian Perry (Society Match Official Development Officer)

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