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Interested in refereeing or would you like more information on officiating courses? |
As participation in Rugby in South Australia
continues to grow, so too does the need for
qualified referees, touch judges and referee
coaches.
Whatever your interest, refereeing Rugby
provides you the chance to have fun and enjoy the
game at a level that suits you!
Officiating Pathway
Level of Refereeing |
Requirement |
Assessment |
U12 Referee and below |
Smart Rugby |
N/A |
U12 – U16, Div 3 & 4, Women |
Smart Rugby |
Assessed until competent |
U18, Div 1 & 2 |
Foundation Course (also known as the Level 1Accredited Referee Course) |
Assessed until competent |
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U12 and below
For players aged 7 to 12 years, the games of Walla (7-8
years), Mini (9-10 years) and Midi (11-12 years) introduce players gradually to the game through modified Laws.
Referees of these games attend a SmartRugby Course that
provides them with the necessary information to officiate
at these games. This is an ideal starting point for the young
teenager or the parents of players participating in these
games.
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Junior Games (U19 Laws)
For players aged 13-19 years, there are modified Laws that incorporate safety elements for the developing player. Attendance at a SmartRugby Course and a one day Foundation Course will provide the necessary training to officiate at these games. Ideally you should be aged 15 years or above to referee at these levels.
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Senior Games
There are a range of games played at different levels in
local club competitions that can cater for the all levels of
Referees. As your skills and experience grow you can
move to higher level club matches with opportunities for
talented Referees to advance to the highest levels of the
game.
As we know, Rugby has inherent risks, and as such each
coach and referee must ensure a safe environment as practically possible for the players. Therefore underpinning
the training programs for Referees and Referee Coaches is
the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) SmartRugby course
which provides all coaches and referees with the best
practice principles for all the contact elements of the game.
Attendance at a SmartRugby Course and a one day
Foundation Course and assessment of five refereed
matches will provide the necessary training to begin
officiating at these games. For those referees wishing to
move to higher levels there is a two day Intermediate
(Level 2) Accredited Referee Course provided by the
ARU.
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Touch Judge
Touch Judging offers and alternative way of getting involved in the game that can also be very rewarding. There are no age restrictions for touch judges. This is an ideal way for younger people to be involved or for mums, dads, brothers and sisters to help out with the junior games. A three-hour, Level 1 Touch Judge Course will get you started on your Touch Judging career.
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Officiating Courses
SmartRugby Course
- SmartRugby is Rugby's occupational health & safety program.
- SmartRugby is a bi-annual qualification in which all persons who referee tackle Rugby must attend prior to the season commencing.
- This is a ‘train-the-trainer’ course with the focus being on technical safety aspects of the game of Rugby.
Component |
Time |
|
Introduction to Playing Smart |
10-15 mins | |
Technical Program |
Balance and Stability |
20-25 mins |
Tackle and Tackle Support |
30-35 mins |
|
Support at the Ruck and Maul |
10-15 mins |
|
Scrum - Basic Safety |
10-20 mins |
|
Mayday Procedure |
5-10 mins |
|
Lineouts and Restarts |
10-15 mins |
|
Foul Play |
5 mins |
|
Pre Match Safety |
5 mins |
|
Injury Management |
5 mins |
|
Conclusion and Question Time |
5 mins |
|
Sign Off and Administration |
10 mins | |
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Foundation Course (also know as Level 1 Accredited Referee Course)
Course units are:
- Rugby - The Game
- Balance & Stability
- Attack
- Defence
- Tackle/Ruck/Maul
- Game Elements
- Scrum
- Kick-offs and Restarts
- Lineout
- Coaching
- Role of the Referee
Accreditation can include the completion of a Level 1 Referee Competency Assessment Manual, a Law Examination and a Competency Assessment “field test”.
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Level 1 Touch Judge Course
The level 1 Touch Judges’ course is the first step to
becoming an official of the game. The course is designed to
give all attendees a better understanding of the Laws,
improve individual communication skills and ultimately
award each individual with a Level 1 Touch Judge
accreditation.

