REFEREE COMPETENCIES

The following describe the competencies required to be met in order for promotion to the local referee grades of C3, C2, C1:

Referee Level: C3

TACKLE

Key Elements of Competence

  • Observed trampling of players
  • Protected safety of players on the ground

 

ADVANTAGE

Key Elements of Competence

  • Did not return play to the original infringement after territorial advantage had been gained.

 

RUCK/MAUL

Key Elements of Competence

  • Correctly managed static mauls (including mauls moving laterally).
  • Awarded scrum put-in to the correct side when the ball became unplayable.

 

RESTART KICKS & OPEN PLAY

Key Elements of Competence

  • Observed restart kicks (i.e. penalty kicks, free kicks, kickoffs, dropouts) that were taken incorrectly (method and place).
  • Observed offside kicking-team players at restart kicks.

 

SCRUM

Key Elements of Competence

  • Awarded scrum at the correct position.
  • Observed and ensured fair competition for the ball.

 

LINEOUT

Key Elements of Competence

  • Awarded the lineouts at the correct place.
  • Established and maintained a one-meter gap until the ball was thrown in.

 

CONTROL

Key Elements of Competence

  • Observed dangerous tackles (e.g. high or no-wrap).
  • Behaved professionally both on and off the playing enclosure.

 

COMMUNICATION

Key Elements of Competence

  • Whistle tone was distinctive according to decision.
  • Primary signal (penalty kick, free kick, or scrum) was clear and given simultaneously with whistle.

 

 

Referee Level: C2

TACKLE

Key Elements of Competence

  • Observed arriving players leaving their feet.
  • Did not permit pileups to continue after ball was buried.
  • Observed trampling of players.
  • Awarded scrum put-in to the correct side when ball became unplayable.

 

ADVANTAGE

Key Elements of Competence

  • Recognized distinctions of advantage for penalty kick infringements versus scrum infringements.
  • Did not return play to the original infringement after territorial advantage had been gained.
  • Communicated advantage with voice and signal

 

RUCK/MAUL

Key Elements of Competence

  • Correctly managed static mauls (including mauls moving laterally).
  • Observed flagrant illegal collapsing of the ruck or maul.
  • Observed other unsafe play.
  • Awarded scrum put-in to the correct side when the ball became unplayable.

 

RESTART KICKS & OPEN PLAY

Key Elements of Competence

  • Observed restart kicks (i.e. penalty kicks, free kicks, kickoffs, dropouts) that were taken incorrectly (method and place).
  • Observed non-kicking team players who failed to retire 10 meters or who were not put onside by actions of other players at restart kicks.
  • Observed offside kicking-team players at restart kicks.
  • Observed forward passes and knock-ons.

 

SCRUM

Key Elements of Competence

  • Awarded scrum at the correct position.
  • Observed and ensured fair competition for the ball.
  • Enforced proper engagement procedures.
  • Observed and ensured that after engagement, the scrum was stationary and square to touch until the ball was put in.
  • Did not allow repeated collapsing or lifting of scrums.
  • Used and acted upon "Use it or lose it" at static scrums.
  • Observed and ensured scrumhalf remained onside and stayed out of the pocket.
  • Observed back row unbinding early.
  • Observed offside by non-participants.

 

LINEOUT

Key Elements of Competence

  • Awarded the lineouts at the correct place.
  • Established and maintained a one-meter gap until the ball was thrown in.
  • Established correct positioning of the thrower, the thrower’s opposite and the receivers (if any) prior to the throw.
  • Observed unfair competition for the ball.
  • Observed jumpers jumping early or remaining supported in the air prior to the throw-in.
  • Observed destructive offenses across the lineout and made this a priority.
  • Observed offside infringements by participants.
  • Observed illegal support of jumpers.
  • Observed offside by non-participants when ball was held in the lineout.
  • Observed improper quick throw-ins.

 

CONTROL

Key Elements of Competence

  • Observed dangerous tackles (e.g. high or no-wrap).
  • Observed late tackles on kicker.
  • Observed early/late tackles on receiver.
  • Controlled unsafe behavior and foul play promptly and effectively.
  • Candidly admitted mistakes, but did not try to compensate for them.
  • Behaved professionally both on and off the playing enclosure.

 

COMMUNICATION

Key Elements of Competence

  • Whistle tone was distinctive according to decision.
  • Primary signal (penalty kick, free kick, or scrum) was clear and given simultaneously with whistle.

 

 

Referee Level: C1

TACKLE

Key Elements of Competence

  • All elements listed above.
  • Observed flagrant killing of the ball by tackler and ball carrier.
  • Observed players lying on the ground interfering with ball availability.
  • Observed players lying on the ground interfering players on their feet.

 

ADVANTAGE

Key Elements of Competence

  • All elements listed above.
  • Played advantage with consideration of players’ safety.
  • Played advantage in all appropriate situations.
  • Communicated the type of infringement and the team that offended while indicating that advantage is being played (e.g., “Blue advantage, penalty” or “Blue advantage, scrum”).
  • Communicated advantage with voice and signal

 

RUCK/MAUL

Key Elements of Competence

  • All elements listed above.
  • Observed players who failed to remain on their feet.
  • Observed flagrant use of hands to win the ball.
  • Observed players who obstructed in advance of the ball (“truck and trailer”).
  • Observed defenders who unbound and affected play.
  • Observed offside by defending non-participants, including loiterers.

 

RESTART KICKS & OPEN PLAY

Key Elements of Competence

  • All elements listed above.
  • Proactively prevented offenses at static restart kicks from occurring.
  • Observed players lying on the ground (Law 14) interfering with ball availability.
  • Observed players falling over a player on the ground with the ball.  
  • Observed offside players in open play when ball was kicked ahead.
  • Recognized willful knock-ons.

 

SCRUM

Key Elements of Competence

  • All elements listed above.
  • Observed and ensured binding between opposing props was correct.
  • Observed and ensured that heads and shoulders were above the hips until the scrum was over.
  • Observed and ensured that the body and feet of all front row players were in a normal position to make a forward shove.
  • Did not have repeated reset of scrums.  In other words, the problems causing reset scrums were identified and solved.
  • Ensured back rows remained bound until the scrum was over.
  • Ensured non-participants remained onside.

 

LINEOUT

Key Elements of Competence

  • All elements listed above.
  • Ensured jumpers did not jump early or remain supported in the air prior to the throw-in.
  • Ensured there were no destructive offenses across the lineout.
  • Ensured participants remained onside.
  • Ensured proper support of jumpers.
  • Ensured non-participants remained onside when ball is held in the lineout.
  • Managed quick throw-ins.

 

CONTROL

Key Elements of Competence

  • All elements listed above.
  • Observed late or early tackles on passers.
  • Observed obstruction.
  • Observed use of a teammate as a "pick" or shield.
  • Observed unfair play and applied the appropriate punitive measures.
  • Observed dangerous play and misconduct and applied the appropriate punitive measures.
  • Used appropriate punitive measures.
  • Communicated with captains/players so that they complied with his requests upon formal prompting (i.e., players were compelled to comply).
  • Remained calm in tense situations.

 

COMMUNICATION

Key Elements of Competence

  • All elements listed above.
  • Secondary signal was clear and given simultaneously with verbal explanations promptly after the whistle was blown.
  • Explanation for penalty was concise, specific and clearly understood by players.