TNZ Referee Information
The purpose of this memorandum is to bring you up to date with a number of Touch NZ Referees matters that have occurred since the end of the season in March 2008.
A number of these matters were discussed at the annual meeting of the Touch NZ Referees Advisory Panel held on 3-4 May 2008 at the Touch NZ Office at Hutt Park in Wellington. This meeting was attended by the Touch NZ Referee Advisory Panel.
Minimum Selection criteria for Referees for National Tournaments 2008-09 season
The following policy was approved at the Touch NZ Referees Advisory Panel:
Minimum Selection Criteria for Referees for the 2008 Touch NZ National Secondary Schools Championships
- Referee attendance at SS Zonal Playoffs in March 2008;
- Referee commitment at module and provincial level;
Fitness test results submitted to Touch NZ for the individual Referee by the deadline/s indicated by Touch NZ.
Minimum Selection Criteria for Referees for the 2009 Touch NZ National Open/Masters Championships:
- Full attendance at TNZ National Secondary Schools Championships if selected. In the event of having more Referees apply than needed then the criteria below also applies to those not selected
- If the Referee is in the Central or Southern Region, attendance at Junior IPS in December each year;
- If the Referee is in the Northern Region, attendance at a minimum of 2 days of the Junior IPS events;
- Referee commitment at module and provincial level;
- Fitness test results submitted to Touch NZ for the individual Referee by the deadline/s indicated by Touch NZ.
2) Referee Dispensation Policy
It will be the policy that any Referee who for whatever reason cannot attend a Touch NZ National Tournament and wishes to seek a dispensation, then such Referees should fill out a Touch New Zealand Referee Dispensation Form. The Touch New Zealand Referee Dispensation Form is submitted to the Touch NZ Referee Development Manager. The Dispensation Form is to be signed off by the Provincial Referee Director.
The Touch NZ Referee Advisory Panel general policy on Referee dispensation will be that Referees may apply to the TNZ Referee Advisory Panel through the Touch NZ Referee Development Manager for a dispensation for not attending an event where an injury occurs. In such circumstances the injury will need to be documented. For other than injury, a Referee may apply to the Touch NZ Referee Development Manager for a dispensation for not attending an event however a dispensation will only be approved in exceptional circumstances only.
Referee Dispensations are delegated to the Touch NZ Referee Development Manager for decision. The Touch NZ Referee Development Manager would use the general policy above in determining whether a Referee is given a Referee Dispensation. The Touch NZ Referee Development Manager may consult with any Referee Advisory Panel Members, Touch NZ Regional Directors, or Provincial Referee Directors before making a decision.
The Touch NZ Referee Development Manager will maintain a record of all Referee dispensation applications lodged and dispensations approved/declined.
Dispensations can only be granted on the basis of a written application on the Touch NZ Referee Dispensation Form. Oral requests for a dispensation are not acceptable. The Touch New Zealand Referee Dispensation Form is attached in appendix 1.
3) Touch NZ Referee Technical Reminders
The Touch NZ Referee Advisory Panel agreed at its meeting on 3-4 May 2008 that it would issue a Touch NZ Referee Technical Issues Manual to the TNZ Referees Community before 1 November 2008. The Touch NZ Referee Technical Issues Manual is for use at Touch NZ National Tournaments only and is not to be used at Provincial or Module level.
4) Alcohol at NZ Secondary School Nationals
The possibility of an alcohol ban for this NZSS tournament was discussed at our meeting on 3-4 May 2008. It was clear that there was no alcohol allowed within the accommodation area. It was agreed in principle that the NZSS tournament will be designated an alcohol free tournament in the Referees accommodation and other Referee facilities. This will be communicated in detail at the tournament.
5) Revamping Referee Competency Levels Touch NZ Level 1-4
There was a general discussion at the 3-4 May 2008 that our existing ‘checklists’ should be revamped and brought in line with the TFA Referee competency levels. New Touch NZ Referee competency level forms for levels 1-4 were approved and are available from the Referee Development Manager. Referee coaches/assessors and other Referees should get dispose of the previous Touch NZ Referee checklists as they are no longer valid.
6) Referee Nominations Level 3 and 4 for on field assessments at National Tournament
The Touch NZ Referee Advisory Panel has made significant changes to the requirements for those level 2 or level 3 Referees that are seeking a level 3 or level 4 Referee upgrade. Effective from the 2008-09 season those level 2 or level 3 Referees that are seeking a level 3 or level 4 Referee upgrade will need to be formally nominated for such on field assessments to take place at Touch NZ National Tournaments. There will not be an automatic right for those level 2 or level 3 Referees attending Touch NZ National Tournaments to be considered for a level 3 or level 4 Referee upgrade. Attached in appendix 2 is a detailed memorandum on the policy and procedure for this new requirement.
7) Referee Support Official (RSO) guidelines and procedure
Appendix 3 contains the approved and revamped Referee Support Official (RSO) guidelines and procedures.
8) Sin Bin Procedure
There was discussion on the process instigated at Touch NZ Masters Nationals. There was a long discussion on whether 2 minutes in the sin bin was sufficient. There was a lot of debate on the merits of having a 5 minute sin bin period and that this would be at variance to the FIT level however it was considered that we could have a domestic situation like this and leave the International situation alone.
There was agreement that for the 2008-09 season Touch NZ National Tournaments (as a trial only) that the sin bin period be 5 minutes. This would need to be monitored by the Advisory Panel during the tournaments. This is for National tournaments only not at module level.
There was also agreement that we need to get the amended sin bin procedure into the Touch NZ Tournament rules for National Tournaments so that the procedure and 5 minute period were made public to all coaches and managers.
To download a full version of this document please click the link on the left.
