The primary objective of the Society is to further the development of referees and refereeing in the EPRU. Specific policies and procedures are as follows:
EPRU Policy - Club Referees Effective February 1, 2002
All EPRU senior clubs (this is not collegiate or grad school teams) are required to have at least one certified rugby referee representing their club, that is not a full member of the East Penn Rugby Referees Society, who will be available to referee as needed by the EPRRS. This need is not expected to be more than 2 matches per season per club. Failure to provide a certified referee when requested by the EPRRS may result in rescheduling of the EPRRS assigned referee from that club's match on the day of need or for a subsequent match.
More referees are needed, and once recruited, must be trained. The recruitment and training of referees is the main responsibility of the Eastern Penn Rugby Referees Society (EPRRS). To meet this end, the Referees Society holds open meetings on the first Wednesday of every month during the rugby season (September to November & March to May) at 7:30 p.m. at Kildare's Irish Pub, 826 W Dekalb Pike, King of Prussia (www.kildarespub.com). Special meetings and "scrimmage training" are also held during each season. In addition, the Society participates in the EPRU Coaching Clinic, holds a mandatory Refereeing Clinic once a year, and conducts Referee Certification courses throughout the year. A person can join the Society by attending these meetings and exhibiting a desire to become a referee or by expressing such a desire to an officer of EPRRS - See "Contact Us" on our website (www.eastpennrugby.org). Law Books and other training materials are made available at these meetings. For more information, contact the Referees Society via the EPRRS website (www.eastpennrugby.org).
D = New referee, assigned second side matches or below with first side referee as evaluator and mentor.
C3 = Has completed the Level I Refereeing Certification Course, passed the open book test, and has achieved C3 by refereeing a sufficient number of games (typically 3-5) under close supervision and mentoring. A C3 Referee is new and remains in need of development. Still gaining a feel for the game, lacks mastery in Law, and needs improvement in both positioning and communication.
C2 = Has basic understanding of Law and applied them within his/her abilities. May exhibit inconsistencies in pace, positioning, and application of Law; all correctable through continued coaching.
C1 = Has completed the Level II Referee Certification Course and exam. Able to manage the game without significant problems. May influence the game through management skills with fairness to both sides. Typically fit and well knowledgeable in Law. Players may have to adjust to some application of Law, but having done that will be able to play the game accordingly.
B3 = Promotion made by Mid Atlantic Rugby Referees (MARR) evaluators after travel to other territories and vast high-level experience. Now a "territorial" referee. Beginning of transition from officiating the game to allowing the players to play according to their standard. Learning to use advantage and game management to allow for an intense, fast-moving game.
B2 = MARR sees competence at any level of game within territory. Has an effective, unobtrusive style of officiating. Good at correcting problems as they occur, but may be inconsistent in preventing problems before they occur. Has not yet learned how to create a game that exceeds the apparent intentions or abilities of the players for that day.
B1 = Willing and able to travel anywhere in the country to do championship games competently. Has completed the Level III Referee Certification Course. Able to prevent, as well as correct problems. Consistently gets players to perform according to their desires and abilities for the day and learning to help players lift their game to a higher level. Learning what it means to represent his country and be an ambassador for USARRA.
A = There are only few throughout the country, and they are representatives of USA Rugby during National championships as well as overseas exchanges.
Constructive feedback is welcome from fans, coaches and players. The development of referees is as important to the game as any other aspect. To this end, we ask that all participants in rugby seek to better the talents of those who volunteer to referee.
The EPRU has mandated that all club and colleges must have Certified Referees officiating all their games. Effective September 1, 1999, all senior side games must be refereed by a certified referee and all games, including collegiate and high school games, must be refereed by a certified referee beginning January 1, 2000.
D. Exchange of Referees
In order to aid in the development of individual referees and improve the standard of refereeing in the EPRU, the East Penn Rugby Referees Society (EPRRS) takes part in the Mid Atlantic Rugby Referee Exchange Program. This program allows referees to participate in territorial matches to continue their upward promotion in the society. Referees on the verge of becoming C1 will attain these assignments. Inter-union exchanges with New York Met, New England, Mid-West, etc. will also become available.
E. Referee Match Fees
Referee expenses are paid either in cash or check directly to the referee prior to the kickoff unless other arrangements have been made in advance. The following chart outlines the cost to the HOME team. Please note the sliding scale based on referee grade.
Each club MUST submit their schedule via the Online Submittal of Schedule showing both Home and Away matches (indicate "A", "B", or "C" sides).
The submittal deadline for each season is:
Fall Season -- August 1
Spring Season -- February 1
Failure to submit the schedule to your Divisional Play Coordinator by the above deadline may result in either a loss of refereeing services for any number of matches in that season or a substantial fine. There is NO reason not to meet these dates. The schedule can be amended as changes occur.
Each club MUST obtain a Match Contract for all matches via email confirm both clubs agree to the match as shown. If a visiting club fails to show on game day or cancels the match, notify the referee at once. If you cannot produce a Match Contract, the EPRU cannot take action against that club including reimbursement for unrecoverable club financial losses.
Annual Winter Referees Training Clinic
All EPRU member clubs MUST send at least one representative (preferably a prospective/future referee) to the clinic. It is held annually on a Saturday in February, and will typically be held in conjunction with a Level I Refereeing Certification Course. NO matches are to be scheduled on this day. The development of at least one "knowledgeable" club referee is a MUST since there are usually 2 to 4 weekends per season when the number of matches is greater than the number of referees available. Therefore, having a "knowledgeable" club referee to fill in for your club (or another) is essential for good rugby on that day and will also help increase Society membership in the future. Failure to send a representative to the clinic will result in lower refereeing scheduling priority for your club and a fine.
Assessments
Assessments are made (through fines) for the following:
Failure to start match on time $15.00
Poorly lined field $20.00
Missing spectator rope $25.00
Failure to confirm match details with referee by Wednesday $25.00
Late submittal of schedule $50.00 (after Feb. 1 or Aug. 1)
Late payment fee $25.00
Invoices for the above will be sent out at the end of each season. Failure to pay on time will result in a lower scheduling priority for those clubs, as well as the additional late payment fee.
College side invoices will be sent both to the school and the club. Ultimate responsibility for payment lies with the club itself.
Referees will delay kickoff until the following requirements have been met:
Payment (or prearrangement of payment in kind) has been made to the referee for match fees.
Concerning college sides, for which the school requires information from the referee prior to payment being made - obtain all required information from the referee prior to the match, preferably during the mid-week pre-match confirmation.
Goalposts must be padded. Padding must be placed all around the circumference of the posts at a minimum of 2-inches thick and 5-feet high.
Prior to kickoff, either a certified doctor must be present or access to a phone at the field must be proven (all teams should have a First Aid Kit and someone familiar with First Aid at all matches).
These requirements are for your benefit and meeting them should not be a real burden on any club. The referee reports these "failures" on the "Buddy Kane" report card, which is submitted to the EPRRS Match Secretary by the referee. The referee may or may not elect to advise you on the decision to file a report. Referees will make a reasonable attempt to alert clubs to problems prior to kickoff to allow for corrections.
The Laws of the Game www.irfb.com
Be sure your club obtains a number of current Law Books. They are re-issued annually by the International Rugby Board (iRB) can be obtained through the East Penn Rugby Referees Society or rugby equipment suppliers.
Referee Teaching Sessions
Each club is welcome and encouraged to invite a local referee to a practice session to discuss certain Laws or refereeing strategies and priorities. We believe that this will help your club to better understand The Laws and objectives of the game as the referee sees it, and therefore, increase the chances for your club's success. Post-match the referee is available to discuss, in a friendly manner, any questions about the match or the Laws in general.
Assignment of Referees
Assignments will be posted on the EPRRS website (www.eastpennrugby.org) optimally by Monday evening prior to the weekend. If not posted Monday evening, the page should be reviewed regularly as the EPRRS is likely scrambling to assign in a situation where availability is low.
The Match Secretary is responsible for identifying that the match is appropriately listed and that a referee is assigned.
Immediately advise the EPRRS Match Secretary if there are any changes to a scheduled (or unscheduled) match.
Due to issues with the number of referees available to handle the number of games on any given day, it may be necessary that the EPRRS adjust the kick-off time of a prescheduled match. Please be aware of the kick-off time listed on the Refs Society’s website Assignments page for this reason.
Failure to report a cancelled match to the EPRRS will likely result in the home club being fined as noted in "Assessments."
Referee information can be found on the EPRRS website.
If a match is currently unassigned, the assignment will be listed as 'TBD.' In these cases, the EPRRS will continue to work to provide coverage, but teams should look to make alternate arrangements (club refs, rescheduling, etc.).
Maintain contact with the EPRRS Allocations Officers regarding any changes or unassigned matches.
No EPRU member may invite a non-EPRU referee to do a match (or tournament) unless the EPRRS has been contacted. All invitations are made through the EPRRS.
Referees may not be assigned to matches where "rogue" clubs are participating (i.e. teams that are not members of any recognized rugby football union).
If a referee is not assigned to your "B" or "C" side match, it is incumbent upon the home club to provide a capable referee. (This is another reason for sending club members to the Annual Referees Training Clinic).
Pre-Match Preparations
The Match Secretary of the home team MUST make contact with your assigned Society referee or Club referee NO LATER THAN 3 DAYS before the match (i.e. Wednesday prior to a Saturday match, etc.).
If no contact is made within that time, it is highly likely that the referee will be assigned to an uncovered match, if the situation exists. It is also possible that your club will be fined as noted in "Assessments."
It is important to note that "making contact with the Referee involves a two-way dialogue (phone call or e-mail response).
Do not assume that an e-mail to a referee is sufficient.
If you cannot establish verbal contact/confirmation with the referee, or you do and find out they are unable to do your match, call the EPRRS Match Secretary immediately.
The pre-match conversation should include, but is not limited to:
Providing Directions
fi Confirming kick-off time
Confirming opponents and kit colors
Discussing amount and method of payment
Exchange of cell phone numbers in case of late changes to any of the items listed above
Your Captain knows who your Touch Judge will be; this person knows rugby and is available to run touch for the entire game.
Prior to taking the field, your Captain is confident that all player's dress conforms to Law (4) and the USARFU Directive on Player's Dress, along with EPRU Kit Requirements. Be sure ALL PLAYERS know this!
The field is properly lined and marked in accordance with The Plan (as found in the Law Book).
The spectator rope is properly in place (5 meters back from the touch line on the populated side, or both sides if needed) from goal line to goal line and goal posts are properly padded.
The match starts on time.
All players and reserves are covered by a medical/sports accident insurance policy of at least $100,000.
All players are eligible to compete as per East Penn, Mid Atlantic or USA Rugby requirements.
Treatment of Referees
The East Penn Rugby Referees Society expects only first class treatment of its members, guest referees, or any person who is willing to pick up the whistle and give his or her best effort. The behavior of players towards a referee should reflect the attitude of its club. This attitude should be demonstrated to a referee before, during, and after the match. The referee should be made to feel welcome upon arrival at the field and during other matches. He or she should also be invited to any post-match party or similar festivities. It is recognized that their on-the-field efforts may not necessarily please every player, coach, and spectator, however a person's willingness to do a job that very few others are willing to do, deserves everyone's respect and appreciation. Once a match is over, we encourage friendly discussions with the referee regarding any of the calls, Laws, etc. If anyone wishes to comment on the referee's performance (either positive or negative), a match report form is available on www.eastpennrugby.org.
Every referee, like every player, will make mistakes during a match or even have a "bad" game. We must accept this and work together to further our development as players and referees.
"In the game of life, as in other sports, you can pick out the winners, --- they're the ones who aren't complaining about the officiating." ~ Bill Vaughan
All players are required to wear appropriate uniform and the referee has the power to decide whether non-compliance is dangerous. The referee should, when the ball is dead, allow time for a player to replace or repair a badly torn jersey or shorts. He must not allow time for a player to re-tie or repair a bootlace. Notwithstanding the above, if a team chooses to use tear-away jerseys, it accepts the consequences that a referee may require a player to change his jersey on the sideline while the game continues.
Studs of a player's boots must be of rubber, aluminum or any approved plastic. No metal, other than aluminum, is permitted. Studs may not contain nails. The following studs are banned:
a. plastic studs with a metal cap
b. American football boots with female studs, i.e., having a threaded post that can become exposed
The molded plastic/rubber soled boot is permissible. No matter what composition, no studs may have sharp edges. All referees are encouraged to inspect studs on a regular basis, especially in areas where the game is played on hard surfaces.
3. A player must not wear any hard or unyielding material, even if taped or otherwise covered. Even if a form of protective covering is permitted (see below) it cannot be attached by metal or plastic buckles even if the latter are covered.
The following protective clothing or devices are permitted.
plastic mouth guard
shin guards, even if constructed of hard plastic, provided they are worn inside the socks and there are no hard edges or corners
sweat bands on head or wrist
knee and elbow elastic covering
Scrum caps made of cloth, soft leather, or soft, readily pliable plastic are permitted. The ears may be taped around the head. Padded headgear with the IRB stamp of approval is allowed.
Elastic or cloth knee braces are permitted provided they do not contain metal or plastic struts even if covered with tape or foam rubber. Any form of knee brace that contains plastic or metal is prohibited.
Padded shoulder/chest harnesses with the IRB stamp of approval are allowed. Padding of cotton, soft rubber, or similar material is permitted to protect an open wound or scab other than on the hand or arm.
Any device containing plastic or metal to protect a broken nose or other face bones is prohibited.
I. Standard Phrases - USA Rugby Refereeing Established July 2000
The standard phrases below, established in July 2000, were devised to create consistent communications between referees and players on game day. Referees, Coaches, and Players alike should strive to become familiar with this terminology to make on-field communication as effective as possible.
These phrases are to be used regularly by referees and, if at all possible, include the color and number of the player for whom the message is intended.
Tackle Situation
Roll away - Either tackler or tackled player - move away from tackle
Play it - Tackled player do something with the ball
Release it - Tackled player hands off ball
Ruck or Maul or Tackle
Stay on your feet - Arriving players stay on feet at tackle or ruck, or when approaching player on ground who just gathered ball
Through the Gates - Arriving players should enter the breakdown from their team's side of the breakdown and directly behind it (not from the sides)
Ruck formed - Determines when offside lines are created as a result of ruck formation
Hands off - Players involved in ruck must not play the ball with their hands
Back foot - Offside line is last foot, either at lineout, ruck, or maul. Can now be expanded to tackle.
Maul formed - Same as ruck - offside lines created
Scrum or Maul
Keep it up - Keeps players in set scrum or maul on their feet
Binding - Warning to players to keep proper bind in set scrum
Use it - Warning to get ball out of scrum or maul soon, or it will be a turnover
Hold - Keep forwards from engaging in a set scrum before the "engage" signal from referee
Engage - Referee is happy with pre-formation of scrum, OK to engage
Push straight - Keep front rows from coming in at angle
No boring - Same as above
Bind on the back (Binds Up) -Props must bind on the back of opposite, not on his/her own knee or opposing prop's arm.
Arm up - Props keep arms relatively parallel to ground
Back rows stay bound - Back row players must stay bound until ball is out of scrum. Used to keep defensive Number 8 from releasing early and offensive Number 8 from "driving the chariot"
In straight - Either scrum feed or lineout throw - keep it straight
No delay - Get ball into scrum or lineout quickly
Lineout
Gap - wide tunnel at lineout
Stay on side - obvious
Ten meters - reminder of offside line at lineout, penalties, etc.
Offsides in General
Get back or Last Foot - Move offside players into on-side position
Freeze - Advancing player in open play should not advance
Advantage
Advantage - Add team color to broadcast that advantage is on.
Advantage over - Lets both teams know that play will not be brought back for original infraction.
Phrases are available in PDF format. Click here to download Phrases.
J. A Player's Guide to Touch Judging Touch judges, along with the referee, have a prime responsibility for the efficient administration and regulation of the game to which they are appointed. The safety and enjoyment of the match, by all participants, is - in part - their responsibility. It is therefore essential that the touch judges fully understand and correctly perform their duties. The following guide is intended for the player who touch judges and should be complemented by additional specific directions from a particular referee. Please share this guide with every player on your club and 'ask' them to read it.
The guide is available in PDF format. Click here to download a Player's Guide to Touch Judging.
K. Referee Advance Payment Plan - Rev. 3 - 4/26/02 The Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Referees Society (EPRRS) provides rugby refereeing services to Rugby Football Clubs (club) that are members in good standing of the East Penn Rugby Union (EPRU). The EPRRS offers an Advance Payment Plan (APP) for use for the payment of these services. The purpose of this plan is to arrange pre-payment of referee match/tournament fees by the host rugby club prior to the match taking place. The advance payment would be collected by the EPRRS prior to the start of each season.
This Plan does NOT guarantee availability of a referee for all scheduled matches, nor does it give clubs who participate in this Plan a higher priority in the assignment of referees versus those clubs who do not participate in this Plan. It provides a convenience for simplifying the payment process by those clubs wishing to use this Plan.
If any member club of the EPRU would like to utilize the APP, please comply with the following steps:
Contact EPRRS Treasurer, Michael Cook, 823 Ormond Avenue, Drexel Hill, PA 19026 or by email at: michael_n_cook@yahoo.com and request an APP billing form/invoice which will identify the EPRRS EIN (Employee Identification Number).
Each club will be sent an APP billing form/invoice for submission of a payment based on $75 per referee per home match. The number of home matches will be determined by the EPRU based on the club's match schedule submitted to the EPRU. Schedules are due to the EPRU on August 1 for the Fall season and February 1 for the Spring season. Upon receipt of this money, payable by check to the "EPRRS" (or "East Penn Rugby Referees Society"), each club will receive a line-of-credit amount equal to this payment. If a University wants to do utilize this plan for both a men and a women's club, please pay separately for each club, so separate records can be kept.
Whenever matches are played and EPRRS assigned referees provide services, the host club will be debited the actual amount of the referee fee, as outlined in the current EPRRS match fee schedule (this schedule can be found at the EPRRS website at: www.eastpennrugby.org), plus an administrative fee of $15. This administrative fee will be assessed for each "A" side match and per referee for tournaments as arranged under the APP. If the same referee, does either a second match for the home club or the same university (whether a "B" side match or an match by a different gender team), only a single administrative fee will be assessed; in this case, each club will be debited one-half of the $15 administrative fee. If a match is refereed by a referee that is not assigned by the EPRRS, payment arrangements are to be made between the host club and that particular referee.
Whenever a club's line-of-credit reaches approximately $75, the club will be contacted for preference in rebilling an agreed-to amount or paying the referee on the day of the match.
At any time, a club may opt to pay the referee on the day of the match, the normal referee match fee as established by the EPRRS.
At the end of each season, each club will be provided with a detailed accounting of services and debits against their line-of-credit.
www.learnrugbylaws.com A free resource to help referees, players and fans enhance their rugby law knowledge.
Boyd Barker is a referee with the Society of Texas Rugby Referees in the south-central United States. Boyd created the quiz to help better himself on the knowledge of rugby Law. He created a Web site to avail this tool to anyone with a passion for the game and the desire to increase their knowledge of it. The Laws of the Game are modified regularly by the International Rugby Board. The questions contained in the quiz are based on the Laws and amendments and are updated regularly.
The EPRU Referees Society Home page is located at www.eastpennrugby.org.
A. Recruitment and Training of Referees
D. Exchange of Referees