SA Referees' course 2013
The annual course for South African referees takes place towards the end of the month – a big and comprehensive course for top match officials and their coaches.
The course will take place at Sediba Kwele, a popular venue in the Bushveld, some 430 km beyond Brits, on the banks of two rivers, each with a waterfall. There is a game reserve, a dam with fish and a sportsfield. There are buildings for accommodation, dining, assembly and conferences.
The major beneficiaries will be 50 match officials – the referees on panels, the specialist assistant referees and the 10 TMOs. The referees’ coaches and the referees’ council will also attend. There will be four absentees – Craig Joubert and Jaco Peyper will be overseas preparing for the Six Nations while Rasta Rashivenga and Jason Jafta will be away on IRB Sevens duty.
Neville Heilbron is the organiser of the camp and those giving courses will be André Watson, Tappe Henning, Mark Lawrence, Balie Swart, Pieter de Villiers, who played prop for France, Rassie Erasmus, Deon van Blommestein and Eugene de Villiers.
There will be fitness Tests, conducted by the University of Pretoria, an exam for all match officials, team building exercises, role-playing and much fun.
Boots 'n All will be broadcast from the camp. There is the distinct possibility that Boots 'n All will include 10-minute slots on refereeing during the year.
An interesting innovation at this camp will be the input of two ladies from the University of Stellenbosch, Mareli Pretorius and Anel Joubert. They will be running sessions with the referees aimed at the development of effective communication, starting with body awareness development, which includes body language, and vocal development.
The programme includes the following:
Day 1, Sunday, 27 January 2013
After the arrival, there will be discussion of the athletes management system, which enables the referee to check on himself and others for check on him in his preparation and performance, including his fitness.
Law amendments will be explained. Those that apply South Africa in 2013 – including the extended powers of the TMO, the reduced calls at scrum engagement, the quick throw-in from touch and the five-second opportunity to play the ball at a tackle or ruck. There are other aspects – the extended half-timer, the front stud on boots, the time allowed for a conversion (90 seconds after the try has been scored), the option of a line-out when a knock-on or a forward pass goes into touch and the option of another line-out instead of a penalty or a free kick at a line-out infringement.
Both the athletes management system and the law explanation will be done with me powerpoint.
Day 2, Monday, 28 January 2013
There is a big two hours in the morning when referees do fitness tests.
At the same time the TMOs will be checking decisions in the interest of consistency and referee coaches will have a clinic.
Then for two hours, Balie Swart and Pieter de Villiers will deal with scrums, always an important topic at courses..
After lunch there will be team building and a course for assistant referees.
Day 3, Tuesday, 29 January 2013
The main topics will be the tackle and offside at the ruck.
Day 4, Wednesday, 30 January 2013
The main topics will be the tackle and the maul on the field with Balie Swart and Pieter de Villiers, followed by defending the maul with Tappe Henning.
Day 5, Wednesday, 31 January 2013
This is the day of examination – the written exam and then examination by clips for referees and for assistant referees.
The course ends.
