SA refs go recruiting

SA Rugby and the SA Rugby Referees’ Society will launch a national advertising campaign during November and December that aims to attract new recruits to the country’s refereeing ranks.

The campaign forms part of a Referees Recruitment and Awareness drive that was launched earlier this year in response to the decline in the number of amateur referees in South Africa in recent years. 

The advertising campaign seeks to raise awareness to the recruitment campaign whilst also serving as a call to action for prospective referees across South Africa to register for Level 1 training courses.

André Watson, CEO of SA Rugby Referees, said: “The 14 SARU Provinces will hold their refereeing coaching courses early in 2009 and we are hoping that this campaign will increase awareness of these activities.

“Since the launch of our campaign in February there has already been an increase in the number of people enquiring about becoming referees as well as in the general awareness around refs and refereeing. We are confident that this national awareness drive will provide further impetus and ensure that Level 1 courses across all Provinces are well attended come next year.”

Since 2004, the overall number of amateur rugby referees in South Africa decreased by 22%, and the National Recruitment and Awareness Campaign was developed to address this shortfall. 

Watson said: “To effectively provide match officials for club and schools fixtures on any given weekend, we should have approximately 8 300 amateur referees.

“With fewer than 2 000 refs presently, there is a significant shortfall. We hope that the National Recruitment drive will rectify the situation by increasing the number of amateur referees in all 14 SARU provinces. 

“Swelling the referees’ ranks is also important in terms of ensuring long-term sustainability for the provision of professional referees. We therefore need to identify talent at grassroots to maintain our reputation for producing world class match officials.”

The National Recruitment and Awareness Campaign encompasses a three-pronged strategy – a National Recruitment drive, awareness through the media, as well as a drive to educate all key stakeholders with regard to the Laws of the Game and their attitudes towards referees.

Watson said: “Whilst the recruitment campaign will be managed nationally, the 14 provinces, and specifically their refereeing structures, will be crucial to the success of the campaign. 

“They have existing programmes in place and relationships on the ground to give effect to the campaign. The key to success is based on the synergy between the national campaign and the actual training of new recruits across the country.”