CALLING ALL REFEREES

With the growing expansion of the AMNRL across the United States, and by the USA qualifying for the 2013 World Cup in Great Britain, the league needs more qualified officials to meet the growing demands of the upcoming season and beyond.

 

“I have put in place a three-year Strategic Plan for training and developing referees to meet the needs of the AMNRL domestic competition and the fast developing game of rugby league across the United States,” AMNRL director of match officials Rob Irwin told WeAreRugby.

 

“It’s an important and exciting time for rugby league and the AMNRL. We have a new bigger AMNRL domestic season, several international games on the calendar for this year and then of course the RLWC in 2013.”

 

The AMNRL is closely associated with the Australian Rugby League and Queensland Rugby League Referees Association, and as such, will have access to current training and development materials for training match officials in the US.

 

“For rugby league to successfully grow here in the States, it is so imperative that we have a healthy number of fully qualified local match officials that I can call on to referee all of our AMNRL and also affiliated league games,” continued Irwin.

 

“In my goals for this year is a concentrated training and development plan to recruit and train more officials. Flowing on from this, I want to be able to develop local referees that are good enough and can take the next step up and officiate in the international arena.”

 

AMNRL referee training clinics and online resources are currently being finalized to assist with the training and development of referees and touch judges. Dates and course details will be available on the AMNRL website later this month.

 

“As I said earlier, this is an exciting time for the development of rugby league in America and it’s a pleasure to be a part of it, and most importantly, I want to ensure the referees are fully qualified and ready to help take league to the next level.

 

“The people of America will just love this game when they have the opportunity to see it on a regular basis and at great competitive level!”

 

Any current registered qualified referees or people interested in starting as a match official will have courses and materials available to them to officiate in the upcoming AMNRL season.

For further information contact Rob Irwin at robbirwin99@hotmail.com

 

Snapshot of Year 1 of Strategic Plan

 

AMNRL Training and Development Clinics during February, March and April 2012 (see AMNRL website for updates).

 

Training of a minimum of two game-day officials from every team in the AMNRL domestic competition for roles of touch judges and duty officials.

 

Identify, train and develop local referees to officiate at a minimum level of AMNRL fixture games.

 

Identify, train and develop current referees to officiate at all affiliated AMNRL fixture games across America.

 

Continue the training and development of referees in the AMNRL Hawaii competition with Australian referees officiating at international games this year and conducting training and development clinics.

 

The AMNRL referees website with training and development programs, updates on rules and appointments etc.

 

Bio: Rob Irwin

Referee with AMNRL 9 years

Brisbane Rugby League referee 26 years

Level 5 ARL referee

Level 1 ARL Referees Coach