BECOMING A REFEREE - FOUNDATION COURSE
If you wish to qualify as a referee then you need to take a Foundation Course. Usually four 2.5 hour sessions over four weeks with an RFU exam in the final session. The Society runs courses 5 or 6 times a year and publishes details on this website. (see here).

REFEREEING YOUNGSTERS- MINI MIDI COURSE
To referee in the Continuum (ages Under 7 to Under 12) you should hold a Mini-Midi cerrtificate from the RFU. It is also now best practice to obtain CRB clearance as well (see below)shortly. The Society holds such courses on demand.

If you are interested in Foundation or Mini/Midi courses and can get 5 or more interested people together we will try and arrange a course for you at a local venue or your own club. Contact Allan Hughes

Cost £30.00. Cheques £15 payable to NMSRFR and £15 payable to RFU

REFEREEING YOUNGSTERS - CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU CLEARANCE
It is now regarded as compulsory (previously just best practice) for those who referee children under 19 to hold a CRB clearance certificate. Forms and procedure can be obtained from Dave L Thomas on 01159 499954. If you already have clearance through work please notify David. The Society's plan was to have to have everyone who referees at this level cleared by the start of the 2006/07 season. However, the RFU, at very short notice this year, have insisted on CRB clearance so we have had to accelerate the procedure with immediate effect. .

For this year, the Society's new policy is thatr anyone who has obtained a CRU certificate from another source (e.g. work, other sports) in the last three years can referee junior games provided that the send a note of their certificate number and date of clearance to Dave Thomas. Anyone who has a CRB certificate more thn 3 years old but less than 5 years old can referee PROVIDED THAT they have BOTH (1) provided the details to Dave Thomas AND (2) submitted a fresh application for clearance via the Society.

NEW DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR EXISTING REFEREES
For the 2005/06 season, the Society are introducing an Continuing Development Programme to keep referees up to date and encourage them to maximise their potential. For the 2005/06 this is experimental but given the RFU's current indications regarding its referees and the increasingly litigious nature of the game this is likely to become compulsory in the following season. Those who show promise will be assisted by the Society's mentors and referee trainers to progress to Federation and Midland Group appointments. The RFU have a training programme for the development of Elite referees which the Society has adopted.

For the vast majority of Members who do not aspire to such giddy heights the Society is introducing a points system to monitor the continued training of its members. The Society is keen to keep its members as well-trained as possible and be able to demonstrate this to outsiders. Recent court cases against referees have highlighted how important it is not only to keep members up to date but to be able to prove that you have done so.

HOW IT WORKS
Members will need to obtain at least 12 points per season. These can be collected in a number of ways. 3 or 4 points are awarded for attending monthly training meetings (points depend on meeting content - see programme below). Several special refresher courses will be held at club venues around the region. This will be one evening refresher courses and will be worth 12 points in themselves. There is no charge for any of these courses that are funded entirely by the Society out of club and member subscriptions.

Additional points can be obtained for teaching foundation courses to others (1pt per hour max 8 points). To encourage the giving out of report cards you can get 1 point per 4 report cards returned by clubs up to a maximum of 8 points. The Society also intends to introduce some online test/quizes that will be worth between 4 and 8 points as well as points for passing fitness tests (4 points).

The Society would like to stress that this is experimental and things may change over the course of the season. Whilst the last thing the Society wants to do is put people off refereeing it has a duty to its members and the the clubs and players to ensure that its referees are competent and as up to date as possible.

PROPOSED POINTS STRUCTURE (subject to change)

see Referee Page for a list of meeting dates