The IRB Level 1 Officiating course is appropriate for those individuals interested in refereeing mini, junior, and high school games – this includes U12-U18 age grade club rugby. This certification is also recommended for Assistant Refereeing senior level games. The cost is about $100 for adults, and $40 for individuals under 18 years of age during the year of the course.

Two things to note:

1. Though you will learn more about rugby law, this is not a law information course – you can get more law info at the new gorgeous IRB Law website.
2. If you have a few years of rugby experience, Level 1 Officials is not necessary as a pre-requisite for Level 2 Officiating. If you have little or no rugby experience, taking Level 1 is recommended before taking Level 2.

Also included are the Officials’ Workbook, IRB Law Book, ACME thunderer whistle, note book, referee positioning guide, and refreshments.

The syllabus takes about 8 hours to complete, plus a short lunch break.
15 min – overview of IRB training streams
45 min – game knowledge
30 min – role of the referee
30 min – positioning & communication
30 min – practical: restart with kicks
30 min – practical: open play
30 min – practical: advantage
[lunch]
30 min – practical: contact (ruck maul tackle)
30 min – practical: restart with scrum
45 min – practical: touch and restart with lineout
30 min – practical: foul play
60 min – season planning
30 min – feedback and wrap up

We typically mix the more chatty areas with the practical application so it is not all talk, then all action. We have discussion sections, video clips, practical movement drills, and so on. We do include a short take-home test for participants to complete and to email the responses to us within the month – this is not a pass or fail type of thing, it is just to help the new officials get used to the Law Book and thinking about situations before the field experience.

We will provide referee coaches & mentors at the first few games if desired, and we will have the new officials Assistant Referee (touch) at as many games as possible to provide more practice in thinking like an official.