April 21, 2010

To the ERU rugby community and stakeholders;

We need more referees. The spring of 2010 has affected the ERU Referee Society in ways we could not have predicted. Well, actually that is not true – we all knew this time was going to come, this includes club administration and players.

Not foreseeable, there was the Iceland volcano incident which is keeping at least 5 of our regular officials off the pitch for the beginning of the high school season and our biggest tournaments. However, we are also affected by life cycles as well as the economy.

First, we have a large population of our referee society membership who are in the squeezed generation, or better the sandwich generation. These are involved and caring individuals who are looking after their elderly parents; at the same time, they have children who are leading exciting lives, all while the individuals themselves are contemplating and preparing for retirement. All of these factors are natural and unquestionable priorities over refereeing.

Secondly, many people have experienced cut backs from last year’s downturn in the economy. Though things are looking up for us as consumers, as employees we have been affected by layoffs at work, downsizing, or simply not being able to find able replacements for those baby boomers who have retired and are retiring, etc.; in many industries the same work has been spread over fewer people for many reasons. Many are all having to work longer hours – or simply working harder in the same amount of hours! There is an overwhelming feeling of being spread thin. This is creating more pressure or stress for many individuals; in order to keep healthy mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, we are all needing to balance fully the quality time with loved ones and other leisure activities.

Additionally, we have members who are currently injured, and those who simply prefer to referee less than 40 games per season. There are many other reasons why we have come to this point of needing more referees.

Last year the ERURS officiated over 600 games with basically 40 active referees, refereeing from 5 to 60 games each. This year we will be officiating over 700, and have 70% of the manpower we had last year. Rugby bodies and local organizations make more games, but are not making more referees. Having spammed many with imploring e-mails in February, and making “we need more referees” presentations at ERU and AJRA meetings in 2009, we cannot emphasize enough that the ERU needs more referees. And where do you think referees come from? Players.

We need more referees. Our entire rugby community is currently suffering from a diluted bystander effect where the referee society is being held responsible for a lack of referees while there are so few precious people stepping forward.

From the book Flirting with disaster by Gerstein and Ellsberg:

Even if people are aware of a problem, accept its potential harm, and are cognizant of what needs to be done to correct it, they may not be willing to support a solution inconsistent with their own self-interests, be they financial, political, or organizational. (2008, p. 64)

Recruit referees from your clubs, organize a time and a place and we will prepare training for your fabulous new recruits. Thank you.