Refereeing

9 Aug 2024 | 3 min |

Support for Match Officials

Setting up a Young Match Officials (YMO) Programme

A Young Match Official programme provides the opportunity for young people to experience a wide range of skills in a fun environment! Below you’ll find a quick guide to running a YMO Programme, the  YMO Guidebook plus other resources including funding and bringing more young volunteers into the game. 

    For your referee organisation, providing feedback to help your officials grow and develop is crucial. The RFU has a number of standard documents to help provide this feedback – from brand new referees up to experienced match officials.  

    Depending on the needs of the official will depend on the document which you may need to produce. Below is a copy of our three forms, alongside our Match Official Developer & Performance Reviewer Guidance, which will help support your documentation.

    Referee’s societies should look to utilise the online version of these forms via WhosTheRef.com 

    A support document that provides guidance on how to complete the Match Official Development Reports (Form 1, Form 2 and Form 3) and how to use the associated matrices. 

    A feedback document suitable for newly qualified match officials, those who officiate occasionally or experienced referees who would benefit from a light touch Development Review.

    A feedback document suitable for experienced referees in need of a more detailed Development Review and match officials who are part of a Development Squad/Academy.

    Suitable for match officials operating at Level 6 and below, the Match Official Development Report (Form 2) should be used to provide feedback on all referees participating in exchange appointments in England.

     

    A matrix document to assist the Match Official Developer in providing high quality, constructive developmental feedback in a consistent manner that meets the individual needs of the referee involved can also be found below. This is to assist the Match Official Developer in summarising the key strengths and development areas across the key officiating aspects.

    A Performance Review document to be used to support the development of match officials operating on Regional Groups and the National Panel. Only for use at Levels 3-5.

    A matrix document to assist the Match Official Developer in providing high quality, constructive developmental feedback in a consistent manner that meets the individual needs of the referee involved can also be found below. This is to assist the Match Official Developer in summarising the key strengths and development areas across the key officiating aspects.