Touch rugby develops officials

By Adel Fruean 17 October 2018, 12:00AM

The first touch rugby referee course level one is part of critical steps being taken to develop the sport in Samoa.

The course makes up the Samoa Touch Rugby Incorporated’s (S.T.R.I.) strategic plan to develop officials which will help grow the sport.

On top of that, they also want to adopt and adapt similar processes that New Zealand and Australia have and therefore have Samoa’s very own badging system of referees, according to the President of S.T.R.I., Mailata Michael Wulf. 

There are four levels and in Samoa the highest qualification will be level four.

The core parts of the level one course will cover creating career pathways, ways to progress to the next level and what skills, characteristics, attributes and commitment levels that participants will require and additionally it will touch basis on a lot of in depth technical information. 

Associate Referee Director, Ioane Mita said that traditionally a lot of the referees in the past have gone through Touch New Zealand in reference to the courses but the problem is that there is no follow up, and there is no career pathway for Samoan based touch rugby referees. 

“With the launch of our new qualification framework and coaching delivery practices it means now we will be able to deliver a qualifications and accreditation system and programme.”

“From here we will move into the next step which is actually accrediting these referees which they will do the theory component and pass the exam and through the national referee’s director if there are those who want their referee’s badge accredited will request an endorsement to Asiata Seve Gerard Anapu and if he is happy to endorse them which then they will undergo an assessment to ensure they meet the criteria to support that.”

 “It is also significant for our local referees to get international experience which we already established relationships with New Zealand and Australia,” said Ioane.

Ioane added that he sees a phenomenal potential for the growth of touch rugby in Samoa.

By Adel Fruean 17 October 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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