There are several clubs that appear to be unclear on proper procedures for requesting and confirming referees.

We need clubs to review the procedures for requesting and confirming referees. Several referee assignments have been canceled due to lack of proper request or confirmation.

This information is copied below and available at:

http://floridarugbyunion.org/referees/

Thank you for taking the time to review so your club is current.

If you have any non-league friendlies planned for the period from Jan 1- April 1 we are requesting these dates be submitted prior to December 1. During the league season league games will be given priority assignment over friendlies, but earlier requests are more likely to get coverage.

Referee Confirmation/Request Proecedures

This is protocol for all matches. Specific protocols for friendly/league games are listed below. Assignments will be posted no later than the Sunday prior to the upcoming match at http://www.rugbyfl.com.   The referee then needs to be confirmed with KO and match location no later than the Wednesday prior to the match. If you do not confirm your referee by Wednesday they will be re-assigned and you WILL NOT get a referee for your match. If you confirm then cancel after the Wednesday deadline (Thursday onward) then you will be charged the referee match fee. If this is due to a last minute cancellation by a visiting FRU club the home club can petition FRU to bill the visiting club the match fee.

Referee Contact List

The referee’s match fee is paid by the home club at the venue on the day in accordance with the fee schedule listed below ($60 per match, abbreviated matches ie. B games will be paid at a rate of $1.00 per minute not to exceed normal match fee of $60). Ref fees are paid prior to kickoff. Travel fees are paid (0.25/mile) for friendly matches but not for league games.

Any changes to matches, league or friendly, need to be confirmed with the FRRA VP, Gerry Fitzgerald, and if a league game, also confirmed with the VP of competitions for that division. Normal KO is at 2PM. If a different KO is required, this needs to be approved by the FRRA.

Friendly Matches

Referees are to be requested via the FRRA VP, Gerry Fitzgerald, for all matches including friendlies. If you are concerned about paying travel fees for friendlies and have a local certified ref, you can contact Gerry and let him know you have confirmed a local, certified ref, and he can either approve or deny the assignment- you will need to provide the referees name and contact 7 days before the end of the calendar month for the next month’s schedule (the month of your match ie if match is in October you need to let him know by 9/23). This assures that assigned referees are current with their certification and that there is liability coverage for the match with use of a certified ref. You cannot use non-certified referees like coaches or alums to ref your matches as there is an increase in liability as well as a likely decrease in match quality due to using someone that is not current or trained. Playing a match with a non-certified referee may result in fines and club suspension.

The club requesting the referee is responsible for the payment of the match fee and travel expenses if requested by the referee, at the venue on the day of the match. Travel fees are paid (0.25/mile) for friendly matches but not for league games.

League Matches

Schedules are sent by the competitions chair to the FRRA on behalf of all clubs.

The referee’s travel expenses and the assistant referee’s travel expenses (if assigned) are reimbursed by the FRRA for League games but not for friendly games. When certified assistant referees are assigned or requested, the home club is responsible for the match fee to each individual AR.

Any changes to matches, league or friendly, need to be confirmed with the FRRA VP, Gerry Fitzgerald, and if a league game, also confirmed with the VP of competitions for that division.

Match Fee Pay Scale per game

All Referees $60 (paid by Home Team). AR’s $30 (paid by Home Team). Referee Coach/Assessor $20 (paid by FRRA).