Armagh GAA has launched its first Referee Development Academy for the county. A new and exclusive academy specifically for young people aged 16+ to develop skills and begin their refereeing journey.
To mark the announcement and get the Referee Development Academy underway an Open Night will take place on Thursday 9th March, from 7.30pm at the Box-It Athletic Grounds, Armagh.
Launching the initiative, Referees Administrator Henry McCloy commented,
“We are delighted to launch our first-ever Referee Development Academy, which is a completely new and fresh approach to recruiting and retaining referees.
“This 3-year pilot programme has been designed specifically to work with young people to develop their knowledge and skills, to enable them to become operational and experienced referees.
“We are inviting young people aged 16+ to come along to our Academy Open Night (Thurs 9th March), to hear about the exciting plans, details of training, expectations and incentives will you receive for being part of our new development squads.”
The Academy will operate three development squads:
- Intern Academy Squad (16-18 years)
- Youth Academy Squad (18-21 years)
- Senior Academy Squad (21+ years)
Each development squad will have specific training and support to develop and upskill individuals for club go-games, underage teams and Orchard Academy Squads while continuing to progress to adult level games. For more details on each development squad are outlined below.
Welcoming this new Referee Development Academy, Chairman Paul McArdle said,
“It’s been widely talked about at county board meetings not only in Armagh but across the association that we have a huge shortage of referees and we need a plan to help address this issue from the grassroots up. We need to start this process now, otherwise we will have lost more time and possibly more people who may be interested in picking up the whistle.
“Just like our football and hurling development squads we will now operate our first-ever Referee Development Academy, and I’m asking all our clubs and local post-primary schools to support this initiative by encouraging young people to come along to the Open Night and be part of this new and exciting initiative.
“We look forward to welcoming our young people on board and we will continue to take on board their views to develop this pilot into a long-term solution for our club underage and adult games.”
The 3-year pilot programme has been developed in conjunction with the provincial pathway to develop and recruit referees.
All details will be available at the Referee Development Academy Open Night.
Intern Academy Referee (16-18 years)
Year 1
- Complete Referee Foundation Course
- Officiate Club Go-Games at U8, U10, U12 level
- Officiate Half-time Games in the Athletic Grounds (National League / Championship / Club Championships)
- Support officials (linesperson and/or umpire) at in-house games being refereed for Orchard Academy Games at U13 – U17 Level.
- Travel with Orchard Academy Teams to support officials (linesperson and/or umpire) as games are completed.
Year 2
- Complete Referee In-Service Course (done on an annual basis)
- Attend In-Service Seminar (early in season)
- Complete Fitness Test
- Officiate Club Go-Games at U8, U10, U12 level
- Referee In House Games with Orchard Academy Teams at U15/U17 Level (Must be 18 years of age – and will be in receipt of expenses for these games.)
- Support your school or college in refereeing games / blitzes.
- Progress to Referee U14 / U16 games at Minor Board (will be in receipt of expenses for these games.)
After 2 years Intern Academy Referees will progress through to Foundation Level and will be assigned to League and Championship games which are appropriate in age and challenge. Full referee kit will be supplied at the end of the apprenticeship.
Youth Academy Referee (18-21 years)
Year 1
- Complete Referee Foundation Course
- Officiate Club Go-Games at U8 / U10 / U12 level.
- Officiate Half-time Games in the Athletic Grounds (National League / Championship / Club Championships)
- Support officials (linesperson and/or umpire) at in house games being refereed for Orchard Academy Games at U13 – U17 Level
- Travel with Orchard Academy Teams to support officials (linesperson and/or umpire) as games are completed
- Undertake to complete a total of 6 games as referee in any age grade of U14 (Tuesday) or U16 leagues (Thursday)
- Support Officials in Underage Championships (linesperson and/or umpire)
Year 2
- Complete referee in-service course (done on an annual basis)
- Attend in-service seminar (early in season)
- Complete fitness test
- Officiate Club Go-Games at U8, U10, U12 level
- Support your school or college in refereeing games / blitzes
- Referee in-house games with Orchard Academy Teams at U15/U17 Level (Must be 18 years of age at this point) – will be in receipt of expenses for these games.
- Progress to Referee U18 at Minor Board – will be in receipt of expenses for these games.
- Undertake to complete a total of 12 games as referee in any age grade of U14 (Tuesday), U16 (Thursday) or U18 leagues (Monday) – will be in receipt of expenses for these games.
After 2 years Youth Academy Referees will progress through to Foundation Level and will be assigned to League and Championship games which are appropriate in age and challenge. Full referee kit will be supplied at the end of the apprenticeship.
Senior Academy Referee (21+ years)
Year 1
- Complete Referee Foundation Course
- Officiate Club Go-Games at U8, U10, U12 level
- Officiate Half-time Games in the Athletic Grounds (National League / Championship / Club Championships)
- Support officials (linesperson and/or umpire) at in house games being refereed for Orchard Academy Games at U13 – U17 Level.
- Travel with Orchard Academy Teams to support officials (linesperson and/or umpire) as games are completed.
- Undertake to complete a total of 9 games as Referee in any age grade of U14 (Tuesday), U16 (Thursday) or U18 leagues (Monday) – will be in receipt of expenses for these games.
- Support Officials in Underage Championships (linesperson and/or umpire)
Year 2
- Complete Referee In-Service Course (done on an annual basis)
- Attend In-Service Seminar (early in season)
- Complete Fitness Test
- Officiate Go Games at their club when hosting at U8 / U10 / U12 level
- Referee In House Games with Armagh Academy Teams at U15/U17 Level (Must be 18 years of age at this point) – will be in receipt of expenses for these games
- Progress to Referee U18 at Minor Board – will be in receipt of expenses for these games
- Undertake to complete a total of 12 games as Referee in any age grade U14 (Tuesday), U16 (Thursday) or U18 leagues (Monday) – will be in receipt of expenses for these games
- Club challenge games
- Reserve League games
After 2 Years Senior Academy Referees will progress through to Foundation Level and will be assigned to League and Championship games which are appropriate in age and challenge. Full referee kit will be supplied at the end of the apprenticeship.
Incentives
- Supplied with whistle, notebook & inserts and full referee kit for duty.
- Development mentoring sessions and workshops
- Exclusive Armagh Referee Academy training top and rain jacket.
Benefits of becoming a referee:
- Expenses: £40 match fee per game
- Supplied with exclusive referee kit
- Be an active participant in the games you love
- Keep fit
- Support your club by ensuring your club’s games are fulfilled
- Develop your management & communication skills
- Enhance your CV – Sporting Qualification & Experience
- Develop your coaching capabilities
- Help raise the standard of our games
- Increase your network of friends
- Progress to Provincial & National Level*