Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s ‘Volunteer with the Rhinos’ programme will be helping young people to take their first steps towards a career in Rugby League officiating and refereeing this season.
The programme got underway on the 27th February with the first workshop of the season on 'introduction to refereeing' at Stanningley ARLFC and 15 attendees from a number of community clubs across the city.
Despite inclement weather on the night ruling out any outdoor practical work, the young referees covered some classroom content including a quiz on the rules and scenarios of refereeing presented by programme leaders Russell Parker and Sam Horner from Leeds Rhinos Foundation.
Attendees from various community clubs including East Leeds, West Leeds, Dewsbury Celtic and Shawcross, were then able to learn from a number of visual aids covering the positioning of referees in game situations and given the task of demonstrating which signals are used for different rulings.
The evening also included information on the opportunities to work as volunteer with Leeds Rhinos Foundation and qualifications on coaching and refereeing available for future refereeing development and accreditation.
Volunteer and refereeing opportunities included supporting Leeds Rhinos match days as half time referees, high school and primary school rugby festival refereeing, refereeing at Leeds Rhinos Foundation run events such as Rhinos Challenge and the Dick Gibson Ambassadors Festival, plus lots of opportunities to work as festival coordinators and help the coaching on camps.
Leeds Rhinos Foundation would like to thank to Paul Chippindale, who provided useful insight and support on the night, passing on his experience as a career referee and developer of young referees.
'Volunteer with the Rhinos' workshops will continue in March and April with further workshops on an 'introduction to coaching' and 'refereeing modified games' workshop suitable for those looking to volunteer on Tag, Touch and Small sided rugby formats.
Please contact Russell.Parker@leedsrhinosfoundation.org if you would like to get involved. Full details of the workshops can be found below.
LEEDS RHINOS FOUNDATION VOLUNTEERS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS 2017
WORKSHOP 2: INTRODUCTION TO COACHING
DATE: MONDAY 13TH MARCH 6.30PM-8PM
VENUE: NORTH LEEDS LEOPARDS, FAR MOSS SPORTS GROUND, LS17 7NT
WORKSHOP 3: REFEREEING MODIFIED GAMES
DATE: MONDAY 10TH APRIL 6.30PM-8PM
VENUE: WEST LEEDS RLFC, WEST LEEDS SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB, 28 REDSHAW ROAD, LEEDS, LS12 1HH
WORKSHOP 4: COACHING/REFEREEING GAMES
AT THE LEEDS RHINOS V HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS GAME
DATE: THURSDAY 27TH APRIL 6PM-7.30PM
VENUE: STUMPS CAFÉ YORKSHIRE CRICKET SCHOOL, HEADINGLEY CARNEGIE STADIUM, ST MICHAELS LANE, LS6 3BR
To confirm your attendance at any of the workshops taking place in 2017 contact Russell.Parker@leedsrhinosfoundation.org