General Statement on Assignment Policy
The New England Rugby Referees Society (NERRS) has one foremost goal when coordinating a referee to cover teams' fixture: to provide the right-level certified rugby referee who will to promote both safe and fair play so that players can in turn produce the best rugby games that they can deliver.
NERRS only assigns matches requested for NERRS and sometimes coordinates regionally through Atlantic North Coalition of Rugby Referees (ANCRR).
NERRS does not assign any referees for NIRA, D1A, WER, WPL, or MLR and only assigns assistant referees for ARP. For more details about these competitions' selection processes, please contact our RDO Jarrod Ford or President Amelia Luciano.
​
The process NERRS follows to assign matches is outlined below.​​
​
STEP 1) Referee's Report Availability and Communicate Season Goals
At the beginning of each season, it is up to referees to add their availability for the season (as best as they can anticipate) in Match Facts and to tell (email/text/phone) their local assignors their goals for the season. Referees should target completing these steps by the end of February for the Spring season and the end of August for the Fall season.
​
Example Goals:
-
I am happy with local matches within 30 miles from my house.
-
I want to be coached more often so I can referee NIRA/D1A/ARP/WER/WPL/MLR/National levels.
-
I'd like to have some more competitive matches this season.
-
I would only like to do slower level matches since I am in my elder years
-
I am new and need coaching to get better.
-
I only want to AR this season.
-
I am coming off an injury, so please assign me slower matches fist; we will evaluate moving forward.
​
This is a critical step in the process since coaching, selections, etc. are factored in after goal conversations.
STEP 2) NERRS Referee Grading + Evaluation of Potential
NERRS assignors, RDO, and President stack rank referees at the end of each season by the National grading system.
​
This system encompasses:
-
Fitness
-
Experience
-
Law knowledge
-
Game management
-
Commitment
-
Positioning/Work Rate
-
Application of materiality (i.e. penalty count)
-
Contextual judgement
-
Development potential
Though a referee may have a certain grade or ranking, limited availability in their schedule or in the number of games in New England may limit game options for them. If referees are proactive and consistently check all the boxes, like filling out disciplinary and match reports on time, these factors can help support their assignment to higher level matches.
​
STEP 3) ANCRR Assignments
The NERRS ranking is aggregated with lists from both RRSNY and NYRRS to create a top referee list across the NE/NY/NJ region.
The most competitive matches (Liberty Conference, D2 Men's Club, D1 Women's Club, Playoffs, etc.) are identified across the ANCRR region, and the referees in the aggregate ANCRR pool are assigned by ANCRR to these matches.
The highest ranked or most experienced referees do not always get the highest competitive matches. Developing referees reach a point where they need matches that challenge them for the next level. Referee's availability, realistic goals, game availability, game logistics, and the development process all play a role in these selections. This is why talking to assignors at the beginning of the season should help clarify the assignment process.
​
IMPORTANT: ANCRR level matches are a higher pace, and referees must be able to keep up with a high pace of play chasing twenty-something-year-olds in order to be eligible for these assignments.
STEP 4) NERRS Assignments
Whatever NERRS matches are not assigned by ANCRR are then assigned by the local assignors.
The local assignors coordinate with the Director of Appointments to provide the best coverage for the tournaments and matches in their area.
They leverage their knowledge to assess which matches are expected to be more tense plus require more skilled management and which matches are expected to present fewer challenges. They mutually collaborate to assign referees in our regions. The primary factors governing decisions are the grading system, game logistics, expected required game management, and referee experience. Other factors include the following:
-
NERRS has to cover all levels of rugby for our region.
-
Every referee will cover all levels of matches throughout the season.
-
NERRS tries not to assign a referee to the same team multiple times in a season.
-
As the season goes on, referees on a development track will be assigned more challenging matches.
-
Injuries/weather/changes happen, so every week there will be a last minute change of assignments.
If there is a change in assignments, it is not because a referee cannot handle the match, it is because NERRS needs to alter assignments to give each game appropriate coverage.
STEP 5) Playoff Appointments
At the end of the season, the referees on the development track who have shown commitment and improvements are given priority for playoffs while still giving the teams referees who are appropriate level for their matches.
​