Please find below a letter from the Tyrone Referees Administration Committee. We encourage all members to consider becoming a referee by taking part in these upcoming courses.
A Chara,
We are running training courses at the start of March for potential new referees. These would be based over 3 nights and would provide training and support for potential referees. New referees would be given mentoring support and would start to referee at youth level with a progression over time to senior. Enrolment for this course will be open until Friday 26th February 2016.
The criteria is for candidates that are 18 and over and have an interest in refereeing
Ideally every club should have 2 referees. We are aware that some clubs within the county have this in place, but we are also aware that some clubs have no representation at this level. Referees are an important factor within the GAA structures and in Tyrone numbers have been dropping over the last number of years due to retirement and injury. Last year we recruited 5 new referees and at the same time we have seen the retirement of 7 referee’s top referees. This has been the scenario over the last number of years. We as a committee can only do so much; the responsibility falls solely with the clubs to work with the Referees Committee to help solve the problem.
I ask the Question if a game hadn’t a referee where would we be.
A referee is as important to a Club as a player and the same emphasis should be put on the Club committee to identify a person within that club that has the qualities and ability to fulfil the role and represent his/her club in our games at all levels. Ideally we ask that you consider potentially retiring players; somebody who has the right resolve and temperament with an experience of the game. We also ask you to look at your Minor teams and identify the players who might not progress to playing at senior level.
As it stands we may struggle to fulfil all fixtures on the first day of the Adult League Season. Without some direct action by those concerned other possible options may have to be put in place regarding clubs who have no representation at refereeing level.
We ask you not to dismiss our concerns and give this issue immediate attention; we would like every club to have a new referee nomination by the 26th February 2016.
If you have any queries regarding recruitment please feel free to contact-
Eugene Mc Connell (Referees Administrator), Alan Richardson (Secretary) or Fabian Mc Glone (Recruitment Coordinator) via e–‐mail or mobile as detailed below.
Eugene – refereesadministrator.tyrone@gaa.ie 07775532917
Alan – alantyrefs@hotmail.com 07715211388
Fabian – fmcglone@hotmail.com 07881910872
