Referee Notes

Australian Law Book (Green) $12 plus postage and Referees Manual $10 plus postage, an aid to Law Book, are available from Equipment Officer, Croquet Queensland, 21 Little Jenner Street, Nundah Qld 4012.

State Director Refereeing Report 2004

I recently overheard a conversation between two (2) top Division players before they commenced a competitive match.

Player (a) "I'm a referee"

Player (b) "I am also"

Player (a) "We don't need a referee, we can look after ourselves"

Player (b) "Right o"

It is becoming a trend, especially in 1st and 2nd Division Matches, Inter-state and International where the Referee is "on Call" for up to 4 games. This person takes on the role of an Umpire, before and during the Event or a Referee on Appeal, after the Event when the Two (2) self confessed player/Referees can't sort out matters.

As State Director, I hope to see this trend reversed and with the help of the Regional Co-ordinators and Events Managers we can revert to the days when a Referee was "in Charge" of a Game or games, not snoozing on the side line awaiting the whim of a player.

Most of the Regions have a healthy number of competent Referees and Umpires ready to officiate in any Event held in their Region. My thanks go to all Regional Co-ordinators. The Referees and Umpires are well trained and conversant with the latest Rules and Methods of Refereeing and Umpiring.

My aim as a State Director is to see that every Regional Co-ordinator looks after his or her Region for recruiting and training. This has been very successful during 2004, resulting in -

1. Two players became Referees during the year. One each from DDR and BNR

2. Twenty six (26) players trained as Umpires during the year - Six (6) from BNR, One (1) BSR, Four (4) DDR, Three (3) from GCT, One (1) NQR, Seven (7) SCR, Four (4) WBBR

3. With Golf croquet becoming popular there has developed a need for referees. Four (4) from BNR and One (1) from GCR gained their badges.

4. Ninety percent of all Qld Referees became re-accredited for the next five (5) years

All Regional Co-ordinators and Examining Referees carried out their duties efficiently and effectively during 2004 and I sincerely thank them. It would be remiss of me if I did not thank the Referees and Umpires for making themselves available for the Refresher Courses and officiating at the Competitions.

Roy Donley (State Director of Refereeing)