The Down Referee’s Administration Committee are currently seeking to recruit new football and hurling referees for the 2016 season. Full training shall be provided for new recruits in accordance with guidelines set down by the National Referees Committee in Croke Park.
Ideal candidates are young people that are either still playing or have recently retired from our games. At first glance a lot of people might well ask, “Who would be a referee”, but it is a role that quite apart from being essential to the future of our games, has many benefits and rewards.
Why Become a GAA Referee?
- Stay involved with the game as an alternative to playing
- Fitness – It’s a great way to keep fit
- Ambition – could you referee a County Final or even an All-Ireland?
- Learn more about the game
- Give Something Back – offers players, at the end of their playing days, the opportunity to continue in the sport
- Personal Development – helps to develop personal skills that are of value in all walks of life
What qualities are required to become a GAA Referee?
- Good knowledge of the playing rules
- Be physically and mentally fit
- Have the ability to remain calm
- Have the moral courage to take decisions which are correct
We would appeal to your club to consider who within your ranks might be interested and capable of making a real difference to the standard of our games. It is not such a daunting task as young referees are primarily appointed to underage games where they can progress as they feel comfortable and there is a full support network in place for them.
The training takes place over three sessions. The first session shall be in the Burrendale Hotel on Monday 15th February at 7.30pm. The second session is taken online via the Croke Park website. The third session shall be on Friday 19th February at 7.30pm in the Burrendale Hotel.
We ask that your club actively seeks out and encourages new people to come forward take up the whistle. We would also ask that your club also uses its social media to see if someone you haven’t thought of might come forward.
Please forward the names, ages and contact details of those wishing to receive training as new referees to myself as soon as you can to Seamus O’Hanlon, Secretary.referees.down@gaa.ie
