professional rugby referee

[Pegleg]

Good luck with your ambitions.

Ask questions think about the answers given and ask if and why they differ from your own answers.

Set short and long terms aims (Small and big wins). For example: Ref 10 games before Christmas. = Small win. Ref the RWC. = BIG win.

Accept that every now and then you'l lhave a poor game. Learn from them as much as the good ones.

Don't believe a player when he says you were the best ref he's ever had (especially props). What he really means is either: 1, his team won. or 2, he got away with murder.

By the same token if a player says you were crap, it could well mean that you were indeed poor today OR that everytrhinf he tried you were wiase to or his team lost.

Take praise and criticism from players and coaches with the same pinch of slt

Listen to your assessors and to other refs.

If you have no game go and watch a ref at your level, watch their positioning learn what works and what does not work. talk to them.

Don't take your positioning from the elite guys. They have ARs and TMOs you do not. You need to be in different poositions to Barnes, Owens etc.

When your fit enough.......................get fitter!

Concerning the dyslexia. Don't worry! when it comes to report writing etc there will be plenty of people in your society who will help you all the way.

[SimonSmith]

Much of what Pegleg writes is good.

I'd add- worry about what you can control. You can control your fitness, your law knowledge, things like that.
There will be things that you can't control - demands of work conflicting with rugby, perhaps. You need to let go of the angst of that.

And make sure your partner is supportive -refereeing is a big commitment, even if you aren't Elite-bound. Someone who will support you in your endeavours will make life a lot easier.

And above all - enjoy it

- - - Updated - - -

Is that #9's?

You were supposed to find the 'joke' about dyslexia funny.

[Dixie]

Lots of good advice here Joeweston - and don't worry about the written stuff. We can all understand what you write, and there is no requirement for written perfection in refereeing.

I would mention that you need a very strong backup plan in case you don't make it to the top. There are only about 50 National Panel referees (or above) in the whole of the UK, and very few of those make enough from reffing to give up the day job. Some have found work with the RFU to enable them to earn a living from rugby, but the vast majority even of the Top 50 do a day job and fit their training and reffing around it.

If you think about the numbers, there are about 50 paid professionals at any pro game - and only one of them is a referee. It is much harder to get high enough to earn a living in this role than it is in any other aspect of pro rugby, so the importance of a backup plan cannot be overstated.

[Dickie E]

and don't argue the toss with your assessors, mentors, coaches, whatever they are called these days. Take all feedback on board, discuss, digest and use what is beneficial. You don't want a reputation as a know-it-all.

[Robert Burns]

And Dickie would know!

[L'irlandais]

Mister Burns, I hear you've been busy on the Sevens scene. So tell us, did you bump into Al Murray, or indeed any other famous folk, at the Hong Kong Sevens?

[L'irlandais]

Hello Joeweston, Welcome to RRF. Being dyslexic can be seen as a drawback, how here's a list of some very talented folk who have been determined enough to overcome dyslexia.
Best of luck.

[Dixie]

And Dickie would know!

Robbie Burns! Weren't you once a member here? I seem to recall the name ...