Welcome to the 2014 Fall season! A few updates as we get ready to kick off matches…

1. New Calendar and Scheduling Software – The referees are beta testing a new scheduling software and that includes a new calendar. We are working to have a global view of the calendar available as we’ve had in the past, but currently it is only available if you are an active user and logged on. We would recommend creating an account following these instructions:
   1. Go to https://whostheref.com/.
   2. Click Login on the top right.
   3. Input your preferred email address in the username field and ignore the password field for now.
   4. Choose ‘New Users Sign Up’ underneath the password field.
   5. Complete the required form and and choose the organization “Texas – Texas Rugby Union’.
   6. Once your account has been activated you will be sent an email notification with more steps.
   7. If you don’t get an email or have questions, please send admin@texasrugbyunion.com a note.
2. Team Notification of Referee Assignments – With the new scheduling software Teams can be automatically notified by email once a referee is confirmed. Each team can have as many contacts as they’d like, sign up instructions can be found here. Once you have an account you can also view all of your fixtures and updated referee appointments.
3. Referee Confirmation – The newly appointed Primary Contact (above, step 2) will verify the assigned referee in WhostheRef and then follow the normal steps to confirm the referee. Logon to the scheduling software and the referee’s information is available there.
4. Referee Assessments – These are required for all LEAGUE matches, each team needs to fill them out within one week hours of the match. Get more information here.

As a general reminder, all Clubs and players MUST be CIPP’d with USA Rugby in order to play. Please make sure that you’ve reviewed the TRU Operating Policies & Procedures and Match Confirmation Procedures.

Have questions or concerns? Please reach out to admin@texasrugbyunion.com.

The TRRA has yet to issue nutritional guidelines for rugby referees as yet, however this may be something that could come into place should a major sponsor of the TRRA be found next year.

TRRA is proud to announce their newly elected President and Vice President. A new Referee Development Officer (RDO) has also been appointed.

President – Traci Schmidtke (tschmidtke@texasrugbyunion.com)

Vice President – Greg Varnell (gvarnell@texasrugbyunion.com)

RDO – Randy Campbell (rcampbell@texasrugbyunion.com)

We’d like to thank Jim Wolfinger (President) and Jon Savage (RDO) for their service to the TRRA, you’re greatly appreciated!

As we ring in the new year and another rugby season, it’s time for fitness testing! As a reminder fitness standards were implemented last season. RATO feels that this allows for a more realistic pathway and holds the referee accountable for their development and fitness.

As a reference the TRRA Fitness standards were based on the current USA Rugby Fitness Standards [Beep Test]:

National Panel: Level 12
B Panel refs wanting to be considered for USA National Appts: Level 11
C1′s wanting to be considered for national appointments/B Panel: Level 10

TRRA Fitness Standards [Beep Test]:
C1s wishing to pursue USA B Panel – Achieve a minimum of Level 10
C1 – Level 9
C2 – Level 8
C3 – Level 7

NOTE: The recommended version of the beep test is the “Beep Test Trainer” and it can be downloaded from iTunes here.

If a referee chooses not to take a fitness test (i.e. comply with a requirement for refereeing) then they may only receive matches well within their scope of experience related to their grade. They would also not be afforded any further opportunities for advancement/promotion and unavailable for exchanges.

Should you be looking for a performance boost during the fitness testing, nutrition for rugby referees is available from ruckscience.com which includes a range of products that can help increase the levels of Nitric Oxide in your bloodstream. Elevated NO levels are crucial for endurance athletes and have been shown to provide short-term benefits as well for high-intensity sports like rugby.

Fall testing is due by October 15th, once completed send your results to rato@texasrugbyunion.com.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the TRRA Chair or TRRA Vice Chair with any questions.

TRRA is excited to answer that we are trialing a new Referee Scheduling Software for the 2014 – 2015 competitive season. This new software includes several exciting developments that will help referees improve and track their appointments.

Beyond that it also includes a component for TRU Teams to be notified when a referee is appointed to their match. It also includes the Referee Assessment form (pending currently) and this will be used a bit later in the season after a bit more testing has been completed.

TRRA Scheduling Software – Team User Guide

Activate Account and Set Password

EVERY TRU Club or any Teams using TRRA referees are required to have at least TWO officers registered on Whostheref.com. Your account will also allow you to complete Referee Assessments once that module is released. Registration steps are below:

1. Go to https://whostheref.com/.
2. Click Login on the top right.
3. Input your preferred email address in the username field and ignore the password field for now.
4. Choose ‘New Users Sign Up’ underneath the password field.
5. Complete the required form and be sure to include your club information in the provided section so we can associate you with the correct team. The organization needs to be ‘Texas – Texas Rugby Union’.
6. Once your account has been activated (normally after 24 hours) you will be sent an email notification with more steps.
7. If you don’t get an email or have questions, please send admin@texasrugbyunion.com a note.

Congratulations to the new TRRA Chairman Traci Schmidtke and Vice Chairman Greg Varnell.

Traci has served as the Vice Chairman for four years, is a C1 referee and also an IRB Educator. She takes on the role of Chairman as Jim Wolfinger has stepped down to focus on other areas. Jim will continue to give back to the game as a referee and as a referee coach but takes a break from administration. We can’t thank Jim enough for his tireless work, make sure to give Jim your thanks as you see him around the pitch this year.

Greg has been a referee in Texas for 10+ years and brings a wealth of experience to the table. He is also a C1 referee, CMO Certified and is regularly called upon to handle the toughest matches in Texas. He is truly a student of the game and believes strongly in letting the players play within the laws of the game.

Feel free to reach out to Traci and Greg:

Traci – tschmidtke@texasrugbyunion.com

Greg – gvarnell@texasrugbyunion.com

Please note that the TRRA Proposed Bylaw voting period has ended and the entries have been certified by Wendy Young at this time. With 23 yes votes and 1 abstain, this makes up a majority approval from the voters and the TRRA Bylaws are approved.

TRRA Bylaws

Please submit any questions or concerns about the bylaws to the TRRA Admin (admin@texasrugbyunion.com).