The following is a guide on how each section and boxes of the report sheet should be marked and summarised.

(1)        RULINGS IN GENERAL

Boxes in this section are not to be confused with comments in the "INCIDENT OF IMPORTANCE" area. Each box is marked according to what it asked. E.g. If a forward pass is listed in the "INCIDENTS OF IMPORTANCE" area and is marked as "view on video", a PASS should not be automatically marked in the FORWARD PASS box.

(a)  FORWARD PASSES

This box should reflect forward passes missed by the referee that have not affected the result and are not listed in "INCIDENTS OF IMPORTANCE". However if a forward pass is listed and it led to a try which cost a side the game and you are quite sure it was forward a "P" should be reflected in the box. If a "P" is entered in the "forward passes box place a note in the "TIME" box indicating when it occurred so the referee is not left in any doubt as to why he was given a "P".

(b) KNOCK ONS

Same as above. Make sure if a "P" is entered in the box you then indicate the time the forward pass occurred in the "TIME" box.

(c)    GENERAL RULINGS

Probably the most important box of the report. A referee MUST KNOW HIS RULES. ONE RULING ERROR IS ENOUGH FOR A "PASS" (P) in this box. Ruling errors may, or may not be listed in "INCIDENTS OF IMPORTANCE". For example if a referee fails to give a penalty in the correct position or fails to nullify tackles this box should reflect that. The errors that the referee made that contributed to a Low mark should be listed perhaps on the back of the referee's copy of the report.

(d)   SIGNALS

If a referee does not give precise and correct signals he should be marked down. Again try and record times of poor signals. Remember if a referee gives a penalty at play the ball (P.T.B) and indicates holding down when the breach was for interference to the legs of the ball carrier, it is the incorrect signal, and he should be marked accordingly. This box reflects the professionalism of the referee towards his craft.

(e)    ADVANTAGE PLAY

This box should be marked according to how the referee plays on from situations that could have been penalised. In other words the non offending side gains a territorial advantage or gains points. Remember, if a referee takes a "PUNT" and it comes off and the advantage allows a side to score a try he should be REWARDED with a VG. This box reflects the maturity of a referee towards his reading of the game. The Advisory Board member should try and read the state of the game to determine whether a referee is trying to play advantages. It is most important that an Advisory Board member should have a feel for what the referee is trying to do.

(f)     EFFECTIVE PENALTIES

Effective penalties refers to how a referee picks and chooses the times when to give a penalty and whether the penalty reflects the nature of the discrepancy. Remember if a referee penalises for discrepancies when they should have been dealt with earlier in the game, in other words, "THE HORSE HAS BOLTED AND HE DECIDES TO SHUT THE GATE", this box should reflect this. However, a referee should not be penalised when good penalties are given e.g. FOR 10 METRES but undisciplined players did not respond to the penalty. The referee should be judged on how he deals with that player, e.g. Sin bin for repeated infringements and then reflected in the 10 METRE BOX.

(2)        INCIDENTS OF IMPORTANCE

Please note the heading. It means specific instances where major issues have effected the game. Do not be afraid to record them. An advisory board member will be of more assistance if he records incidents which may prove to be wrong than if he does not record them at all. This section should reflect in the "OVERALL PERFORMANCE" of the referee. Always make a comment whether you agreed or not with a sin bin or whether a sin bin should have been used and was not. Of importance is your recording of positive incidents where you think the referee has done something special which contributes to a good passage of play. RECORD POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE THINGS.

(3)      PLAY THE BALL (P.T.B)

This section deals with the specific area of the P.T.B.

(a)    MARKERS SQUARE

If the referee allows markers to stand to the side of the P.T.B., whether they actually interfere or are just passive in that position, he should be marked accordingly. If the referee has a problem and works hard to rectify the situation he should also be marked accordingly.

(b)HOLDING DOWN

The referee should be judged on how long it takes for a defending player to release an attacker. The mark for this box is very "SUBJECTIVE" because it deals with your perception on how long players are held down. The referee may think that the -time taken to P.T.B was within reason, however, the advisory board has a different perception of time. To assist the referee in understanding why you considered a lower mark you should list times where P.T.B were excessive in the time taken to complete. The selected P.T.B that you have fisted as poor should be the worse ones and only be a small number.

(c)    PUSHING AND HOLDING IN THE P.T.B

This box must not be confused with the "HOLDING DOWN" box. This box refers to the time after the ball has been played where the marker pushes the ball player or the ball player interferes with the marker stopping him from making tackles. May also be used in the case of a second tackle. In other words a tackle was completed and a player from the side in possession comes in to push at the tacklers and take the game out of the referee's control.

(d)   PLAYING OF BALL

This box basically refers to how the ball carrier plays the ball. In other words, does he:
·        regain his feet in possession of the ball
·        face his opponents goal Line
·        use his foot to play the ball

(e)    DOWNTOWN

This box should record the referee's lack of action towards players who from an offside position come in to interfere the defending players after a kick. Particularly players interfering the defending player coming from the P.T.B area

If a referee works in this aspect right through the game by making an effort to keep players behind the Line of the P.T.B, he should be rewarded with a V.G.

(4)            10 METRES

This is a most important facet of the game where a referee sets a pattern for the game.

(a)    DISTANCE

This is the box where the Board Member gives judgement on the referee's marking of the 10 metre distance between the tackled player and where the referee plants himself for the defensive line.

Some of the areas to consider when marking for this box are:
·        Is it a short 10 metres
·        Is it a big 10 metres
·        How is the 10 metres distance when players are between the marked 10 metre lines in the field.

(b)   POSITIONING

When analysing a referee's positioning on the 10 metre line consider:
·        Does the referee stand on the 10 metre line directly behind the P.T.B
·        Does the referee "vary" his position on the 10 metre line by chasing players who tend to be offside on occasions.
·        Does the referee stand too wide or too shallow on the 10 metre line.
·        Is he selecting to stand on the P.T.B when there is no need to.

(c)    CONTROL

Control of the 10 metres refers to basically how are the players responding to the referee's instructions for the 10 metre. Such as:
·        When the referee calls a player on side is the player lifting his hand as acknowledgement, however stays offside,
·        Is there evidence of the umbrella defence and the referee not addressing it.
·        Does the referee use the whistle as the only means of controlling 10 metres.
·        Does the referee not use the whistle to control the 10 metres when it is time to use it.

Remember this box is more than just to say did the referee keep a good 10 metre line. It is a box a board member is to use to show whether a referee displays or does not display the skill of being able to have a number of options up his sleeve to control players to obtain a good 10 metres.

(5)            SCRUMS

Boxes in this section refer particularly to scrums and address particular areas of the scrum.

(a)    FORMATION

Formation refers to how a referee packs his scrum. E.G. are all the forwards binding, does the scrum collapse prior to the ball coming out clean, are props square etc. If a poor mark is given note times so a referee knows which scrums in your opinion caused the poor mark.

Remember if a referee packs a scrum in the wrong position on the field from where it should have been, that is a ruling error and should be marked down in the ruling box.

(b)   FEEDS

Basically the referee is judged how he allows a half back to feed the scrum. If a referee fails to get a half-back to be square with the tunnel and feeds the ball in front of the foremost foot of the near side prop the referee must be marked accordingly. Referee only has to get the ball in the tunnel.

(c)    HALF ON SIDE

The referee should be judged on whether he is working hard to make sure both half-backs retire to the correct position once the ball has entered the scrum.

(d)   BACKS ON SIDE

Does the referee apply effort to keep backs on side until the ball clears the scrum Does he use his T.J. If not, note times of why he has been marked down.

(e)    LOCK ON SIDE

Referee judged on his efforts to keep the lock binding until the ball is out of the scrum. Does the referee work or is he resolving by just penalising.

(6)            GENERAL PLAY

** Most Important Section**

(a)    POSITIONING

The box refers to the general positioning a referee takes in a game. When judging this box an advisory board member should take into account.
·        How is the referee moving around the field
·        Does the referee, referee from one particular position and not alter
·        Does he adopt a position near a try Line where he cannot possibly judge if a try is scored
·        Is he reading the situation
·        Does he move around to reduce penalties and contribute to an open game
·        Is he refereeing ahead of play
·        Is he adopting positions on the field where he is interfering with play
·        Does he get in the correct position to judge ball passing movements

Do not get this box confused with the "positioning" box on the 10 metres. The "position" box in general play is about the referee's position he selects other than on the 10 metres.

(b) PLAYER CONTROL

This box refers to the referee's control of the aggression the players exhibit in general play. How he deals with fiery situations before, during and after the incidents. Ask yourself has he taken the right options to pre-empt fiery situations? Are the players running the game for him, or does he have the players respect.

(c)  TOUCH JUDGE COMMUNICATION

This box is basically to assess whether communication has occurred between referee and T.J. Has it been effective? Have the referee and T.J used the communication that resulted in decisions being correct.

(d) REFEREE/PLAYER COMMUNICATION

Advisory Board members can now listen via the communication unit the referee's communication skills. The Board member can now make observation on how the referee talks to players, gives cautions, responds to players' comments and the Board member will be able to judge how the referee's emotions are towards a certain situation.

If this box is marked down, the Board member MUST make specific comments on why in the "Coaching Areas".

If the box is marked with a VG, also make comments on the strength of the referee.

(e)  OVERALL PERFORMANCE

This box needs considerable thought when finally coming up with a mark.
REMEMBER:
·     1 Fair in any window= PASS OVERALL
·     4 Passes = AUTOMATIC PASS

However, if in your judgement the referee deserved a PASS in less than four boxes on the report and you feel he deserves a PASS OVERALL, then so be it. However, back up that judgement with concrete evidence in the "GENERAL COMMENTS ON REFEREE" on why he received a PASS in overall performance.

(7)        GENERAL COMMENTS ON REFEREE'S PERFORMANCE

Comments should be concise and to the point. Your summary should consist of the positive aspects and negative aspects, of the referee's performance. A summation should also reflect the 'OVERALL PERFORMANCE" mark.

(8)        COACHING AREAS/ RECOMMENDATIONS

This section should only deal with a particular area where the referee has been deficient and the cause of the deficiency in your opinion.

REMEMBER TO FOLLOW UP A REPORT, WHICH INCLUDES A COACHING TIP WITH A PHONE CALL TO THE COACH RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT GRADE.

PLEASE NOTE THAT EACH SUB SECTION HAS A TIME BOX, WHICH IS TO BE USED TO INDICATE TIMES WHERE INCIDENTS OCCURRED.