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Welcome to our new Grab Your Whistle Referee Newsletter, please share with interested officials!

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Welcome to our new Referee Newsletter!
We're excited to unveil our new 'Grab Your Whistle' newsletter specifically for referees and we look forward to increasing communication with this very important group of people within the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. This newsletter will enable is to communicate directly with our officials and cover areas of interest specific to referees and their team.

We wish to ensure that all information, resources and opportunities for referees finds its way to those who are will benefit the most - and that's you!

This is also an opportunity for you to have your say... please send us articles of interest, your comments and refereeing questions to info@lgfa.ie

The Referee... A Learning Process
Becoming a qualified referee by passing a rules test or fitness test is only the beginning. The task of becoming a referee will last as long as you officiate, for no matter how good you become, you will always be learning, constantly improving your understanding of the game and the people around you developing your skills. The moment you stop learning you will stop growing as an official and the moment you stop growing whatever skills you have developed will begin to fade.

Meet the Referee

Name: Yvonne Duffy

County: Cavan

When did you start refereeing? 2004

What do you think is the toughest part of refereeing? Offensive comments towards players and officials from spectators with a lack of knowledge of the rules.

What is your favourite aspect of refereeing? Coming of the field with the adrenaline and buzz still flowing especially after a great and exciting game of football.

If you could change one thing about refereeing what would it be? Respect from players and mentors

If there was one rule you would like players to be more aware of what would it be?  Bringing the hand into contact with the body of an opponent for the purpose of dispossessing her of the ball

What advice would you give to upcoming referees? As soon as you blow the whistle you will up set someone don’t let it upset you.
 

How do you Manage Conflict?


Conflict is usually a difference of opinions between the officials and the mentors, the players, the spectators or the administrators.
 
Why does Conflict Occur?

•  Lack of respect
•  Looking to blame
•  Want to question decisions
•  Desire to win at all costs
•  Lack of information or understanding
•  Inability to communicate effectively
 
 
Recognising Conflict

•  Facial expression and body language
•  Non verbal signs of disgust
•  Signs of aggression
•  Repetitive in comments
 
 
Dealing With Conflict

1. Control negative comments
2. Focus on the current situation
3. Limit your remarks to a few words
4. If the problem is a judgement call do not discuss it, just get game restarted quickly
5. Be decisive not ‘wishy-washy’
 

Referee Education

Grab Your Whistle is our Referee Education Programme. Through the Grab your Whistle courses we aim to increase the number of new referees, and in particularly female referees, who officiate at our games. Participants must be 17 years of age or over. There is also a Go Games Referee Course available for participants from 15 years but this will only allow to referee up to under 12 non-competitive small sided games.

 

Our Referee Education Programme currently consists of 4 courses:

 

Go-Games – Basic Refereeing

During this course participants will:

  • Be introduced to the basic rules of Ladies Gaelic Football
  • Discuss the roles and responsibilities of referees
  • Develop the fundamental skills of refereeing to enable to referee in a fun, safe environment

 

Level 1 – Introduction to Refereeing 

During this course participants will:

  • Be introduced to the rules of Ladies Gaelic Football
  • Discuss the roles and responsibilities of referees
  • Develop the fundamental skills of refereeing through simulated tasks
  • Receive information on physical fitness and nutritional requirements for officiating Ladies Gaelic Football games

 

Level 2 – Refresher Course for participants who have completed GYW Level 1 course/Referees who have refereed gaelic football for a min of 5 years

This is a refresher course on the rules of Ladies Gaelic Football.  This course should be organised annually by every county to ensure all referees are fully aware of the rules of the game.  All participants must have completed the LGFA Grab your Whistle Level 1 course or have refereed gaelic football for a minimum of 5 years.

 

Level 3 – Provincial Referee Course

This course is organised once a year for referees on our Provincial Panel. The content varies every course and it is aimed to ensure consistency in provincial refereeing and that Provincial Referees are continually developing their skills. Referees will receive a written and fitness assessment.

 

Level 4 – National Referee Course

This course is organised twice a year for referees on our National Panel. The content varies every course and it is aimed to ensure consistency in national refereeing and that National Referees are continually developing their skills.

For further information on your next steps contact your county board or email info@lgfa.ie
Concussion Guidelines

It was agreed at the LGFA Central Council Meeting on Tuesday 3rd May 2016 to adopt the GAA Concussion Guidelines with agreed amendments for female players. It is important that this information is made available to all our players, coaches, referees, parents and any other officers associated with our clubs. Referees play a key role in identifying concussion and full guidelines are available at http://ladiesgaelic.ie/players/concussion-guidelines/ but here are some of main points for referees.


What is Concussion?

A concussion is a brain injury that is associated with a temporary loss of brain function.  The injury must be taken seriously to protect the long term welfare of all players.  A concussion is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth.   


Signs and Symptoms

Most concussion injuries occur without a loss of consciousness and so it is important to recognise the other signs and symptoms of concussion.  Some symptoms develop immediately while other symptoms may appear gradually over time.
 
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Headache
  • Seizure or convulsion
  • Dizziness
  • Balance problems
  • Confusion
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Feeling slowed down
  • Drowsiness
  • “Pressure in head”
  • More emotional
  • Blurred vision
  • Irritability
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Sadness
  • Amnesia
  • Fatigue or low energy
  • Feeling like “in a fog“
  • Nervous or anxious
  • Neck Pain
  • “Don’t feel right”
  • Sensitivity to noise
  • Difficulty remembering
  • Difficulty concentrating


Action Plan

Recognise – the symptoms and signs

Request medic to remove and assess player (where no medical person present, advise person in charge of team to remove and refer to a doctor)

Restart play

Report as a head injury


Key Points
 
  • Diagnosis of concussion is a clinical judgement for a doctor  
  • Players sometimes aren’t sure what they’re feeling and sometimes hide signs
  • Concussion is an evolving injury – signs and symptoms can evolve over a number of minutes, hours or days
  • Any player suspected of having sustained a concussion, should be removed immediately from the field and should not return to play on the same day
  • Where a team doctor is present, s/he must advise the person in charge of the team (i.e. team manager) in this regard and the player must not be allowed to continue his participation in the game
  • A referee cannot remove a player if s/he suspects a concussion, however, s/he should ask a medic to assess a player who has displayed signs of the injury
    • In the case of no medic being present, advise the person in charge to remove the player
  • Even if a player has been medically assessed, as a referee, don’t be afraid to ask a medic to re-assess a player is you notice signs of concussion i.e. a player appearing stunned/dazed. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OFTEN EVOLVE OVER A PERIOD OF MINUTES OR HOURS.
Decision Making

One of the key characteristics of expert referees is that they make decisions in an apparently effortless, intuitive manner.
 
Call what you see - what you didn't see didn't happen! It is better to skip a call    because you didn't actually see it happen than it is to make a call based on circumstantial or third party evidence unless you were alerted by a fellow official (umpire, linesperson).


Training Decision Making
 
  • Simulation of games/sessions in structured exercises (video based/real life)
  • Learn to identify critical cues which requires simulation exercises to train perception of pattern recognition
  • Review prior experiences and identify where decisions were needed
  • Novice referees should analyse situations of experienced referees  and    decisions they took at certain times


Tips
 
  • Know the rules
  • Know the language of the sport
  • Master the signals and employ them properly
  • Understand the games rhythms and strategies
  • Be in proper position
  • Remain calm
  • Concentrate and focus on essential elements
  • Work closely with fellow officials
Quick Quiz

Q1. The referee stops the play due to a clash of heads with the attacking team in possession. How should the game restart?
  1. The referee gives a free to the team in possession which they cannot score directly from.
  2. The referee hops the ball between two players from the opposing teams.
  3. The referee gives a free to the team in possession which they can score directly from

Q2. Can a player who is holding the ball into her body be legally dispossessed?             
  1. Yes
  2. No 

Q3. Does the sin bin time remain at 10 minutes playing time for games which are less than 30 minutes a half?
  1. Yes
  2. No

Q4. Attempting to strike or kick an opponent. What offence is this?
  1. Technical Foul
  2. Yellow Card
  3. Non Technical Foul
  4. Red Card

Q5. A blood sub has been sent to the sin bin.  How does the manager get his/her injured player back onto the pitch before the sin bin time is up?
  1. S/He must wait to the ten minutes sin bin time is over.
  2. S/He can remove another player to let injured player back on
  3. S/He can send the injured player on as she is not the sin binned player
Buy Your Official Referee Gear

All referees taking charge of ladies gaelic football games must wear the official LGFA Referee Kit. These are available for €60 plus postage which include a Jersey, Shorts and Socks.


All orders should be placed by contacting Karen Togher at Karen.togher@lgfa.ie or on 01 8363156.


Also available are Official LGFA Referee wallets which are €10 each and the inserts are €1 each.

For your first order you will receive a wallet and 5 inserts for €10.
Quiz Answers
Q1, 1; Q2, 2; Q3, 2; Q4, 2; Q5, 2
Keep Up To Date on all LGFA News
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