WCF Referees Committee

 

Introduction

Since the inception of the WCF in 1986 its founders gave it the responsibility of achieving various aims and objectives within the WCF Statutes.

Amongst them are:-

(103.1) To encourage, promote and develop the recognised versions of the game of croquet ("the Games") internationally at all levels.

(103.2) To encourage and promote the teaching of the Games internationally.

(103.3) To uphold and enforce the laws of the Games.

(103.14) To enforce the observance of these Rules.

Over the last two years the WCF has embarked upon a Development Programme designed specifically to support and develop member associations that have little or no croquet infrastructure.

A coaching programme is developing within this scheme that, it is hoped, will ultimately lead to greater player participation in National and International Croquet events, particularly from so called weaker associations.

However, it is clear, especially from the 2005 WCF Members survey that many associations suffer from a lack of Referees who can play their own local part in development.  (Appendix A)

Outside the big four associations of Australia, England, New Zealand and USA, few others have active participation from qualified persons although some have more qualified referees than others.

The current Referee Development Programmes in use around the world have grown independent of each other but without seemingly any lasting serious attempt being made to either, achieve some measure of standardisation or identifying “best practice” for the greater good of the croquet community.

This has resulted in different approaches being taken to train, coach, develop and examine people to sufficient standard to referee, local, national and international croquet events.  This is despite the almost universal adoption of Association Croquet Laws and WCF Rules of Golf Croquet.

Whilst the 2000 amendment to the Laws of Association Croquet introduced the concept of “Official Rulings” being recognised, there is still an underlying issue concerning how referees are trained, coached, developed and examined to an acceptable standard that meets the modern games of Association and Golf Croquet.  This is equally true of how referees are appointed for various events and their underlying experience.

The WCF, in consequence of the aims and objectives given to it by its membership, now propose to play a leading and active part in developing:-

• one universally acceptable referees development programme and/or,
• identifying a minimum set of standards for consideration of adoption by its member associations. 

In turn, this will lead to accreditation of the referee development programmes of WCF members, with the consequence that persons with knowledge or the Laws and Rules of the games can attend Laws Courses and take referee examinations that have an easily identified progression from officiating at local events up to World Championships.

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WCF Referees Committees

It is proposed that WCF constitute two WCF Referees Committees for Association and Golf Croquet, under the Chairmanship of a member of the WCF Management Committee.

The WCF Referees Committees initial terms of reference shall be:-

• To examine all the Referees Development Programmes in existence for Association and Golf Croquet from raw beginner to examining referees;
• To identify best practice by selecting the best parts from those programmes and setting minimum standards;
• To develop and initiate a WCF Referees Development Programme for both codes to achieve uniformity of coaching, training, development, examination and re-examining processes;
• Where possible, to work together to identify a common approach as far as the Laws and Rules of both codes allow;
• To make recommendations to WCF member associations to adopt the WCF minimum standards or model programme and thereby securing future WCF accreditation for WCF events;
• To continually examine the processes to improve referees development over time.

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Accreditation

This falls into two parts, accreditation for:-

• Members Development Programmes;
• Unqualified persons and Qualified referees.

Members Development Programmes

With immediate effect, the current relevant Referee Development Programmes of all WCF member associations shall be accredited by the WCF on a temporary basis to allow the WCF Referees Committee the opportunity to make their recommendations and ratification by the WCF Management Committee.

Following the deliberations of the WCF Referees Committees and ratification of a WCF minimum standard and/or WCF model programme, and within a period of time set by the relevant WCF Referees Committee, those WCF member associations that adopt and maintain the WCF model programme or minimum standards, shall be accredited for this purpose, by the WCF.

Unqualified Persons and Qualified Referees

Most interested persons in the Laws or Rules of the games are current players.  Indeed they must be so on a factual basis, as there is the requirement in the Laws or Rules to act as a referee in their own right whilst in a game.

Nevertheless, few players progress to:-

1. attending Laws or Rules Courses;
2. taking a Referee Qualification Examination;
3. becoming Examining Referees.

 

Fewer still pass any set examination, and fewer still are deemed to be of the “right stuff” to be appointed to independently officiate at National or International Events.

 

With immediate effect the WCF shall adopt three levels of referee capability to satisfy the differing requirements of its member associations.

Level 1:- those that have attended a WCF accredited Laws or Rules Course in the last three years and in the opinion of the presenter of the course, have shown an aptitude for learning the laws or rules but have yet to take a WCF accredited referees examination. Subject to the decision of the individual WCF member association, Level 1 officials would be suitable for ”officiating” at a local level such as internal club tournaments or higher if the member association sanctioned it, except International or WCF World Championship events. Generally this would only be appropriate for those WCF member associations who do not yet have any or, few referees.

Level 2:– those that have successfully passed a WCF accredited Referees examination. Subject to the discretion and decision of the individual WCF member association, Level 2 officials would be suitable for officiating at all levels in their domain except WCF World Championships.

Level 3:– those that have successfully passed a WCF accredited Referees examination or re-examination in the last five years, have demonstrated capability and ethics at major national events of their own WCF member association and have been nominated by their own WCF member association.  Level 3 officials would be suitable for officiating at all WCF Championships.

Transitional Arrangements

Level 1 Unqualified Referees

At this time there do not appear to be any “officially” recognised unqualified referees in any WCF member association.  Each WCF member association may make representations to the WCF for persons to receive Level 1 accreditation.  This must be supported by details of the Laws or Rules course attended within the last 3 years and a written testimonial that in the opinion of the presenter of the course, that they have shown an aptitude for learning the laws or rules but have yet to take a WCF accredited referees examination. The decision to accredit nominated unqualified referees shall be at WCF discretion.   It is likely that such accreditation will only apply to those WCF member associations that currently have none or few qualified referees.

Level 2 Referees

All other qualified referees shall maintain their status dependent upon the practices and procedures of their own member association currently in force for a period of 3 years, to allow them time to undertake any future WCF accredited re-examination. 

Level 3 Referees

All referees that have officiated on an independent basis at previous WCF World Association and Golf Croquet Championships and those already appointed to future WCF Championships, who are still active, shall automatically be accredited as Level 3 referees for a period of 3 years, to allow them time to undertake any future WCF accredited re-examination.

Each WCF member association shall be requested to nominate one or more suitably qualified referees for inclusion in the WCF list of Level 3 referees, for a period of 3 years, to allow them time to undertake any future WCF accredited re-examination.  The decision to include or exclude nominated referees shall be at WCF discretion.

Time Limits

The time limit of 3 years in each of the examples above shall be subject to review by the WCF depending upon the timing of the deliberations of the WCF Referees Committees.

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Constitution of the WCF Referees Committees

Association Croquet

The Committee shall consist of 8 persons. 

One each from the following WCF Member Associations:-

Australia, England, New Zealand and USA, 2 members appointed by the WCF as representatives of the remaining WCF membership, the WCF Chief Referee and chaired by a member of the WCF Management Committee

Golf Croquet

The Committee shall consist of 8 persons. 

One each from the following WCF Member Associations:-

Australia, Egypt, England, New Zealand and USA, 1 member appointed by the WCF as representatives of the remaining WCF membership, the WCF Chief Referee and chaired by a member of the WCF Management Committee

Meetings

It is expected that all meetings of the relevant committees shall be conducted by electronic means such as email.  In extraordinary circumstances the chairman of the relevant committee may vary these arrangements.

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Relationship of WCF Referees Committees to the Laws and Rules of the Games

The Laws of Association Croquet and “Official Rulings” are copyright of the Croquet Association (of England), Australian Croquet Association, Croquet New Zealand and the United States Croquet Association administered by the International Laws Committee.

The WCF Rules of Golf Croquet are copyright of the World Croquet Federation, administered by the WCF Golf Croquet Rules Committee.

In each code the copyright holders have complete authority and autonomy to correct, alter or add amendments from time to time.

Whilst the WCF Referees Committees may make recommendations to the WCF Management Committee for suitable amendments to be made to the Laws or Rules of the games, it shall be at WCF discretion to decide whether to endorse them and if so, forward them to the relevant copyright holders for their consideration.

The WCF Referees Committees have no authority to correct, alter or add anything to the Laws or Rules of the games.

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Next Steps

The WCF member associations of Australia, England, New Zealand and USA are requested to nominate one person each to serve of the WCF Association Croquet Referees Committee.

The WCF member associations of Australia, Egypt, England, New Zealand and USA are requested to nominate one person each to serve of the WCF Golf Croquet Referees Committee.

The nominated persons should be of sufficient knowledge, qualification, stature and standing in their own association to enable them to fully participate in the deliberations of the committees and make known the recommendations to their own association.

Where specified, these member associations may nominate one person to serve on both committees.

The remaining WCF member associations are requested to nominate one person to serve on each committee.  The final choice of who shall be appointed to represent the remaining WCF membership shall be made by the WCF.

Closing date for nominations shall be 1^st May 2007.

Finally, as record keeping by the WCF is not comprehensive in this respect, each WCF member association is requested to assist WCF by advising them of the names of those who have previously acted as independent referees at WCF World Championships and who are still active.

A list of those identified to date can be found at Appendix B

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Appendix A

Numbers of qualified Referees in WCF Member Associations.

** denotes an estimated number due to no response being received.

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Appendix B

Independent Level 3 Qualified Referees who have acted in previous WCF recognised events and are still active or, who have been appointed to future WCF events.

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