Westfield Sports High recently hosted the first ever school based Foundation Referee Course for 16 of its year nine students.
The course aimed to develop young referees who could help to support junior and primary school competitions in the area in future.
Westfield Sports High Director of Rugby Wil Brame said the students enjoyed the course very much. “The students had a really good time interacting with the presenters and learning on the field, not just in the classroom,” Mr Brame said. “All kids walked out with a better understanding of the game and a greater appreciation for those who allow them to play the game.”
The students are part of the Westfield Rugby program and have now been up-skilled to not only play the game, but officiate the game. “The course provided the students with not only a better understanding of the laws from a refereeing point of view, but also how to make better decisions as a player,” Mr Brame said.
The initiative will allow the Westfield Rugby program to support the local primary schools and NSW Rugby Junior State High School Rugby 7s competitions, with Westfield Sports High hoping to create an annual gala day tournament and supply referees for local primary schools.
“A course like this was a great opportunity to offer athletes a chance to give back to the sport they love,” Mr Brame said. “It was an invaluable experience and we hope to work with NSW Rugby to hold a similar course again in the future.”
