A MEETING between coaches and the Canberra Region Refereeing Association over concerns regarding the officiating standard in the Canberra Raiders Cup has been labelled “constructive.”
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That’s the consensus director of the Association Peter Castle and Goulburn coach Michael Picker have agreed on, after the meeting at the West Belconnen Leagues Club on Monday night.
“I believe it has come out positive,” Mr Castle told the Post.
“We’re pretty happy with how it all went. It was constructive and we weren’t really blindsided by anything.”
Coach of the Goulburn Workers Bulldogs Picker told the Post on Wednesday: “Hopefully it begins to fix it in some way.”
Picker had organised the meeting to discuss concerns competition clubs had about the standard of refereeing in season 2014.
He stated feedback from the referee as one of they key points of discussion on Monday night, and the need for two way communication.
“Sometimes young guys can get a hot head and talk back to the ref. I understand that. But sometimes it escalates the situation.
“Ideally it would be nice to have it explained.”
Association director Peter Castle told the Post that since the concerns were first raised last month, he had spoken to the Association referees regarding the matter of feedback.
He also said it was being organised for the League to send DVDs of the games to the Association quicker, for an earlier review.
“To be honest we didn’t get blown away (on Monday night),” Castle said.
“I was really expecting more from the coaches as a group. Most came and raised little issues.”
For example (Queanbeyan Blues coach) Simon Woolford raised eight concerns from the game on the weekend and I agree that three of them were dubious.”
Castle said most of the coaches were unaware that they could approach the Association with their concerns.
“In three years, only four coaches have ever contacted me,” he said.
Castle also assured the Association was happy to send over A grade referees to train with any club and go over any issues.
“It’s always going to be a case of we’re doomed if we do, doomed if we don’t,” Castle said of the Association.
Another meeting between Canberra Raiders Cup coaches and the Association has been scheduled for next month before the competition heads into finals football.
