In his annual report the chairman of the Golden Lions Referees' Society was able to report that the majority of the Society's goals had been reached as planned.

The Society has 287members, to whom the chairman could report:

"Several of our members have been rewarded at a local, regional, national and even international level, and many more attained their personal goals.  I am positive that some of our members will receive even higher accolades during 2009.

"Ons wil ook graag al ons lede geluk wens wat nasionale aanstellings tot die Cravenweek vir Hoërskole, Cravenweek vir Laerskole, Nasionale Weermagweek, SuperSport Klubkampionskappe, Polisie Week, Akademie Week – o/16 en o/18, Grant Khomo Week, Sub-Unie Weke, 7’s Toernooie en Provinsiale Damestoernooie gekry het.

"Verder wil ons die lede wat aangestel is tot die Super 16, Beeld Trofee en ander streekstoernooie en uitruilwedstryde, gelukwens met hul prestasies.

"Our members, as expected and almost without exception, were given excellent reports wherever they officiated. It is extremely rewarding for the Committee to see how our panel members behave, both on and off the field, conducting themselves in an exemplary manner. We hereby express our appreciation to them for being such good ambassadors of the Golden Lions Rugby Referees’ Society.

"Whilst one can reason that success could be measured by the number of SARU referees, panel or test referees we produce, by the number of games in which we officiate or by the number of registered members, I am of the opinion that one also has to look at the level of general satisfaction referees are experiencing.  This could include the level of satisfaction at the level they are refereeing, the personal growth each member achieved and the attainment of their individual goals.

"As the Chairman I appreciate the hard work every body is putting in.  Sometimes some aspects are unfortunately overlooked, and therefore would like to invite each and every member, from the youngest to the oldest, to communicate with me. 

"Regionally, several of our members also officiated as referees, touch judges, coaches and performance reviewers, and at the fear of not including them all, we would collectively congratulate them and would note that these appointments have been recorded in the minutes of the Society’s monthly meetings.

"Pro Legoete has to be singled out for becoming our 13th test referee the Union and Society produced.  Congratulations Pro!

"At the end of 2008 there were 287 members, 10 more than at the end of 2007. This represents a growth of just over 4% of members who registered with the Society.  I am grateful for the fact that we didn’t have a material drop in our membership numbers, especially because the circumstances under which we referee is not always easy. Our members involved in the organisation around the recruiting of candidate referees must be congratulated.  They know who they are.

"I also congratulate every member on their own achievements against their individual goals set for the season, and urge you to strive for new heights in 2009."

2) Office and Society Operations

"The Golden Lions Rugby Referees’ Society (GLRRS), through its committee, approached various aspects differently during 2008.  The committee portfolios were grouped into 4 different categories and committee members were allowed to take their own initiative regarding the management of each portfolio.  I am however still not convinced that we are functioning to the best of our ability.  The Executive Committee has already met twice to discuss the performance during the 2008 season and decided to yet again change the way in which the committee will function next year.  This is one of the advantages of the new system of a four-year term for the committee.  I believe that we will get it right during 2009.

"The squad of approximately 30 referees that will receive special attention is still not properly functional.  I do however believe that the beginning of 2009 will see us ready for this approach.

"Although a little late in the season, we have finally managed to start a formal training program for Referee Coaches, Performance Reviewers, as well as Match Reviewers.  The emphasis is however on Coaching and is done with the view of accrediting those members who attended all the relevant sessions.  The course will be given again at the beginning of the 2009 season to afford those people who have not attended it as yet to become accredited.  Without the accreditation people will not get coaching appointments, just like referees who don’t get appointed in their league if they did not run the bleep test or failed to attend the law changes course.

"Various meetings were held with the Union Officials regarding the functioning of the Referees office, as well as the role the various office members are playing. They have assisted us quite a bit to bring about changes and are still committed to assist us in making even more changes.  Thanks to the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Manie Reyneke, as well as with Mr Peet Buys, the Chief Financial Officer of the Union in this regard.

"One aspect however that still needs attention is the “sometimes” poor communication between the members and the office/society.  To improve this, we are really going to focus on the usage of electronic media and communication methods.  The appointments system will get first attention with the website shortly thereafter.  We hope to eventually send out sms’s when members are appointed to inform them.  The system will be integrated with the Union’s Club Administration System, which will also improve communication between the clubs and the referees.

"Memorabilia of the GLRU were given to our members who officiated at other unions, visited other societies and attended National Weeks, so that they could present these as gifts and tokens of appreciation. In addition, every visiting referee received a token of our appreciation for visiting us. This tradition that we follow is well regarded worldwide and the GLRRS has the reputation of being one of the most hospitable societies to visiting referees.  During the Curry Cup season we have however decided to cut back on the memorabilia to limit it to referees only.
 
"Soos in die verlede het ons Vereniging weereens die voorreg gehad om as gasheer vir baie besoekende Internasionale en Suid-Afrikaanse skeidregsters, grensregters, assessors, “TMO’s”, afrigters (en al die ander amptenare) op te tree. Graag wil ons elkeen bedank vir hul bydrae tot die GLRU en die GLRSV. Gabriël Pappas, saam met die “kantoor”, het weer op hulle besonderse manier na die besoekers omgesien en het weereens van al die besoekers net lof ontvang ten opsigte van die behandeling wat hulle van hierdie Vereniging gekry het.

"Attendance of monthly meetings by members increased from about 65 members per meeting to 90 members per meeting.  This to me has been a great achievement and I can only thank our members for the efforts they are putting in to attend our monthly meetings.  It is after all the best way for us to interact as a group.   Whilst this has been a great achievement, we still have a long way to go to reach the 150 members per month mark, which I believe, is necessary to ensure a very successful society.

"No Chairman or Committee can function or perform properly without the help of the Referees office, in particular Mr Pappas’ help.  To this extent I want to thank the members and Mr Pappas, where they assisted, in ensuring that despite difficult circumstances they still got the job done."

3)  Refereeing aspects

"Verbal and physical abuse of rugby referees in the Lions Union continues, but has decreased a little, and remains a problem. In order to try and improve this aspect the Union, at its annual Bosberaad, decided to introduce a code of conduct that will have to be signed by players, coaches officials and parents of school players.

"Last year I said that the League in which a referee referees, is normally the main cause of satisfaction or dissatisfaction of our members.  In order to determine in which league a referee will perform, we use mainly three categories, namely fitness, law knowledge and performance on the field. Whilst this will always have to be the main aspects to be considered for promotion, I also said that I believe we should investigate the possibility of using a combination of the three aspects to determine eligibility for promotion.  This aspect still needs fine-tuning and we have not been in a position to introduce it.

"Remuneration of Referees for costs incurred in the act of refereeing a rugby match continues to be an important issue for some members.  The compensation cheques have been handed out at three different occasions to assist our referees’ cash flow.  As Chairman and also in my personal capacity, I however would like to reiterate that being a referee means that one is involved in the game for the game sake and not for personal gain.  Only a few referees get the privilege of becoming professional or semi-professional referees.  They get the privilege, because they all have worked hard and endured many hardships.  At the Lions this is however on the verge of changing and will be addressed later in the report.

"Gereelde besprekings oor die reëls is tydens die maandvergaderings gehou. Die Vereniging het vanjaar weereens die nasionale eksamen wat deur SARU voorsien is, “geskryf”. Vir die 2de keer in die geskiedenis was dit ‘n “visuele” eksamen. Dit is egter gekombineer met  ‘n meervoudige keuse vrae vraestel ook.  Positiewe kommentaar is oor hierdie formaat ontvang en het dit duidelik geblyk dat mense se moedertaal soms in die teoretiese afdeling die saak moeiliker maak as wanneer dit visueel aangebied word.  Dit help veral waar mense se tweede of derde taal Engels of Afrikaans is.  Benewens hierdie eksamen het ons lede ook ‘n eksamenvraestel wat deur die sub-kommittee opgestel is, geskryf. Sommige skeidsregters se kennis van die reëls is ondergemiddeld en doen ek ‘n beroep op elke lid om die een aspek wat die publiek absoluut van skeidsregters verwag om mee goed te wees –die kennis van die Reëlboek- aan aandag te gee en te verseker dat almal spesialiste sal wees.  Ons dank aan Richard Nash en die persone wat saam met hom betrokke was in die opstel, vertaling en verwerking van die Vereniging se vraestelle.

"Fiksheidstoetse is weereens op ‘n gereëlde basis gehou, en die meeste lede het aan die minimum vereistes vir hulle graad voldoen.  Soos vroëer bespreek, sal die rol wat fiksheidstoetse in die bevordering van lede speel eersdaags ondersoek word om ‘n middeweg te soek om mense met potensiaal optimaal te benut.

"Om vir SARU-panele in aanmerking te kom, sowel as enige ander semi-professionele of professionele liga, sal egter baie streng by SARU vereistes gehou moet word alvorens skeidsregters eers oorweeg sal word vir bevordering.

"Our referees once again had a slight change in appearance with the introduction of the Sony Ericsson logo on the gear.    The committee, together with the Pirates referees, are currently busy designing a kit for the Pirates referees.  Some of it will hopefully be available during the first quarter of the season.  Our budget has however been cut and it is not so easy to meet all the requirements and expectations.

"Various courses were held during the year and especially the first course of the year was well attended. 

"The GLRRS officially advertised in news papers at the beginning of the season for new recruits to join the society. We will again do so this coming season to be in line with the SARU Referees canvassing strategy.  I once again urge and request all our members to try and recruit at least one referee in the coming year.

"The above is especially relevant if we look at the number of appointments during the past year.  

"7943 aanstellings is gemaak wat ‘n gemiddel van 35 wedstryde per skeidsregter beteken. 

"In die lig van bogenoemde is dit soveel meer noodsaaklik dat skeidsregters gewerf moet word.  Dit sal nie net die risiko vir beserings verlaag nie, maar ook die tyd wat die jongerwordende skeidsregterskorps by hulle families kan deurbring verhoog.  Ek is van mening dat dit selfs kan lei to verhoogde vergaderingbywoning, aangesien sommige skeidsregters eerder by die huis op ‘n Donderdagaand bly om hom/haar in staat te stel om Vrydag en Saterdag te blaas.  Skeidsregters se familielewe moet in ag geneem word en die bestuur van skeidsregters se aanstellings is noodsaaklik. 

"Die evaluering / waarneming van skeidsregters se wedstryde bly ‘n probleem, ten spyte van die feit dat die tweede meeste verslae in die geskiedenis ingedien is, 488 om die waarheid te sê.  Die Vereniging se grootste probleem hier is egter die tekort aan geskikte/ervare “Performance Reviewers”/ Afrigters.  Ons kon na drie jaar se probeerslae nog steeds nie daarin slaag om hierdie aspek korrek te bestuur nie.  Die oplossing lê in ‘n verskeidenheid van aspekte maar spesifiek ook in nouer samewerking met SARU.  Die nuwe opleidingsprogram vir Afrigters sal hopelik ‘n belangrike impak maak.

"Briewe van bedanking is van ‘n hele aantal skole en klubs ontvang.  Minder  klagtes is hierdie jaar ontvang. Skeidsregters wat nie opdaag vir wedstryde nie is egter steeds ‘n probleem en ‘n bron van verleentheid vir ons.  

"Aangesien die funksie van grensregters oor die afgelope aantal seisoene al hoe  belangriker geword het, het die Vereniging in sekere gevalle spesifiek ook aanstellings vir Assistent Skeidsregters (AS) gedoen. Dit is bo en behalwe die normale diens wat skeidsregters as grensregters doen wanneer hulle ‘n aanstelling as skeidsregter by ‘n klub het.  Waardering word ook uitgespreek vir skeidsregters wat vrywillig optree as grensregters/AS ter ondersteuning van hulle skeidsregterkollegas.  Om die probleem te probeer verlig is daar tydens ‘n Voorsittersvergadering van die Goue Leeus besluit dat elke klub drie lede moet identifiseer wat as grensregter opgelei kan word deur ons Vereniging.  Die versoek het egter nie tot almal deurgedring nie en was dit weer nodig om ‘n beroep op die klubvoorsitters te doen om die saak aan te spreek."

4) Committee Aspects

"The Golden Lions Rugby Union unreservedly continues to support the Golden Lions Rugby Referees’ Society. This outstanding relationship that exists between the Union and the Society is the envy of many societies, both locally and internationally, and ensures our continued growth and success and has done so for many years.

"The President, Prof. Jannie Ferreira, Deputy President and now CEO, Mr Manie Reyneke, and the Chief Financial Officer, Mr Peet Buys, of the GLRU have done much for the Society during the course of the year. They occasionally visited the Society, Committee and Committee Members, and accompanied us on visits to the neighbouring Societies. Mr Steve Meintjies in his capacity as Vice President of the Union continued to provide valuable insight and advice to the Society. It goes without saying that these gentlemen need to be thanked for their valuable contributions.

"We also have to acknowledge the substantial management and financial support that we received from the GLRU.

"During the year, the Committee met on numerous occasions.  For those members that have diligently attended the meetings and have made valuable contributions, I thank you sincerely, especially Louis van Huyssteen and Richard Nash.

"Die komitee het weereens, soos in vorige jare, van tyd tot tyd met die senior skeidregters byeengekom om sake van belang te bespreek. By hierdie geleenthede word ‘n oop agenda gehandhaaf en word gepoog om sover as moontlik alle sake wat geopper word, af te handel.

"Die Uitvoerende Komitee verwelkom enige en alle kommunikasie en ons moedig alle lede aan om gebruik te maak van of die Klubkaptein of die fora wat geskep is om gereelde kommunikasie met die Komitee te bewerkstellig. Die rol wat die Klubkaptein speel sal egter in die toekoms, myns insiens, ietwat moet verander. 

"Soos voorheen verduidelik, is dit moeilik om spesifieke Komiteelede se name hier uit te sonder en daarom wil ek elkeen bedank vir hulle insette gelewer.

"Ek wil ook graag die geliefdes van die Komitee bedank vir hul voortdurende ondersteuning, pligsgetrouheid, “agter die skerms” harde werk en bydrae tot die sukses van ons Vereniging.

"Ek is van mening dat die komitee nie al hulle doelwitte bereik het nie, maar wel die grondslag gelê het vir ‘n positiewe toekoms.  Soos reeds elders genome, is ons besig om die nodige ontleding te doen van waar ons kan verbeter en sal dit in die nuwe jaar geïmplimenteer word."

5) Leeus Familie

"Die Laerskole Rugbyskeidsregtersvereniging se komitee ondervind tans ‘n mate van onsekerheid, maar ek het die verskering van die bestuurslede ontvang dat hulle graag nouer saam met die senior vergadering sou wil werk. Daar is ook besluit dat die GLRSV die Laerskole Skeidsregtersvereniging sal bystaan met die evaluering van hulle skeidsregters.

"Die sukses van die L/S Vereniging is daarin geleë dat die nodige grondwette en konstitusie in plek is en jaarliks verfyn word. Die ophef van skeidregters in die voorheen benadeelde gebiede het veroorsaak dat die Goue Leeus Laerskole Vereniging doeltreffend funksioneer.

"Die Goue Leeus Hoërskole Rugbyskeidsregtersvereniging se komitee het ‘n bestaansreg, maar daar sal daadwerklike veranderinge en onderlinge samewerking moet plaasvind.
 
"Die twee verenigings verskaf ‘n belangrike diens aan die skole in wedstryde waarin ons nie kan optree nie.
 
"Club Rugby is in the process of being transformed dramatically at the Lions Union, this will bring more responsibilities as well as opportunities.

"The introduction of the Semi-Professional League means that the Referees have to perform at a higher level.  This league has however not reached its full potential yet.  There is still uncertainty as to how and exactly when this league will kick off in 2009."  
 
6)  SARU and Neighbours
 
"The SARU Referees Chairmen’s Council met at the beginning of the year at OR Tambo Airport, as well as at the Currie Cup Final venue in Durban at the end of October 2008. During these meetings, many policies and procedures were accepted and/or ratified and have since been notified to the respective Societies. The most progressive of these was the framework on which SARU match appointments were to take place, as well as the recent decision to re-structure the functioning of the SARU Referees Department.
 
"Soos gedurende vorige jare gerapporteer, is dit van kardinale belang dat die GLRSV die SARU Skeidsregtersafdeling ondersteun. Dit is deur dié liggaam dat ons lede erkenning kry. Die feit dat die Paasnaweektoernooie beskikbaar gemaak is vir SARU om van sy “contenders” te evalueer, het reeds goeie vrugte afgewerp en het hierdie jaar, anders as in ander jare, die geleentheid aan ons eie skeidsregters gegee om ander provinsies te besoek en toernooi-ondervinding op te doen.  Ons is egter van mening dat meer gedoen kan word om die Leeus skeidsregter beter geleenthede te gee. 

"Various exchanges took place, regionally as well as internationally.  Please refer to minutes of monthly meetings for details.

"The regular feeling of animosity between the Valke and the Lions however needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency.  To address this, meetings were held between the Chairman of the Valke Referees Society as well as the Lions Executive Committee members.  Communication with the Lions Referees living in the Vaal region will be improved, in order to ensure a more smooth arrangement regarding schools appointments.

"It is important to also mention at this stage that the SARU Referees Council took a decision that referees who move from one province to another will have to go through a “cool off” period before they can be appointed at the new society, unless they received permission from the initial society."

TRIBUTES

"It is always sad to lose a colleague, friend or loved one and we herewith express our deepest condolences to those of our members in their times of bereavement.

"We also share in their joy of marriages, births of children and grandchildren, and their successes.

"The Executive Committee would once again like to express their gratitude to the following:

"The President, Prof. Jannie Ferreira, and the Executive Management Committee of the Golden Lions Rugby Union for their support during 2008;

"The Chief Executive Officer of the GLRU, Mr Manie Reyneke, for his advice and support;

"Mr Peet Buys, CFO of the GLRU, for his involvement and advice regarding various aspects of the society;

"Steve Meintjies for his continued contribution;

"The staff of the GLRU and Coca-Cola Park for their co-operation during the last season;

"The club chairpersons, officials and players for their hospitality, good relations and good rugby during the year;

"Mr Boela van der Merwe, as Chairperson of the Golden Lions Rugby Union Disciplinary Committee, as well as the other members of this committee;

"André Watson, Theuns Naudé and all SARU staff who have contributed to the success of our society;

"The professional referees who have assisted with and provided valuable training and advice to our members, especially André Watson and Tappe Henning who, when available, were always willing to support the efforts of the Lions referees;

"Our life, honorary life and honorary members who assisted with and participated in our monthly meetings, training and discussion sessions;

"The referees, assessors and coaches and other sub-committee members for their unrelenting and loyal support during the year;

"The Executive Committees of the Golden Lions High Schools and Primary Schools for their co-operation.  In particular, we would like to thank the Referees’ Society of the Primary Schools for their continued support of our activities;

"All the Society’s sponsors for their goodwill.

"Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express my personal appreciation to every GLRRS Committee Member for their hard work, loyalty, dedication and many late nights and to each and every member for all their hours of training and officiating. To our unsung heroes, our wives, partners and families, for their understanding and support, their love of the game, their unselfish contribution to refereeing and continued support of the greater Lions family."