USA Rugby Referees

Host a Referee Course

If you are interested in hosting an officiating training course for your organization, please read the information below, then

Apply Here!

Why host a course?

  1. Bring more trained referees to your area
  2. Educate your players, parents, coaches
  3. Revenue opportunity for members of your community
  4. Increase the local quality of the game
  5. Provide your players, parents, coaches the resources they need to become referees

Benefits for Coach:

  • Opportunity for players to make money for club
  • Guaranteed referees for A & B side games
  • Further integration of club into the rugby community
  • Increase player/ personal technical knowledge of the game
  • Increase player fitness levels

Benefits for Club:

  • Revenue generation
  • Increase player/ personal technical knowledge of the game
  • Increase player fitness levels
  • Guaranteed referees for A & B side games
  • To demonstrate legitimacy to school administration
  • Determination of geographic location of the course

Benefits for Players:

  • Increase personal technical knowledge of the game
  • Increase personal fitness levels
  • Determination of geographic location of the course
  • Opportunity to earn money
  • Opportunity to give back to the game

Benefits for LRO:

  • New referee source
  • Recruitment opportunity for the LRO
  • Increase the community’s knowledge of the laws
  • Proactively train referees to meet increasing match demands
  • Increase the quality of referees in the local area
  • Introduce the next generation to refereeing

Benefits for SBRO:

  • Proactively train referees to meet increasing match demands
  • Increase the quality of referees in the local area
  • Introduce the next generation to refereeing

Prior to the Course:

Determine a location for the course. You will need both classroom space and gymnasium or field space.

  • If you plan to use field space, be sure to have a contingency plan for bad weather
  • You or the rental facility must provide AV equipment (projector, AV cords, etc.)

Determine a date/ time for the course. Training courses run from two hours to two days, depending on the course. Be sure to reserve ample time at your course location.

  • Touch Judge Course: 4 hours (can be taught online)
  • Assistant Referee Course: 4 hours (can be taught online)
  • Level 1 (15s) Officiating Course: 8 hours (can be split into multiple sessions)
  • Level 2 (15s) Officiating Course: 16 hours (can be split into multiple sessions)
  • Level 1 (7s) Officiating Course: 8 hours (can be split into multiple sessions)
  • Level 2 (7s) Officiating Course: 16 hours (can be split into multiple sessions)
  • Coaching of Match Officials 1: 8 hours (can be split into multiple sessions)
  • Coaching of Match Officials 2: 16 hours (can be split into multiple sessions)
  • Evaluator Course: 16 hours (can be split into multiple sessions)

Determine if there will be any fees above and beyond the course registration fees

  • These administrative fees can be used to cover the cost of lunch or facilities
  • Administrative fees will be paid on site and are separate from USA Rugby course fees

Contact USA Rugby’s accredited educators to determine their availability

  • To see a map of current educators and to retrieve their contact information, please click here.
  • If you are having trouble finding an available educator for your area, please contact USA Rugby Certification Coordinator Chase Langdon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Make Lunch Plans

  • We recommend that you make plans to provide lunch or have lunch delivered to the course if the course is scheduled for more than 4 hours.
  • Please be sure to offer vegetarian options for your participants
  • If you are not providing lunch please ensure that there are adequate food options within WALKING distance from the course site. 

Contact USA Rugby Certification Coordinator Chase Langdon at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  to provide information about the course

He will need to know:

    • Course Location (full mailing address)
    • Course Date
    • Course Level
    • Start and end time for the course
    • Course Instructor’s name and email address
    • Whether or not lunch is provided
    • What is the minimum and maximum number of attendees you require to host a course
    • Is there an extra administrative fee associated with the course to cover food and site expenses
      • If so, how much?
      • Who should the check be made out to?
    • He will post the course online, open registration, and send a notification to the pertinent groups

Day of the Course:

You will need:

  • Balls
  • Cones
  • AV Equipment (if not provided by the site)
    • Laptop
    • Projector
    • Speakers (if laptop speakers are not loud enough)
    • Extension cords/ power strips