While most teenagers were enjoying their school holidays on the couch playing Xbox, seven young college boys and one school girl spent two days learning the intricacies of refereeing rugby when they joined the Bay of Plenty Rugby Junior Referee Academy.

Upon completion of the NZRU developed course, the TECT-sponsored 'You Make The Call” initiative will see eight students gain 10 NCEA Level 3 credits as it meets the requirements for two NZQA assessment standards.

Photo: File.

Bay of Plenty Rugby referee manager Pat Rae, recruited from Brisbane three weeks ago, says young players who take up refereeing while still playing make for better players.

'For example, by learning what referees are looking for at the tackle contest, these young men and women will be able to really push the envelope in terms of affecting a turnover,” says Pat.

'Alternatively, they'll know when to back off and get ready to make a big tackle instead.”

The major benefit for the schools the youngsters attend is that learning to manage players in a sport builds leadership skills.

Trident High School's Flynn Butler, 16, says doing the course gave him another option in case his playing career didn't quite work out.

'Everyone learnt something new during the two day workshop,” says Flynn. 'I learnt that you could score a try and be standing outside the field of play at the same time.”

Pat says one thing people need to understand is that refereeing really is the best seat in the house.

'We don't want to take kids away from playing,” he adds. 'In fact we encourage them to keep playing and refereeing at the same time. That way they double their rugby miles under their belts.

'A 15-year-old can play and referee 13-year-olds. A 20-year-old can play and referee a 1st XV. A 25-year-old who has refereed for 10 years while playing, has a real chance, if he's not made a Super Rugby team by then, to actually become a Super Rugby referee”.

'If you are a parent, a teacher or a teenage rugby player and you want to get better at playing, pick up the whistle and give it a go.”

For more information on how to enrol in the next 'You Make The Call” course, contact Pat Rae on: 029 487 8429 or email: pat@boprugby.co.nz