Tipperary County Board set up a Referee Recruitment committee for Tipperary in 2014, to address the future refereeing needs within the Premier County.

The 2018 committee is being chaired by John Lonergan with representatives from each of the 4 Divisions. With the growth in popularity of Gaelic Games, the demand for match officials is increasing. With over four thousand games being played in our county on an annual basis, the role of the referee is a very important cog of the wheel to ensure all games take place.

Basic Club Referee Training Courses are provided every two years by trained Referee Tutors in County Tipperary. Modules will be held over 3 nights in Thurles, with an online module being completed by the student in the comfort of their own home. The course is developed in conjunction with Croke Park and supported through the Provincial Munster Referees Administrators.

Dates for the Training Course are as follows:-

FOUNDATION COURSE (Sarsfields Centre, Thurles – ALL 7:30pm)

NEW Referees FOUNDATION COURSE

(Sarsfields Centre, Thurles – ALL 7:30pm)

Module 1    Tuesday 13 February 2018
Module 2    Tuesday 20 February 2018
Module 3    To be completed ON LINE (Timed Module) between 21st Feb & 28th Feb 2018
Module 4    Tuesday 27 February 2018 
Training as a Club Referee involves the following modules:

Rules of Specification / The Play / Scores/ Powers and Duties of the Referee Technical Fouls / Set Play / Aggressive Fouls / Dissent / Referee’s Report / Rules Test / Fitness Test

Modules are “classroom” based and involve attendance and participation by the prospective referees. A timed Rules Test is centrally organised by Croke Park, which the participants complete “on-line”, with a pass-mark set which must be achieved for successful progression

An initial trial Fitness Test, i.e. a “BANGSBO or BEEP Test” will be used to familiarise new entrants with the levels required. A standard test will be used later in the year to monitor progression with a view to the achievement of a minimum standard required for qualification.

Following completion of the Training Course the successful candidate is certified as qualified by Coiste Ríaracháin Réiteoirí Contae Tiobrad Árann as a Club Level Referee. It is recommended for Foundation Referees to be appointed to referee games up to and including U14 for a period of 2 years.

We are now seeking applications from interested individuals, who are considering taking up the role as Club Referee and applications must be submitted through their respective Club Secretary on the relevant Application Form which is available online on the Tipperary GAA website.

Application Form – Level 1 Basic Foundation Club Referee Course 2018

Please note all applications must be accompanied by a cheque for €100, from the applicant’s home club, which will be refunded after officiating at ten games.

Completed application forms accompanied by €100 cheque only should be forwarded to Paul Stapleton, Secretary, Tipperary Referees Administration Committee, Lár na Páirce, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

All clubs who do not currently have a referee in their club are encouraged to trawl their membership for prospective candidates.

Further information / clarification from

Jim O’Shea Chairperson 085 1744791 Tipperary Referees Administration Committee

Paul Stapleton Secretary 085 1983325 Tipperary Referees Administration Committee

REFEREE RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE John Lonergan Chairperson 086 2417763 Paul Stapleton Administrator/ Secretary 085 1983325 Philip Kelly (North Division) 087 2863683 Derek O’Mahoney (South Division) 087 1902174 Fergal Horgan (West Division) 086 0611523 Johnny Ryan (Mid Division) 087 2652470

Or from any member of the Referees Administration Committee; Jim O’Shea (Chairperson), Paul Stapleton (Secretary) John Ryan (Divisional Administrator West), Seamus Walsh (Divisional Administrator South), Martin Darcy(Divisional Administrator North), TBC (Divisional Administrator Mid)