Just read this at nrl.com, what is everyones opinion on it.
The NRL will trial interchange of referees during Round 25 of the Telstra Premiership.
Interchange referees were first trialed last season and with the outcomes of the following round 25 matches not capable of affecting semi-final positions, the clubs involved have agreed to participate in the trials:
Rabbitohs v Sharks, Aussie Stadium, 30 August, 7.30pm
Wests Tigers v Cowboys, Campbelltown Stadium, 31 August, 3.00pm
NRL Referees Coach Robert Finch says the experiment will provide the added bonus of introducing new referees to the game as well as reducing the fatigue factor on referees.
These trials give us an effective way of introducing new referees into the pressure cooker environment of NRL competition, without the need to put them on the field for a full 80 minutes as their first experience, Mr Finch said.
We also need to try and combat the effects of mental fatigue during a game.
Physically the referees have never been fitter, but the psychological impact of the game over 80 minutes may at times make it difficult for the referee to perform to his optimum.
This may be one way of addressing those pressures.
Obviously the issue of consistency of interpretation from one referee to another is a major concern for us, but this system may in fact have the added bonus of forcing referees to be more aware of the need for a consistent approach to the way matches are controlled.
The NRL has previously experimented with several models of using two referees at the same time.
To date, those models have not proved satisfactory and the NRL is not proposing to further the concept of using two referees on the field at one time.
It is currently felt that the interchange system offers the most scope for significant improvement.
The NRL will trial interchange of referees during Round 25 of the Telstra Premiership.
Interchange referees were first trialed last season and with the outcomes of the following round 25 matches not capable of affecting semi-final positions, the clubs involved have agreed to participate in the trials:
Rabbitohs v Sharks, Aussie Stadium, 30 August, 7.30pm
Wests Tigers v Cowboys, Campbelltown Stadium, 31 August, 3.00pm
NRL Referees Coach Robert Finch says the experiment will provide the added bonus of introducing new referees to the game as well as reducing the fatigue factor on referees.
These trials give us an effective way of introducing new referees into the pressure cooker environment of NRL competition, without the need to put them on the field for a full 80 minutes as their first experience, Mr Finch said.
We also need to try and combat the effects of mental fatigue during a game.
Physically the referees have never been fitter, but the psychological impact of the game over 80 minutes may at times make it difficult for the referee to perform to his optimum.
This may be one way of addressing those pressures.
Obviously the issue of consistency of interpretation from one referee to another is a major concern for us, but this system may in fact have the added bonus of forcing referees to be more aware of the need for a consistent approach to the way matches are controlled.
The NRL has previously experimented with several models of using two referees at the same time.
To date, those models have not proved satisfactory and the NRL is not proposing to further the concept of using two referees on the field at one time.
It is currently felt that the interchange system offers the most scope for significant improvement.
