Rugby League Match Officials are being given a new card to use but players will be relieved to know that this isn’t another one to show on the pitch. 

The RFL are rolling out a new card system for all grassroots Match Officials to show what level they are qualified to officiate at which will bring them into line with coaches and players who already possess similar cards.

This is part of the RFL’s strategy to increase the number of qualified Match Officials in the sport and develop and retain those already qualified. Rewards and discounts linked to these Match Officials cards are also being looked at for the future.

Meanwhile the Match Officials Short Course continues to prove successful, there was one held in the North West last Monday and there were five newly qualified Match Officials ready to go by the weekend.

The Match Officials Short Course is designed for Rugby League players that want to take up the whistle, it utilises their knowledge of the sport and enables them to quickly qualify.

The new Rugby League Match Officials Short Course is also proving successful in Cumbria with a number of Match Officials now refereeing games regularly after qualifying earlier this month.

One of the former players who has recently qualified and is now enjoying his refereeing is Simon Pattison, he said: “With wanting to stay active within the game after finishing playing, I thought this was the best possible way of giving something back to the game.”

North Match Officials Development Officer, Peter Wharton said: “It`s great to see lads like this giving their time back to the game as officials whether it be at youth or open age, the short course has been developed for players and ex-players who have an understanding of the game.”

“Their skills as players and their knowledge are transferable to match officiating.”

For more information on becoming a Match Official visit: http://www.therfl.co.uk/referee/becoming_a_match_official