For Immediate Release
February 27, 2008

USA Rugby to Hold its First Women’s Referee Development Camp

BOULDER, Colo. -- USA Rugby’s Referee Development Department, along with the Southern California Rugby Referee Society, officially announced today that it will be hosting its first ever women’s specific referee development camp in conjunction with the Champagne Classic, March 7-9, 2008, in San Diego, Calif.

In response to the feedback gathered from the Women in Refereeing survey that was conducted last year, the camp is aimed at giving women referees from around the country the opportunity to be exposed to: team of three radio protocols, personal development planning sessions, one-on-one coaching, networking, and taking part in video analysis review. 

Sessions will be led by USA Rugby’s Referee Development Manager Ed Todd and National Focus Group Referee Dana Teagarden.

“We received a lot of great feedback from our Women in Refereeing Survey and wanted to address some of the issues that were brought to light by the responses,” said Jennifer Gray, USA Rugby’s Match Official Administrator. “We are really excited to be working with the Southern California Rugby Referee Society to get this camp off the ground. Our goal is to expose these referees to opportunities they might not otherwise receive and get them thinking seriously about their officiating careers.”

Camp attendees were recommended by their Territorial Referee Education Officer and include: Anna McMahan, Venessa McMaher, Leah Berard and Carla Cross.

For more information on how you can secure funding for a development opportunity in your area, or to find out how to become involved in officiating, check out www.usarugby.org/goto/referees