Guyana’s top rugby referee instructor Terrence Grant, just back from an International Referees Educators Course in Canada, is now on a mission to improve the level of officiating here.
Grant took part in the International Rugby Board (IRB) Referees Educators Course for instructors in NAWIRA (North American, West Indies Rugby Association) last week in Toronto. Grant said that he now planned to improve the level of local officials and project that by 2010 at least two male and two female referees would be certified to officiate at NAWIRA level.
“We will be looking to producing top referees like Conrad (Arjoon) who is the only NAWIRA qualified referee in Guyana and by 2010 we will be working towards two males and two females being accredited to the regional refereeing panel,” Grant said.
According to Grant at least two courses will be conducted for local officials next year, a Level Two course for referees who took part in level one in 2003 and a Level One for beginners.
The local rugby official disclosed that the course participants were exposed to new teaching methods at the Course conducted by Dr. Trevor Arnold, Director of Rugby Development and referees development manager of Rugby Canada.
Grant who made his international refereeing debut in 1996 said that method of training is technology based and all the trainers now have access to the IRB website where they can secure training material and communicate with other referee educators. According to Grant, had attended similar programmes in 1997 in Trinidad and Tobago, 1999 in Canada and 2005 in Jamaica.
At present there are 14 active local referees most of whom were involved in the recent Carib Rugby Club’s 15th Anniversary celebrations and the visit here of the Trinidad and Tobago Enthusiasts and Caribbean Cougars of the United States.
Grant expressed gratitude to his employers Hand-in-Hand Trust, the Canadian High Commission and the Guyana Rugby Football Union.
