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Presidents Address 07

First of all I would like to thank you all for electing me to be your President for the coming season 2007/08. It is a great honour to me and my club Terenure.

The ARLB faces many issues and I hope I can fulfil your expectations.

I would like to think the environment exists where everybody can reach his or her's potential.

I would also like to see the environment exists where people at the end of their refereeing carer will be able to go and do other things within the ARLB be it assessing, coaching, mentoring or administration.

Some areas I would like to address.

The ARLB has many challenges not least the shortage of referees. The numbers of referees has remained constant for the last number of years, with recruitment between 15 to 20 per year but the number of players playing Rugby at all levels in Leinster has soured from 14,000 last year to 17,000 this year.

We will need support in the form of a resource from the Branch in maintaining people who have done Foundation courses and need to be followed up and also to provide matches for their trials.

The number of assessments is not what it should be and it is hoped to address that next season with additional help from the clubs through the “Referee Liaison Officers”

I would like to see more meetings in the areas, ideally there to be 2 before Christmas, and 2 after.

We will have our Seminar in August and I would like to see everybody attend that as well as “The referee Liaison Officer from the clubs”

There will also be key seminars in November and in February.

I would like to see and encourage use of the WEBSITE , timely imputing of appointments of referees / assessors. Full list of contacts for areas , committees etc.

Keeping data current.

I would like to see smaller group meet on a regular basis like the I-Pass group as an example.

Success

The continuing success of the ARLB can justifiably make us all very proud. Right through our International referees, AIL, I-Pass and to all the ARLB referees who week in week out referee over 3,500 matches in Leinster in clubs, schools and youths per season. To our Assessors, Coaches / Administrations people and Officers, your dedication is much appreciated and recognised.

Predecessor.

To my predecessor Terry Doyle who has played, refereed and held office at the highest level we all appreciate what you have done for us during the season. Your diligence and dedication was inspiring and decisions were always made in a timely manner. We went through the season in which you did not miss a single executive meeting or any other of the key meeting that takes place.

If I could single our one of the achievements and that was the Referees Abuse Charter which was introduced by Terry and subsequently passed by the Leinster Branch Executive. That has served us well with serious penalties imposed on the offenders.

On all our behalf thank you Terry

Finally, Ladies and Gentlemen it is my great pleasure to propose Brian Pender as Senior Vice President of the Association of Referees Leinster Branch season 2007 / 2008.