USA RUGBY REFEREES & OFFICIALS

The Referee and Match Official education program will prepare you to make the game safer and more enjoyable for the players, providing a valuable service to the game. To see a listing of available courses, visit the USA Rugby Course Calendar, and register via the USA Rugby Learning Center.

USA Rugby Referee Compliance

In order to be a ‘compliant’ referee, each and every rugby referee must meet the following four requirements of the USOPC and USA Rugby:

  1. SafeSport completion (annual). If you are not current, this appears as an option in Rugby Xplorer once you have registered to an LRO or club in a role that requires a SafeSport completion.

  2. Background Check (every two years). If you are not current, this appears as an option in Rugby Xplorer once you have registered to an LRO or club in a role that requires a Background Check.

  3. Rugby's Safety Basics. This is taken through the USA Rugby Learning Center. Login to Rugby Xplorer, then from the left-hand menu click "Learning Center", and then click on your name. One you are loaded into the USA Rugby Learning Center, click "Course Catalog" and select "Rugby's Safety Basics". Follow the instructions.

  4. A current Rugby Referee Qualification. (At least one from the listing below, as relevant.)

USA Rugby Introduction to Refereeing (Virtual Classroom)

Who it's for: This is for individuals who specifically want to become referees, or are considering becoming a referee, or players who are keen to learn more about the Laws and refereeing. Minimum age 13. This course allows a member to act as Touch Judge (not an Assistant Referee), and allows a member to act as a Referee for a non-contact game, or to referee a B-side / development game under direct supervision of a Level 1 or higher Referee for a period of 12 months (after this you need to graduate to Level 1).

What it is: These 2.5 hr courses are Zoom sessions with content presented live, involving interaction between participants and the presenters. 

How to take it: The course costs $20. USA Rugby is not currently running these courses on a regular basis, but can run the course on-demand for a Union or region or club. Contact your rugby organization and ask them to consider requesting to host a course here.

World Rugby Level 1 Referee (In-Person)

Who it's for: This is for individuals who wish to referee forms of rugby that involve tackling. Minimum age 13.

What it is: An eight (8) hour in-person course, which contains mostly practical elements in addition to covering aspects of Law knowledge. In addition to attendance, the course requires completion of several online courses taken through World Rugby's Passport website, ideally before the course. The resulting PDF certificates must uploaded to USA Rugby's Learning Center before certification will be granted.

How to take it: The course costs $85. Register through the USA Rugby Learning Center. Available courses and locations are listed on the USA Rugby Course Calendar. If there is not a course in your area, then clubs, schools and facilities can apply to host an upcoming course. Given the different local requirements of our Unions, USA Rugby does not centrally choose where and when to run courses, we rely on rugby organizations to request courses that we then facilitate.

World Rugby Level 2 Referee (In-Person)

Who it's for: This is for individuals who are have been Level 1 Referees for a year or more, who wish to move to the next stage of refereeing accreditation. Minimum age 18.

What it is: A two-day, 16 hour in-person course, which explores further topics such as positioning, advantage, materiality, and other techniques to advance as a referee. This course is more involved than the Level 1 with respect to pre-coursework, the in-person clinic, and post-course field test in a live game.

How to take it: The course costs $150. Register through the USA Rugby Learning Center. Available courses and locations are listed on the USA Rugby Course Calendar. If there is not a course in your area, then clubs, schools and facilities can apply to host an upcoming course. Given the different local requirements of our Unions, USA Rugby does not centrally choose where and when to run courses, we rely on rugby organizations to request courses that we then facilitate.

World Rugby Level 1 Referee Coach (In-Person)

Who it's for: This is for individuals who wish to coach referees. Minimum age 17.

What it is: An eight (8) hour in-person course. In addition to attendance, the course requires completion of several online courses taken through World Rugby's Passport website, ideally before the course. The resulting PDF certificates must uploaded to USA Rugby's Learning Center before certification will be granted.

How to take it: The course costs $85. Register through the USA Rugby Learning Center. Available courses and locations are listed on the USA Rugby Course Calendar. If there is not a course in your area, then clubs, schools and facilities can apply to host an upcoming course. Given the different local requirements of our Unions, USA Rugby does not centrally choose where and when to run courses, we rely on rugby organizations to request courses that we then facilitate.

USA Rugby Level 1 Assistant Referee (Online Learning)

Who it's for: This is for individuals who wish to act as an Assistant Referee. Minimum age 15.

What it is: An entirely online course consisting of 3 modules, covering Team of 3 requirements, Touch Law, and foul play reporting.

How to take it: The course costs $20. It will be released to the public sometime in Summer 2023.