Tipperary GAA asking for members to consider taking up the whistle in recruitment drive

Tipperary GAA is currently seeking applications from interested individuals to participate in the upcoming Referee Recruitment for Tipperary in 2023, to address the future refereeing needs within the Premier County.

With the growth in popularity of Gaelic Games, the demand for match officials is increasing. With over four thousand games being played in our county on an annual basis, the role of the referee is a particularly important cog of the wheel to ensure all games take place. However, statistics are seeing a drop in the current crop of officials, due to injury, work life balance and age related factors.

During the last GAA season in 2022, a number of games had to be cancelled due to no referee available. 

Out of the 71 clubs in Tipperary, there are 13 clubs without referees and this represents 18% which is has a negative impact on getting games played.

The target is that every club has an active referee as a crisis is developing in Tipperary in relation to the number of qualified active referees.

Basic Club Referee Training Courses are provided every year by trained Referee Tutors in County Tipperary.

Last year the county board trained 18 new recruits following a break of two years due to Covid, with the first two Modules being completed online by the student in the comfort of their own home, while the next two modules can be completed as a group in Thurles. Timeframe is these is early March. The course is developed in conjunction with Croke Park and supported through the Provincial Munster Council.

Training Course is now open to interested candidates to register.

Following completion of the Training Course the successful candidate is certified as qualified by Coiste Ríaracháin Réiteoirí Contae Tiobrad Árann as a Club Level Referee. Newly qualified Foundation Referees will be appointed to referee games as allocated by the Referees Administration Committee.

Tipperary GAA are now seeking applications from interested individuals, who are considering taking up the role as Club Referee and applications must be submitted through their respective club.