September 2025 Newsletter

Yes, Chicago Area Rugby Football Union Referee Society is back up and active on Facebook.  It’s simple to get to: https://www.facebook.com/carfu.rs.  Drop in to see what your colleagues are up to – all 19 followers! Be sure to like us to get that number up!!  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carfu.rs/.  That’s poppin’ with 52 followers! And feel free to post photos and new content.  If you’re having any trouble, contact Amelia Vojt at recruitment@carfu-rs.com.

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Transition to ArbiterPay

You should have seen the emails from Sydney announcing that we are now set up with ArbiterPay.  Each of us needs to add a bank account to our Arbiter account. If you want to be paid for your time and service, get ‘r done.  If you need any support, contact Sydney at treasurer@carfu-rs.com.

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I am sure I sound like a broken record, but we need to remain diligent if we hope to change team/club behavior.  If you are not being treated respectfully, or a coach or player is constantly challenging your calls, then it is abuse.  Midwest, CARFU and Rugby Illinois can’t address it if they don’t know about it.  Depending on the seriousness of the abuse, action may or may not happen, but it all builds a history that is critical later if there is a more serious incident.  So PLEASE REPORT!

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Availability✅

Keep your availability up to date all the time.  This is critical to help Laura as late requests can reshuffle the entire board, and future matches may need additional support.  If you’re not getting assignments, it’s probably because you have blocks still in place.  Help make Laura’s life easier!!

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We all receive feedback in many ways.  It may be from captains and players during the game; it could be a conversation with a team coach after the game;  perhaps you were able to get your hands on game film; or you worked directly with one of our many coaches. Whether we like it or not, this feedback is critical to development. Your ability to receive, analyze, and incorporate this learning will determine your ability to improve your referee skills and get higher level matches. Keep in mind,  any coaching you receive is always with the intention to help you. Try not to get defensive. Try to actively listen.  Part of the problem for reffing is that we get feedback immediately after a match… but we can’t put it into practice until 7 days later.  What do you think happens?  We forget, and we fall back into our old, comfortable (and wrong) ways. You need to employ the Feedback loop if you want to make these learnings stick.

Step 1 – Receive data – ACTIVELY LISTEN

• Formal Coaching
• Film
• Post game discussion with team coaches
• Self reflection

Step 2 – Analyze

• Critically review film, coaching reports, etc. 
• Reflect on issues, what could you have done differently to avoid them?
• What do you need to adjust on the field to manage a better game?  (e.g., positioning)
• HANDWRITE THIS DOWN.  This analysis and physical act of writing will help lock the learning in your brain.  

Step 3 – Pregame Prep

• Identify specific actions to address (e.g., whistle tone)
• Practice physical actions (e.g., signals)
• Again, WRITE DOWN (journal) a game plan with up to three things you are going to change and how

Step 4 – Employ Learnings

• REVIEW YOUR GAME PLAN
• Consciously referee your next match with intention
• Rinse and repeat

Your development is in your hands.  You don’t get better games because of tenure, but your ability to better manage games.  We can all improve, but we have to be committed to growth. That takes EFFORT.  It’s hard to hear criticism, but you have to park your ego for a bit, listen, and then analyze it later with a cool head.

A special thank you to all of our coaches who take the time to watch our games and share their knowledge and experience to help us all be better.

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Amelia Vojt is heading our Special Events Committee to plan an event with the NZL/IRL Referee Team probably the Thursday before the match on the 1st.  If you are interested to get involved and perhaps rub some shoulders with the top international referees, please contact Amelia at recruitment@carfu-rs.com.