Grading Night is the annual dinner on the NSW Touch calendar where the successes and achievements of referees - some of the most important people in the sport - are officially recognized, including:
- Elevation to the ranks of a State Referee (level 4 or above)
- Length-of-service awards
- Selection for the TRYS program (Talented Referee Youth Squad)
- "Matthew Medal" (referee of the year)
I actually worried (excessively) whether or not I should attend, if it was my place to be there. I do like to consider myself a part of NSW Referees and also as having contributed back to the sport, but in the back of my mind it's also never been lost on me that I am "guest". Fortunately a few people helped me come to my senses because I'd have been pretty dirty with myself had I elected not to be there, now that I actually have. It was simply a wonderful evening - classy without being overly flashy, if you get my meaning. I think the keyword I'm looking for here, is "genuine".
NSW Referees doesn't feel like an organization to me anymore, it feels like a community - friends and family. I didn't recognise half the people in the room but knew I was looking at multiple generations of retired, active and upcoming referees and coaches and that having everybody together, even for one evening, was something special. Guest speaker Peter Fitzsimons, an "outsider" to Touch Football, even sensed this and remarked on it. Throughout the entire evening I witnessed sincere recognition and gratitude of people and their efforts, everybody who graced the stage thoroughly deserving.
Teenagers being inducted into a "talented youth squad". I've refereed with some of them and to see, for example, them holding their own in fast, intense games and not being intimidated by players & coaches many years older than them, has taught me a thing or two.
Long service: 5, 10, 15, 20 and, in the case of Paul Cini, 25 years service to NSW Touch. The game has barely been around for 40 years. I turned 30 last year so Paul has been doing this since I was 5 and that's amazing to me.
Referee of the year - Adam Foley & Sam Clark (joint), currently the #1 male and female referees in the world.
Then there's that blue blazer awarded to "State Graded" referees, that is those who attain Level 4 standard. People joke that the blazer is an awful colour but for those wearing it who genuinely "get it", I could see a sense of pride radiate from them. It is a WONDERFUL tradition - there's not enough of stuff like this left in the world - and I hope some day in my own refereeing career to be part of something like it.
At the last European Championships (July 2008), Matto planted the idea in my head of spending some time in NSW. He told me "I had talent", which I recall taking rather lightly as a cordial compliment - as I had no concept of his basis for comparison. So I found myself glancing around the room at people I've refereed with, travelled with, been coached by, studied - and in some cases look up to and consider mentors (regardless of whether they either realise or might want it). You don't have to look far...
At the recent Trans Tasman games, a member of the Panel joked that someday I might be refereeing a game like this rather than watching it... I think unaware this was something I already considered and wanted. It is amazing, as people, how our goals adapt over time. Last year I was content to be a "good" referee. Since I came to NSW I've wanted to become a "great" referee. Now it these people who are the standards to which I aspire.The night is about reflecting on achievement and so I find myself thinking of my own. It's never been lost on me that I came from nowhere in terms of the greater Touch scheme of things, so the extent I've developed is due to having the company of the very best in the world... and I am so very grateful for that, even if it will only be for a short time.
No comments:
Post a Comment