Date: 28 June 2017 To: TFA Referee Advisory Panel, State Managers, State Referee Directors, NYC Entities and Affiliates From: Bethany Taylor Sport Services Coordinator Subject: 2017 Harvey Norman National Youth Championships and Alliance Cup Referee Nominations Touch Football Australia (TFA) are calling for nominations for suitably qualified referees to be considered to attend the 2017 Harvey Norman National Youth Championships (NYC) from Wednesday 13th Saturday 16 th and the Alliance Cup from Thursday 14 th Saturday 16 th at Sunshine Coast Stadium, Kawana, QLD. Touch Football is one of the few sports that School Sport Australia and a National Sporting Organisation (TFA) have been able to provide a combined event. The opportunity to integrate a prominent National Youth tournament and a Schools Sport Australia National Championships is mutually beneficial and provides leading practice for other sports to follow. The NYC event has proven to be a highlight for the Touch Football community, providing a great opportunity for referees to be identified for future Australian representation. We are adding to this iconic event the Alliance Cup and Harvey Norman Schools Cup. There will be two events occurring at the National Youth Championship encompassing the U18s Tournament, the Alliance Cup and Harvey Norman Schools Series. TFA is pleased to confirm that Referees from all events will be utilising the same facilities and encourage all Referees to interact and support each other. Information for the Schools Series can be found separately on the TFA website www.touchfootball.com.au. This document outlines information for referees interested in participating in the event:» Event information» Nomination criteria» Under 18 s Referees» Referee contribution» International Referees» Referee Contribution Assistance» Nomination and Payment Process» Late Nominations» Withdrawals» Accommodation» Uniform» Travel arrangements» Approved Tournament Referees» Key Dates Summary» Contact and future communication We encourage you to read to following information closely, if you have any questions please feel free to contact TFA Sports Services Coordinator, Beth Taylor, at beth.taylor@touchfootball.com.au or 0400 605 099.
2017 National Youth Championships & Alliance Cup Referee Nomination Information Items Information 1. Event information Date Wednesday 13 th Saturday 16 th of September 2017 Location Sunshine Coast Stadium, 31 Sportsman s Parade, Bokarina, QLD 4575 2. Nomination Criteria 3. Under 18 s Referees 4. Referee Contribution Under 18 s Boys and Girls National Champions will be determined at this event, with school based, NYC entities and Invitational Teams all participating. The Alliance Cup will be held in conjunction with the National Youth Championships. Referees will be allocated to games across these divisions. Referees participating in the NYC event must:» Hold a Level 3,4,5 or 6 badge» Be endorsed by their respective Regional and/or State Director of Referee and Office Note: The NYC is the National Event for Youth Referee Development and the pinnacle event in the Under 18 Referees pathway, nominations from Under 18 referees are encouraged. As the NYC is the preferred development pathway for Referees aged 18 years and under, TFA will be providing supervision for these referees at the fields throughout the tournament, as well as after-hours at the accommodation. Referees who intend to participate in the NYC and will be 18 years and under during the tournament are asked to make themselves known to Beth Taylor, beth.taylor@touchfootball.com.au, for further information regarding their involvement in the event, and responsibilities prior to it. The referee contribution for the event is $525. This contribution covers part of the expenses outlined below. The remaining costs are covered by a TFA subsidy and the team contribution to referees. The breakdown of costs is provided below for your information: 5. International Referees» Five nights accommodation (Tuesday to Saturday) - $370.00» Transport to/from accommodation to the event - $44.00» Pre-Tournament Meeting and Dinner - $42.00» Lunch, snacks and ice for each day of competition $38.00» Shelter and hire equipment $25.00» Medallion, team photo and awards - $28.00» Medical assistance and services - $95.00» Professional development of from National Referee Coaches and Referee Management Services - $155.00 TFA encourage International Teams and Referees to participate in our National Events. We see this as another development opportunity to strengthen the game across the globe. However, please note that International Referees are not eligible for the TFA Subsidy applied to Australians Referees, and will be required to pay a Referee Levy considerate of the actual event costs, less the Referee Levy Allocation from participating teams. For the NYC the Referee Levy for International Referees is $740 AUD. This amount is to be paid in line with the Payment Process outlined further in this document, including the payment of a deposit via the Online Registration System, unless previously discussed with the individual or National Body.
6. Referee Contribution Assistance 7. Nomination and Payment Process for all events Any International Referee wishing to participate in the event, will require endorsement from their respective regions Referee Director, as well as the Federation of International Touch, and their Director of Referees. TFA and the NYC entities who enter the NYC recognise that the event could not be successful without high quality officials. As such, each team is required to pay a referee levy as a contribution towards ensuring that the individual referee levy is less than the actual costs of having the referee s attend. The levy is $110.00 per team, with this money is then applied equally to all referees whom attend the NYC. This reduces the contribution amount outlined above for all referees; we hope that this reduction assists more referees to be able to afford to attend the event. TFA are utilising the SportsTG Registration System for this event. To nominate please go to the below address and complete the required registration process and information. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE TFA recommends that you have planned your participation at the event. This means that you have contacted your Regional or State Director of Referees, that you have leave organised with your employer, have funds available for your levy contribution, and that you re undertaking suitable treatment of any existing injuries. Please communicate any relevant information for your participation to your State Director of Referees and TFA, so we understand your situation and we can plan your participation accordingly. Nominations must be lodged by - Wednesday 26 th July 2017. Please note that your nomination is subject to approval, and is not an automatic inclusion for the event. TFA will then seek confirmation of your endorsement from the appropriate State body. Please note, no referee will be allowed to attend the event if they are not endorsed by their State of Regional body or Referee Panel, dependent on local selection policies. Deposit TFA requires a COMPULSORY deposit of $250.00 be paid when nominating online for the event. TFA have previously experienced issues with 3 rd Party Payments from Affiliates, States, Regions and other organisations. To avoid such issues all referees will be required to make the above payment when nominating. Whilst TFA understand that many referees will receive financial support from other sources, we encourage you to receive this support directly from them, either as a pre-payment or as a reimbursement. Further Payment Details For referees who are successful in their nomination an invoice will be sent with your Tournament Acceptance Pack by Wednesday 2 th August 2017. Selected referees must be financial, those who are found not to be, will be contacted by TFA to clarify your situation. The invoice will be for the remaining $275.00 and must be paid by Wednesday 30 th August 2017. Failure to comply with this deadline may impact upon your participation in the event.
This invoice may be paid by Cheque, B-Pay or Credit Card. These invoices will be in the name of the individual or their parent/guardian, in the case of underage referees. If you are to receive financial assistance from a 3 rd Party, please ensure you receive this support directly from them either in advance or as a reimbursement. If you foresee having trouble paying this amount, please contact TFA to discuss entering into a Direct Debit Payment Plan. If you have any questions or require further explanation of the payment process, please feel free to contact Beth Taylor or the TFA Business Unit on (02) 6212 2800. 8. Late Nominations After the Wednesday 26 th July 2017 deadline, nominations will only be accepted upon exceptional circumstances, past services, outstanding qualities and contributions of the individual. The success of such nominations will be determined by TFA. 9. Withdrawals We understand circumstances can change between the time of your nomination and the actual event. This considered any referee who notifies TFA of their need to withdraw from the event with the relevant documentation prior to Wednesday 16 th August 2017 will be accepted and their payment refunded. Notification must be made in writing to beth.taylor@touchfootball. Relevant documentation includes a doctor s certificate or letter from an employer. Referees who withdraw after this date may be liable for some or all of their Event Contribution. Any such withdrawal will be reviewed on a case by case basis, with a determination to be made and the matter final. Any fees deemed to be outstanding will need to be paid by the individual. 10. Accommodation All Referees will be staying at the: Moorings Beach Resort, 88 Esplanade, Golden Beach, 4551 07 54 921 388 www.mooringsbeachresort.com.au The Moorings Beach Resort consists of both 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, all of which are fully equipped and self-contained, with spacious living areas and
bedrooms. As well as, modern kitchens and laundry s with washers, dryers and lift access. Check-In is from 2.00pm on Tuesday, 12 th September. Check-Out will be on Sunday, 17 th September by 10.00am. If you need to secure any additional nights of accommodation, please contact the accommodation directly. Conduct/damage and Finalising of Accounts Each individual has a responsibility to ensure that they conduct themselves in a respectable manner throughout the period they are a part of the Referee Contingent. As such we expect a high level of behaviour and do not want any damage to occur within the accommodation. As such, if damage occurs or conduct becomes unacceptable the people who are allocated the room will be equally responsible to cover any costs and/or could be evicted from the premises. Further to this, any accounts incurred while at the 2017 NYC need to be finalised prior to departure. If this does not occur, the responsibility for payment becomes the responsibility of all occupants of the room. Room Allocations As part of the Online Nomination, Referees will be able to identify if they wish to share a room with specific person/s. TFA will use this information to assist in the allocation of rooms for the event. Please note: rooms will be allocated based on gender, and only those in a marital/de facto relationship will be roomed together. Room lists will be released closer to the event, once the referee group has been finalised. 11. Off-Field Uniform All Referees will be required to wear the green Off Field Polo for this event. New referees attending the event and requiring a polo will be need to purchase this at the time of nomination. This shirt is a requirement of the event and is to be worn for the Referee Dinner, as well as when not officiating at the fields. To maintain the expected high level of presentation for the event, your uniform must be in a good and respectable condition throughout. 12. On-Field Uniform As this is a National Tournament, referees are to wear the Official TFA Green, White and Grey uniform, and have a choice of wearing either the long knee length socks, or short ankle socks. Females also have the choice of wearing either shorts or skirt. Referee must always display their correct badge. If you choose to wear a hat, you are to wear a white hat with no conflicting brands to Touch Football Australia s sponsors or professional relationships. Hats must not have State or Affiliate logos on them.
All uniforms must have the TFA or Harvey Norman NRL Touch Football logo, with no State, Region, Affiliate or School logo or sponsors to be present on your shirt, shorts, hat or socks. Further, to maintain the expected high level of presentation for the event, your uniform must be in a good and respectable condition. 13. Travel Arrangements To purchase Referee Uniform, please visit the TFA Online Shop. Please note: uniforms must be purchased before 1 st September 2017 to allow sufficient time for postage. TFA has organised transport for transfers between the accommodation and fields each day of the tournament. Referees must make their own travel arrangements to and from the Sunshine Coast, ensuring arrival prior to 5pm on Tuesday 12 th of September 2017. Travel insurance for the event is the responsibility of the individual. While you are covered at the event for any injuries that occur in relation to Touch Football activities, TFA accepts no responsibility or makes no assurances that theft, damage or accident won t occur at the event. Please ensure you have adequate travel insurance or home and contents insurance that will cover you in the event that something occurs. Furthermore, TFA encourages individuals not to bring unnecessary valuables to the event, in particular to the fields, as we cannot ensure their security. 14. Approved Tournament Referees Referees whose nominations are endorsed will be sent (via email), a Tournament Acceptance Pack. This pack must be completed and returned by Wednesday 30 th August 2017, including payment of your invoice. The Tournament Acceptance Pack will include:» Successful letter» Further event information» An invoice for the remainder of the Referee Contribution, $275.00» Medical profile information CareMonkey Online Portal» Parent Guardian Consent Form for Under 18 s
15. Key Dates Summary Online Nominations Close Wednesday 26 th July 2017 Referee Acceptance Pack Sent by Wednesday 2 nd August 2017 Final Payment and Forms Completed Wednesday 30 th August 2017 Final Date for Uniform Purchasing Friday 1 st September 2017 NYC Pre-Tournament Meeting Tuesday 12 th September 2017 NYC Games Commence Wednesday 13 th September 2017 Tournament Concludes Saturday 16 th September 2017 16. Contact and future communication Travel Home Sunday 17 th September 2017 If you have any further queries or for further information please contact: Beth Taylor Sport Services Coordinator Email: beth.taylor@touchfootball.com.au