Date: 11 December 2015 To: From: Subject: Affiliates, NTL Entities, TFA Referee Advisory Panel, State Referee Directors and National Referees Matt Irons Community Engagement Coordinator 2016 Harvey Norman National Touch League Touch Football Australia (TFA) is calling for nominations for suitably qualified referees to be considered to attend the 2016 Harvey Norman National Touch League (NTL) from Wednesday 9th Saturday 12th March 2016. The event will be held at C.ex Coffs International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. The Open and Senior tournaments will run concurrently over the four days creating an exciting atmosphere with the best players and officials from across the country in all age divisions, with the potential of international teams. The NTL event has proven to be a highlight for the Touch Football community, providing a great opportunity for professional development through experiencing the highest level of Touch Football in the country. This document outlines information for referees interested in participating in the above events:» Event information» Nomination criteria» Referee contribution» Referee Contribution Assistance» Under 18 s Referees» Nomination and Payment Process» Late Nominations» Withdrawals» Accommodation» Uniform» Approved Tournament Referees» Travel arrangements» 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 me on the details below. Kind Regards, Matt Irons Community Engagement Coordinator matt.irons@touchfootball.com.au
2016 Harvey Norman National Touch League Referee Nomination Information Items Event information Nomination criteria Information 2016 National Touch League (NTL will be held from Wednesday 9th Saturday 12th March 2016 at C.ex Coffs International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. Referees participating in the event must:» Hold a Level 4,5 or 6 badge» Be a positive ambassador representing their Region/State organisations related to their behaviour on and off the field» Be endorsed by their respective Regional and/or State Director of Referee and associated administrative Regional/State Office Note 1: Nominations from Level 3 referees and below will be assessed on a case-bycase basis, considerate of the relevant NTL Entities quota requirements. We encourage such referees to seek advice from their Regional or State Director of Referees before nominating In the event TFA has excessive nominations, we will apply a selection criteria to determine who will be accepted. Under 18 s Referees The National Youth Championships is the preferred development pathway for Referees aged 18 Years and Under. Such referees are encouraged to participate in this event, as supervision will be provided to these individuals. No supervision will be provided to Referees under the age of 18 s years at the NTL. Any Referee who is under 18 years of age wishing to attend the NTL for the purpose of a Level 5 or Level 6 upgrade will need the supervision of a parent or appointed guardian. Referee Contribution The Referee Contribution is $565.00. 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:» Five nights accommodation (Tuesday to Saturday) - $385» Transport to/from accommodation to the event and Airport Shuttle - $40» Professional development of referee skills by National Referee Coaches and Referee Management services - $139» Pre-Tournament Meeting and Group Dinner - $38» Lunch, snacks and ice for each day of competition $40» Shelter and hire equipment (including one tent for all referees) $53» Referees medallion, team photo and team leader awards - $28» Medical assistance and services - $70 With the breakdown provided above you will note that the event costs are at a significantly higher rate then what each referee has been requested to pay, this is because of the previously mentioned contribution each team makes to the referees costs as well as a TFA subsidy.
This allocation is a strategic priority of TFA to ensure a high level of service is maintained for National Level Officials, to support their attendance and involvement. Therefore offsetting the cost of various event elements. Referee Contribution Increase TFA recognise that the Referee Contribution has increased for this year s event, in comparison to the 2015 event. Please be aware that the organisation endeavours to keep all costs as low as possible for our events, however there are a number of variables and factors which impact upon this amount. The increase in this year s Referee Contribution is a result of increases to critical services including, accommodation and transport, including adjustments to the events servicing based on feedback from previous National Events, including medical servicing. TFA highly value the feedback of its participants at events, and understands the importance of creating an environment which enables Referees to perform at their best. Referee Contribution Review In consideration of the various financial responsibilities and implications for Referees participating in TFA National Events, a review has been commenced for financial additional support to be provided, to offset various participation expenses for future events. TFA acknowledge the efforts that our Referees go to in support of our game, and the efforts made through various organisational and partner contributions, however the intent of this review to future investigate additional avenues of support and investment. Further consultation and communication regarding this will occur in 2016, with representatives of the sport and various stakeholders, including participating entities. International Referees Touch Football Australia understands the fantastic opportunity our National Events have for the development of Referees and Players alike, not only from Australia but the wider International Touch Football community. Previously many international referees have attended TFA Events, an opportunity which will again be afforded in 2016. As per previous events, such International Referees will be required to pay an alternate Event Contribution, this amount is $700.00AUD International Referees are asked to complete the Online Nomination Process, making payment of the $300.00 deposit, with the remaining to be invoiced in line with the event process. This alternate contribution amount, does not receive a TFA Subsidy and is therefore charged at a higher rate. Referees will still be required to nominate online and pay the standard deposit for as part of the online nomination process.
International Referees will as always held to the same expectations and standards of all participating Australian Referees, in line with the Tournament Conditions of Entry, TFA Code of Conduct and Participant Agreement. And will require endorsement of their home association, and the Federation of International Touch Director or Referees, prior to the acceptance of their nomination. Nomination and Payment Process TFA are utilising the Sporting Pulse Online Registration System for this event. To nominate please go to the below address and complete the required registration process and information. https://reg.sportingpulse.com/v6/regoform.cgi?formid=54052 A full set of registration instructions are available via the Referees nomination article which can be found on the TFA website: http://touchfootball.com.au/ 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 $565.00 contribution, and that you re undertaking suitable treatment of any existing injuries. Please communicate any relevant information for your participation to your Regional or State Director of Referees and TFA, so we understand your situation and we can plan your participation accordingly. Nominations must be lodged by - Wednesday 13 th January 2016 Please note that your nomination is subject to approval, and is not an automatic inclusion for the event. TFA will seek confirmation of your endorsement from the appropriate Regional or State body. Please note as per previous years, no referee will be allowed to attend the event if they are not endorsed by their State of Regional body or Referee Panel dependant on local selection policies. Deposit TFA requires a COMPULSORY deposit of $300.00 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 prepayment 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 20 th January 2016. Selected referees must be financial, those who are found not to be, will be contacted by TFA to clarify their situation. The invoice will be for $265.00 and must be paid by Wednesday 24 th February 2016, 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, and are required to be paid by them. 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. Please be aware that if you foresee having trouble paying this amount, to 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 Matt Irons or the TFA Business Unit on (02) 6212 2800. Late Nominations Withdrawals After the Wednesday 13 th January 2016 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. 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 3 rd February 2016 will be accepted and their payment refunded. Notification must be made in writing to matt.irons@touchfootball.com.au or by fax 02 6212 2822. 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. Accommodation All 2016 National Touch League Referees and Support Staff will be staying at: Novatel Pacific Bay Resort Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450 All referees will be in mixture of One, Two and Three Bedroom Apartments. All with access to kitchen and laundry facilities.
Only a short walk from the beach, the resort has a number of other facilities, including:» Tennis Courts» Fully Equipped Gymnasium» Beach Volleyball» Par 3 Golf Course and Modified Driving Ranger» Shared BBQ Area - Restaurant and Café Options» In-Room Internet Access (surcharge applies) Check-In is from 2.00pm on Tuesday, 8 h March 2016 with Check-Out Sunday, 12 th March by 10.00am. If you need to secure any additional nights of accommodation, in the first instance 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 2016 NTL need to be finalised prior to departure. Equally, if this does not occur, the responsibility for payment becomes the responsibility of all occupants of the room. Room Allocation 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. Room lists will be released closer to the event, once the referee group has been finalised by TFA. Referee Uniform Allocation As part of the Harvey Norman whole-of-game sponsorship and the NRL Touch Football partnership, each referee will receive an allocation of On Field Uniform for the 2016 NTL, this allocation is valued at over $95.00 per referee, and will include:» On Field Shirt» Shorts (Men) Skirt (Ladies)» Socks» Cap or Visor Please ensure as part of the Online Registration Portal you complete the sizing requirements as accurately as possible. The kit to be supplied is the same as the current make and fabric as the current Referee Uniform, with updated branding. All Referees and Support Staff will also receive an Off Field Polo for the event, the cost of this has been heavily offset through our sponsorship agreement with BLK.
On-Field Uniform 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. As this is a National Tournament, referees are to wear the Official TFA Green, White and Grey uniform, with men to wear the long grey socks and women to wear the shorter ankle length grey socks, as seen below. 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. Travel Arrangements 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 Coffs Harbour, ensuring arrival prior to 5pm on Tuesday 8 th March 2016. 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 and 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 the fields, as we cannot ensure their security. Airport Transfers an airport transfer service will be made available for referees are specific times on Tuesday 8 th March and Sunday 14 th March 2016.
Referees will be asked to complete further information on their travel plans as part of the Care Monkey Medical Profile and Touring Agreement process, this will only be for Referees whose nominations are endorsed. 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 24 th February 2016 including payment of your invoice. The Tournament Acceptance Pack will included:» Successful Letter» An invoice for the remainder of the Referee Contribution $265.00» Care Monkey Medical Profile and Touring Agreement Online Link» Parent Guardian Consent Form for Under 18 s (If required) Key Dates Summary Online Nominations Close Wednesday 13 th January 2016 Referee Acceptance Pack Sent by Wednesday 20 th January 2016 Withdrawal Deadline Wednesday 3 rd February 2016 Final Payment and Forms Completed Wednesday 24 th February 2016 NTL Pre-Tournament Meeting Tuesday 8 th March 2016 NTL Games Commence Wednesday 9 th March 2016 NTL Concludes Saturday 12 th March 2016 Travel Home Sunday 13 th March 2016 Contact and future communication If you have any further queries or for further information please contact: Matt Irons - Community Engagement Coordinator E: matt.irons@touchfootball.com.au