The GAA's Referee Development Committee launched a number of initiatives which are designed to assist and educate GAA Referees in their application of the rules of the games at Croke Park today.

Referee Handbook

A new Referee Handbook was launched by GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail, which will be distributed, both in hard copy and on-line, to all GAA referees.

The aim of the Referee Handbook is to assist Referees by giving them an outline and understanding of the main areas of refereeing. It is designed to explain and simplify the Playing Rules with a focus on practical application and it is intended that it will become a useful reference for Referees at all levels.

The "Mark"

Following the successful trial of the "Mark" during the recent Comhairle Ardoideachas Division 1 League games Ard Chomhairle recently agreed that it should be implemented in all games from 1 st January 2017.

A suite of training resources have been developed by the Referee Development Committee including:

• Presentation which will be delivered to Referees at all levels during December.
• Graphics for use in a Social Media campaign and for advertisement in programmes for the Provincial pre-Season competitions.
• Video which will be accessible through the GAA's website and Learning Portal.
• Handouts which will be circulated to Referees at all levels.
• Details included in the Referee Handbook.
• Details included in the revised Club Referee and In-Service Training Courses.

It has been agreed that Intercounty Referees will be available to make presentations to County panels and Club panels still involved in the All-Ireland series of the championship.

Club Referee and In-Service Training Courses

In preparation for the Training of new Club Referees and In-Service Training for serving Referees in early 2017 the GAA's Club Referee and In-Service Training Courses have been re-designed.

The Club Referee Training is a four session programme, which will combine both classroom and on-line training.

The In-Service Course is one classroom based training session.

Following today's launch GAA President, Aogán Ó Fearghail said: "I wish to compliment the National Referee Development Committee on their work on producing these very necessary resources. The education plan in relation to the "Mark" is ambitious but I am very confident that Referees, Players & Officials at all levels will be prepared for its implementation come January 1st".

Chairman of the National Referee Development Committee, Seán Walsh stated: "We are very pleased to launch our Training Programme, both for the implementation of the "Mark" and our new Club Referee and In-Service Training Courses. All our Referees will benefit from these programmes. I am delighted that the Referee Handbook comes to fruition today and I hope that it becomes an invaluable resource for use by Referees at all levels."

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