Group 10 Referees Association looking to bolster numbers at March courses

Refereeing courses will be run at Bathurst on March 14, Orange on March 21 and Lithgow on March 28 as the association looks for the next generation to come through.

Group 10 has seen a number of talented referees come through the system and one of the region's veterans with the whistle, Nick Lander, is hopeful there's more on the way.

"The pathways for some of these kids is a lot better at allowing them to go on to bigger things than what they used to be," he said.

"If someone strives to get to the next level, and they've got the ability to do it, those pathways are better than what they were even five or 10 years ago. Billy Greatbatch is a good example of that and Anthony Pond is one who is now in high performance side of things down in Sydney."

While the pathways for referees are as strong as they've ever been it will take more than that, according to Lander, to get more high quality referees out of the region.

Lander said respect needs to be shown from both Group 10 officials and those on the sidelines if referee numbers are going to find the bounce they need, particularly following the aftermath of this year's premier league grand final between Bathurst Panthers and Mudgee.

"The decline in numbers grows due to a lack of support from Group 10 senior management, especially with the amount of abuse from not so much the players but the spectators," he said.

"We've lost a number of junior referees for that reason. We've also had a number of senior referees who have moved on. Obviously Billy Greatbatch moving to Sydney to referee 12 months ago was a massive loss for us.

"The carry on from the Group 10 grand final this season hasn't helped things either, and that's still ongoing. A lot of people see that stuff and they don't want to be involved in it.

"We've also seen more girls coming through but, again, we need to stem the flow of abuse coming from the sidelines."

The cost of the course is $30. More information can be found on the Group 10 Referees Association's Facebook page.