Walters participated in Try on Rugby’s ref development program at the Atlanta 7s /// Photo: Stephanie Duncan •
Try on Rugby reiterates that girls are more likely to participate in a sport that has powerful female role models. Those idols can be fellow players, coaches or administrators, or referees. But in 2015-16, women comprised 13.7% of registered referees* in the U.S., and Try on Rugby – the USA Rugby initiative dedicated to the growth of the female side of the game – is attempting to change that.
Last year, Try on Rugby hosted six Level 1 referee courses that saw 82 female participants, and USA Rugby wants to double that number. Caroline Walters is just one success story who can help drive more participation. The Fishers, Ind., native started playing rugby in high school at Hamilton Southeastern and then continued at Indiana University. She took a referee course as a freshman and went on to captain the Redstorm as an upperclassman.
“It was a running joke on my college team to mock me for making the knock-on signal, because I would do it out of habit while I was playing,” the now-24-year-old recounted. “I also would find myself making other calls during my matches, which I’m sure the referee didn’t appreciate.”
After college, Walters – who now works in a surgical ICU at University Hospital in Indianapolis – wanted to stay involved, and the switch to refereeing seemed natural.
“My biggest concern transitioning was that I would be just a terrible [referee]. I played enough high-level rugby to know what a good referee did, and I was afraid to disappoint people or embarrass myself,” Walters echoed a common fear.
Nonetheless, Walters went for it and confessed that the first few matches were intimidating, but the joy that came after that adjustment period has been well worth it.
“Refereeing is every bit as fun as playing! You become a conductor, orchestrating a game of rugby from start to finish,” Walter enthused. “It’s a different type of involvement and it’s very satisfying. … [M]ore female referees are needed. The community of female refereeing is a very supportive and encouraging one.”
Walters got a better understanding of that community when she joined the Try on Rugby referee development program at the 2016 Atlanta 7s. She and six other young women reffed the amateur festival games, where high-level officials and referee coaches evaluated their performances and provided feedback. The women then operated the technical zone during the HSBC Women’s Sevens Series international tournament that followed.
“I felt considerably more confident at the end of the weekend than I had when I got there,” Walters remembered. “Aside from the actual refereeing, the experience was more than worth it just for the connections that I made. I still message a few female referees on the national panel if I have frustrations or questions about my matches. Overall, the weekend I spent in Atlanta solidified my desire to continue in rugby as a referee.”
Walters went on to ref Indiana’s high school state championships for girls’ 15s and boys’ 7s. She has three seasons of refereeing behind her and continues to look toward idols like Leah Berard, Haylee Slaughter and Lee Bryant – all of whom she met through Try on Rugby – as she continues her development.
“The biggest reward I get from refereeing is when I get to experience a good, well played match,” Walters concluded. “Facilitating a fair competition is extremely satisfying. As a referee, you get to experience firsthand how passionate rugby players are. You’re always right there with the action and you’ve got the [best] seat in the house.”
Rugby New Jersey is the latest state-based organization attempting to grow its referee pool, which president KJ Feury noted is a limiting factor to playing games. The Sunday, Dec. 18 event in Morristown, N.J., is one of three near-future opportunities to take a refereeing course:
Sunday, Dec. 11: Life University, Marietta, Ga. Click here for details
Sunday, Dec. 18: Atlantic Sports Health, Morristown, N.J. Click here for details
Saturday, Jan. 21: Courtyard by Marriott, Austin, Texas. Click here for details
Continue to check the Try on Rugby site for more fixtures and offer your hometown as a hosting site.
* In 2015-16, women accounted for 412 of the 3,012 registered referees in the U.S. USA Rugby Youth & High School Director Kurt Weaver indicated that the total figure is misleading, however, because “registered” doesn’t necessarily mean “active.”
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