‘Lead the Game’, the pioneering joint venture between the RFL and the Veterans Foundation, relaunches this week to offer more veterans a structured pathway towards becoming qualified match officials.
The programme will engage 90 veterans this year via Rugby League club foundations at Hull FC, Newcastle Rugby Foundation, and Warrington Wolves. These foundations already work with veterans through other programmes and will each aim to develop 30 qualified match officials.
As well as gaining match official qualifications covering multiple versions of Rugby League, including wheelchair, and learning and physical disability variations, those on the course will receive mentoring from RFL match officials’ department staff to support their professional development.
And, to ensure that the programme is as accessible as possible, participants will have financial support to help them travel to their respective learning and development opportunities and receive match official kits and whistles.
Royal Marine-turned full-time match official Jack Smith is an ambassador for the programme and features in a promotional video. The former Warrington Crosfields amateur left the armed forces after being shot by a sniper in Afghanistan in 2010.
Each foundation will run two courses for 15 participants each time. In addition to match officials’ accreditation, the programme aims to improve people’s mental wellbeing, support education and progression into employment, and to help veterans strengthen personal connections within their local communities.
The programme will run until November this year.
The RFL has strong ties with the Armed Forces, which includes engagement at major events, playing, coaching, mental and physical fitness sessions, and volunteering opportunities. Funding for the three-year Lead the Game project has come from the Veterans Foundation, matched in kind by the various partner organisations.
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