HI Duck,

This is my personal point of view.....

I have provided a cost breakdown to Piazzaz for funding 16 refs. Breakdown was based on 5 NZ Refs ( to use highest flight cost), 2 Aus, 3 Netherlands, 3 France, 1 GB, 1 US, 1 Can. Based on quick internet search of flight costs the cost of funding 16 water refs is worked out less than NZD$100 or US$80 per player based on 35 teams attending.

The rules stated that all countries must supply one referee per team up to maximum of three per country or pay the USD$500. UWHNZ will only fund water referees to attend as water referees can easily undertake Deck duties. If they just added the USD$500 into the entry fee then we would have enough budget to cover 16 refs.

For the NZ Schools Championships I funded 10 referees to attend. We also covered food accommodation, official T-shirt and a thank you. With the support of the local club we had a pool of 12 referees. On review we needed to have 16 referees to cover the 153 games over the 2 and half days but we managed. All games were refereed 3 the three way system. Note that the size of the tournament is the same as worlds except that worlds lasts 7-9 days longer.

When I breakdown the costs of a New Zealand player attending then funding referees is less than 2% of the players cost (Using NZ Team 2005 Accounts for SHC 2005 Durban.

At Sheffield is was agreed that referees would be fully funded (Number to be agreed but 12-16 discuss) however statements from some quarters are back tracking on this agreement. The sport needs to progress. It should be easily funded now that the tournament doesn't have the Fatcats bills for CMAS representatives to attend.

Be aware..... The WAA version changed many rules such as U19 as at 1st Jan etc without discussion. Via discussion with the commission an agreement that the U19 as at 1st Jan for Junior will remain for Durban but it shows the same operating procedure as CMAS in my view.

Refereeing is critical to performing at the highest levels. You need to have as many games as possible refereed to the highest level possible for players to develop. I always find it interesting the amount of sinbin time South Africa, France, USA spend compared to NZ, AUS.

As players advise your national organsation that you want the top referees funded.

Tristan