G.R.O.W Coaching for Match Officials

The G.R.O.W. Model is a simple yet powerful framework for structuring coaching conversations and written reports. As a coach, when you arm yourself with this proven technique you unlock the athlete's ability to grow not only as a referee but also as a person.

As a referee, when you arm yourself with this proven technique you become the master of your own destiny. You are able to OWN your own growth and development. A good way of thinking about the G.R.O.W Model is to think about how you'd plan a journey.

G. First, the referee decides what their goal's (work on's) for the game are. This will be past onto the the referee coach and is what is observed during the game (Goal)

R. You establish where you currently are (your current reality), 

The referee coach questions the referee around their understanding of their reality of their performance, based on their goals. The referee coach seeks the referee's views/feelings to see what self-awareness they have.

Ask questions without judging, listen to understand (not to provide solutions) take notes, coach connects to the referee and vice versa, remove interference and build confidence. Give both parties time to relfect on the game, discussion should be around 24-48 hours after the game 

O. You then explore various routes (the options) to your destination

Once both parties are comfortable that clarity has been achieved on the referee's understanding of their reality from the match, the conversation turns to exploring all possible options. Again, through questioning, the referee coach draws out of the referee what options could the referee employ the next time they referee.

The referee coach listens and repeats back to the referee (paraphrasing).

Again this step is continued until all possible options are fully explored and examined.

Depending on the experience of the referee, there may need to be some "instructional" assistance provided to the referee by the referee coach. This should only be used as a last resort, if during the conversation it's clear that the referee cannot provide any tangible options to move themselves forward.

W. In the final step, (way forward), you ensure that you're committed to making the journey, and are prepared for the obstacles that you could meet on the way.

Here the referee and referee coach agree on one, two or three "work ons" for their next game, including:

- what they're going to do,

- how they're going to do it,

- why they've chosen that course of action,

- how this work on can be measured- any possible obstacles that will need to be overcome.

In previous models of referee coaching, the coach would observe the referee during a match, sometimes without the referee even aware that they were being observed. No communication between the referee and referee coach had occurred prior to the match, so chances are, the referee had set no goals for the match, or if they had, these weren't communicated to the referee coach.

Using the G.R.O.W Model the referee is FRONT AND CENTRE of the entire process.

To view or download the G.R.O.W Model resourse booklet please click here