Touch: Game is thriving, but where are all the refs?

Touch in Otago is thriving, with representatives in the national under-15 and under-17 mixed teams competing in Sydney this week.

Yet, locally, there remains a shortage of referees, Otago Touch development officer Grant Milne said.

The teams will be competing in the Australian state tournament and high performances like these can help grow the sport locally, he said.

Milne said Otago touch had been at its best this year.

"It's probably at its most exciting stage because the best numbers are staying the same."

The elite players had been performing well, although there could be more development at the lower level, he said.

"The elite alone do really well."

Fifteen coaches and assistant coaches had been working with the six representative teams but more development was needed in the younger grades, Milne said.

Volunteer coaches had been crucial.

The weekly secondary schools competition, held at the Oval, had been going well, he said.

Seventy-four teams had been turning out each week and, while a few moved to Rippa rugby last year, others had joined the competition.

"Nationally we're going well, but you can't get through without that 74 teams."

Ten high-quality referees covered games in Dunedin but more people keen to referee were needed, Milne said.

"We are limited by referees."

A referee development system had been running, where some younger players had come through to the top level.

- Andrew Mackay