Description
Hi, I am George Haswell, I am 17 and am an international Touch referee. Â I began refereeing touch in 2011 at the local touch competition at Blake Park, Mount Maunganui. Not long following my refereeing debut, with guidance from senior referees, I began refereeing 3 nights a week and travelling to Rotorua in the weekends for provincial events. Â I achieved my Level 1 Badge in early 2012, the first step along the Touch New Zealand national referee pathway. Â In December 2012, I was selected for my first national tournament – the National Secondary Schools Championships in Hamilton. From there I have officiated consistently at my local competitions and attended 17 national tournaments, which have taken me from Auckland to Christchurch and everywhere in between. Â The highlight of my touch football career has been the 3 international events I have been involved in; the 2015 Youth Trans Tasman Test Series in Sydney, Australia; the 2015 Touch World Cup in Coffs Harbour, Australia and the 2017 Youth Trans Tasman Test Series in Auckland, New Zealand.
Refereeing is a challenge, but one I enjoy. Every game is different, with different situations and obstacles to deal with. I’ve formed lifelong connections with the people I’ve met through touch football. Â Being so involved in a referees group that is more like a family, has been a very big part in the success of my touch career.
I have just been selected to represent my country, as a touch football referee at the upcoming Trans Tasman Test Series in Caloundra, Australia (between May 12th-May 15th 2017). The Trans Tasman series is known as the pinnacle of touch football, with New Zealand and Australia competing over 3 days to be the best touch nation in the world. Refereeing at this event puts me in the top 9 referees in the world and the top 4 in New Zealand. Â This is an achievement which is the result of 7 years of hard work, and is one which exceeds my goals and expectations as a 17 year old volunteer referee.
Thank you for supporting me on my journey.
