Sources of information
Clips from the Broadcaster or Video Replay Providers
The match Run Sheet will have the broadcaster contact details. The CC or CCLO should be the only one to deal with the broadcaster in the outside broadcast van at the match venue.
If the match you are appointed to has a video replay provider available to you at your citing position, you can work with them to prepare the clips of the incident to support you’re citing/CCW.
You must obtain all the available footage of the incident under investigation for the Judicial Officer. It is not for you to edit any of the content in fairness to the player facing the hearing.
Team Footage
Most teams operate their own cameras to record positional play that the broadcast angles don’t provide. When a team is considering a referral, or has made one, they will usually check their own footage in this regard.
Conversely if their player is cited they may find footage that exonerates them.
Either way try and gather this information immediately and it is best to have it as part of the evidence you have for the Judicial Officer. It will most likely be in an electronic form, so email is the best medium.
Referee and Assistant Referee Statements
Normally the Match Manager will gather these but they can also task the CC or CCLO to acquire and forward them.
Team Manager Referral
The CC orCCLO has a standard task to contact both Team Managers after the game. Normally this is the point for a Team Manager to make a written referral.
Sometimes games are not reviewed immediately by teams with referrals not made until almost the end of the referral period when they are away from the venue and may be back at their accommodation. As a result, the referral can be made either directly to the CC or via the CCLO or Match Manager. Whoever is the point of first receipt has to record the time of receipt to ensure it is within the allowed time if challenged at a subsequent hearing.
Player Statements
Sometimes the footage available is conclusive and can be relied on without the need for player statements. However, not all incidents of foul play are immediately visible. It may be necessary to supplement footage with player statement/s to give more information. For example contact with the eyes usually occurs in the depths of a collapsed maul and cannot be seen apart for things like player reaction. Player statements will be vital and at times have to be relied on solely.
Normally this would be for the CC or CCLO to gather but the Team Manager to facilitate.
Players and Team Managers will usually have to be assisted in compilation of a comprehensive written statement. If possible, talk to the player yourself to ensure an accurate statement in the players own words is provided and they are not influenced by others.
Team doctor
Doctors are used to writing medical reports, so this should be no issue. These will usually be handwritten and gathered by the CC or CCLO. The medical report should be in some detail with what is observed on the player, the effect it has had on them, and possible recovery times. The medical report can make comment about how the injuries observed are consistent with what the player reports.
Medical reports can and should be complemented with photographs on a mobile phone.
Teammates of victim – player statement/s
When a team becomes aware of a citing they can indicate that they have players that saw the event and can provide information. This should be submitted in writing.