Managing the Captain and the Coach

1
Managing the Captain and the Coach

• The ate dot points

2
Background

• This was an hot topic during our Referee Abuse
  Seminar last year.
• You indicated that you wanted some strategies on
  how to deal with these people.
• It is not adequately covered in the current
  referee courses or Continuing Education Modules.

3
Scope

• We will look at some coaches responses to our a
  survey done last year on their view of our
  percieved behaviour.
• While prevention is always better than the cure
  we will look at some strategies to deflect or
  diffuse aggression on the part of the over
  excited Captain or Coach after it has happened.

4
Some coaches responses to our a survey done last
year on their view of our percieved behaviour.
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Those referees who see themselves as policemen
rather than managers will always cop the most as
players and spectators etc react to their style.
COMMENT?
6
Referees should not take themselves so seriously,
they need to enjoy themselves more and understand
the public is there to watch the rugby, not
them.COMMENT?
7
Some refs unfortunately think they are the most
important person on the field and at times don't
think or recognise that they make mistakes as
well as the players. COMMENT?
8
I witnessed one example of zero tolerance of
referee abuse taken to the extreme this year,
with a team being marched 10 meters after a
lineout penalty where a player didnt say
anything but shook his head.COMMENT?
9
Encourage referees to be part of the social
fabric of rugby. I would like to see the refs
being more proactive in approaching the clubs and
the players and meeting the players on their own
turf, not in some room at the refs
association.COMMENT?
10
I saw only one referee loose control of a match
this year. It all stemmed from the way he spoke
to the players and his lack of respect for them,
then from there it all fell apart. This would be
my only message, show respect and you'll be
respected.COMMENT?
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How are we percieved?

• Like policeman
• Self important
• Too serious
• Arrogant
• Exclusive
• Pedantic
• Are not all these factors things which would
  escalate a situation?

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What can we do about it?
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The Ate Dot Points

• A little play on words as there are really only
  two dot points, not eight. They Are
• Do not participate.
• Do not escalate.
• What do we mean?

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Do not participate.

• When confronted with conflict during a match,
  deflect it or avoid it.

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Do not escalate.

• Do not carry out any action which can be
  construed as being aggressive or confronting.
• Lets war game some scenarios.

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How would you handle a Captain who does not
respond to your management efforts (5 mins)

• The Captain who wants to query every decision.
• The Captain who will not support you when you
  have to speak to one of his players.
• The captain who is a problem player himself.

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Consider some of these ideas

• Do you seek out another senior player in the team
  for assistance?
• Do you penalise the player for backchat - what
  does this do to your relationship?
• Is your tone in talking to the captain different
  to that you use when talking to other players?
• After the game, if you have had difficulty, do
  you actively seek out the captain to discuss the
  game with him?

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Scenario 1 At half time the coach of the losing
side aggressively questions you about the number
of penalties against his team.

• What do you do?

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Scenario 1 Do not participate.

• In the first instance dont go near the team
  huddles.
• If things have been hot, brief the captain of
  the offending team as he leaves the field for
  half time.
• Position your drink bottle on the far side of the
  field and go to it (away from the two teams).
• Make the unhappy coach walk a long way across
  open ground to get to you.
• Surround yourself with Touch Judges (security in
  numbers).

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Scenario 1 Do not participate.

• And if a coach still comes up to you and
  questions you aggressively, say the following

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Scenario 1 Do not participate.

• Talk to your Captain, he has been briefed.
• This is not an appropriate time to be discussing
  this issue.
• Like the players, I also need a break and a
  drink, can we discuss this after the match?
• I must remind your that this is inappropriate.
  You should not be talking to me at half time.
• Under no circumstances answer his question.

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Scenario 1 Do not escalate.

• Maintain a neutral body stance, neither
  aggressive, nor aquiescent.
• Maintain an even voice tone, speaking slowly,
  clearly and perhaps quieter than you would
  normally to make the listener concentrate on your
  words.
• Then walk away.

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Scenario 2 A captain has continually questioned
what the penalties were for, when awarded against
his team. At a penalty situation, the other team
tries to have a quick restart, but he again
questions you.

• What do you do?

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Scenario 2 Do not participate.

• Do everything reasonable to facilitate the quick
  restart.
• I will discuss it at the next stoppage.
• back on side, they are playing on.
• You are offside, stay out of it
• Then move away (hopefully with play after the
  quick restart).

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Scenario 2 Do not escalate.

• Keep the tone conversational if you can.
• Dont march the Captain 10m and penalise again.
• Do explain at the next stoppage but do not debate
  the issue.
• Seek his support, appeal to him as a captain to
  set the right example.

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Scenario 2 Do not escalate.

• Reiterate ground rules for quick restarts in
  play.
• Ensure that your whistle, signal, talk is
  getting the message across.

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Syndicate Discussion

• Devise some word strategies for scenario 1 and 2
• Be prepared to deliver these strategies to the
  rest of the group.
• The best suggestions will be included in this
  PowerPoint on the web and used by other
  associations in the future

28
Remember the The Ate Dot Points

• Do not participate.
• Do not escalate.
• Any Questions?