Title: NSW RUGBY UNION
1NSW RUGBY UNION
- What is acceptable on-field player behaviour and
how much - should a referee take?
2Background
- In Aug 2006,the Chairman of the NSWRU Referee
Coaching Panel, requested that the NSWRU Referee
Department produce a Referee Education Package
dealing with the very apparent on-field dissent
and abuse of referees in Grade Rugby. - At about the same time the CEO of NSWRU, directed
the department to produce a package dealing with
the same issue that could be shown to all the 1st
Grade Club Coaches in Sydney. - This presentation was produced to meet both
objectives.
3NSW RUGBY UNION
- The implementation of this policy has the full
backing of NSWRU and the various Judiciaries in
NSW
4Managing players on-field
- Dissent and abuse of referees by players on-field
has become increasingly apparent in recent years. - In Premier Rugby, with the advent of SportEars
and the Match of the Day on television, more
spectators and viewers are being exposed to
unacceptable outbursts of players. Video - This exposure has a trickle down effect where
players in lower grades and Under 19s emulate
the behavior of their peers in 1st Grade.
5Who is this presentation aimed at?
- All referees
- All club coaches
- It is you who can do the most good in reducing
this poor behaviour across the whole spectrum of
rugby by eradicating it from the game
6Aim
- To provide strategies and guidelines that ensure
dissent and referee abuse is removed from Rugby
7Learning Outcomes At the end of this
presentation you will have an understanding of
- what is and what is not acceptable
- pre-match strategies to discourage dissent and
referee abuse - game strategies to discourage dissent and referee
abuse - accepted game sanctions
- what to do as a referee when you are losing your
temper.
8What is and what is not acceptable?
- For the coaches in the room, how would you
perform in the following environments? - Do you want the people you feel can win and
lose a game for your team exposed to these
environments? - Video examples
- Reaction to video examples?
9What effect does this have on the referee?
- Concentration
- Confidence
- Equanimity
- Control
- Confusion
- An erosion of the ability to process a lot of
information under stress - This leads to poor decision making Poor
outcomes for everyone
10Why are players doing it? Some possible reasons
- The game is not going the way they planned or
expected - They are not playing well
- The referees decisions at 50/50 calls are not
going their way - They do not understand the laws of the game
11Why are players doing it? Some possible reasons
- Their coaching staff encourage, condone or
participate in dissent /or excessive querying of
decisions - It is part of the game plan to de-stabilize the
referee
12Why are players doing it? Some possible reasons
- Inconsistency or poor referee performance
- Because the referees are allowing it!!!!
- Because the referee coaches are not holding
referees accountable!!!!
13What can coaches do about it?
- Actively discourage dissent and referee abuse
amongst the players - Ensure that the Captain is the only conduit
between the team and the referee - Educate players to the negative effects on
outcomes in matches where a referee is affected
by dissent and abuse - Support the referees from the sideline by not
encouraging or condoning either dissent or
excessive querying of decisions
14How important is the Captain when trying to keep
the team focused?
- If he loses his focus, the team is likely to be
leaderless - He should know the laws of the game!
- What happens when a Captain and a Team lose the
plot? - Video example
15What can referees do about it?
- Implement specific strategies - keeping in mind
that these strategies are not a license to
develop a God Complex - Pre-game strategies
- During the game
16Pre-game strategies
- In keeping with the recent IRB directive, make a
contract with both Captains (at boots or the
toss) that all communication will be through them - All parties must stick to it
- Except for normal game management, the referee
does not speak to a player except through the
captain and no player communicates with the
referee except through the captain - Insist on the use of titles, not first names. The
title acknowledges the position and
responsibilities of all parties during the match
17During the Game
- Game time is divided into two areas which effect
the way we communicate with players - Active play
- Down time
18Active play
- This is the time when the referee is actively
refereeing - During this time communications is more formal
- Specificity is used (player number and colour or
colour captain, no first names) - Referee only speaks to individuals other than
Captain when trying to manage the match
19Down time
- This could be when the ball is out of play for a
period of time, ie. during an injury - Informal communications can occur between the
referee and all players - However, laws and decisions should not become
topics of debate - Conversations should be kept low key and
non-specific. - First names may be used
20Therefore, during the Game the referee should
- Stick to the Contract made with the Captains
- Be approachable to Captains and refer decisions
to them (kick or scrum, etc) but do not debate - Discourage players talking directly to you by
referring back to the Captain - Not accept dissent or abuse in any form and be
strict in applying sanctions - Stick to the Contract made with the Captains
21What are the Sanctions?
- First offence - manage with Captain or penalise
depending on severity - Second offence - penalize and admonish
- Third offence - penalize and caution (yellow
card) - Depending on the severity, referees can use the
yellow or red card at any time - Foul language directed at a match official is a
red card offence (ARU Directive GMG 2009) - Industrial deafness is no longer an option at
Grade level
22What should a referee do when he feels he is
losing his temper due to a player outburst?
- What not to do
- Video example
23What should a referee do when he feels he is
losing his temper due to a player outburst?
- Less is still best
- Apply the ate principals
- dont participate
- Dont debate, and
- dont escalate
- Speak quietly and in an even handed manner
- Show no emotion
- When making the hard decisions, be dispassionate
- Remain in control
24Learning Outcomes We have covered in this
presentation
- what is and what is not acceptable
- pre-match strategies to discourage dissent and
referee abuse - game strategies to discourage dissent and referee
abuse - accepted game sanctions
- what to do when you are losing your temper.
25Conclusion
- Experience in Sydney has shown that eradicating
dissent and referee abuse from Rugby will - Provide a better environment for players and
referees to participate in the game - Deliver fairer and better match outcomes
- Contribute in a positive way to the game as a
spectacle and saleable product, and - Have a trickle down effect in other grades and
competitions.
26NSW RUGBY UNION
- The implementation of this policy has the full
backing of NSWRU and the various Judiciaries in
NSW