IMPORTANCE OF THE ROLE OF THE TOUCH JUDGE

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IMPORTANCE OF THE ROLE OF THE TOUCH JUDGE

• Fred Spong
• Shane Cameron
• Panel TJs

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DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Physical fitness athletic body shape, low body
  fat
• Good contextual judgement
• Conflict management skills
• Knowledge of the game as well as knowledge of law
• Good communicator on and off pitch

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DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Remember you are the TJ and NOT the referee.
• Able to communicate with coaches, to explain and
  justify decisions
• Team player who buys into the Team of Three ethos
  where Referees TJs share blame as well as
  rewards
• Promote a positive image at all times

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TJ PRIORITIES

• Identifying and signalling Touch, Touch-in-Goal
  and Goals
• Identifying and reporting Foul Play
• Anything else is a bonus and must not interfere
  with the execution of the above

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What a TJ Role is NOT

• You are not the referee
• You are supporting the referee in his management
  of the match
• You are not there to watch the game

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LEADING AND TRAILING

• WHAT IS LEADING AND TRAILING ?
• LEADING
• The leading TJ should be the nearest TJ to play.
  This TJ should stay with the play

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PRIORITIES WHILST TRAILING

• To watch where the other two cannot see
• What are we looking for?
• If a player intends to commit foul play, when is
  he likely to do it?
• How long do we maintain our observation on the
  backfield?
• Can we move upfield whilst watching the backfield?

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Priorities at Kick Off and Restarts To watch
where the referee cannot see

• Contact - player to player / player to ball
  
• Monitor arriving players
  
• Complement referee
• Foul play?

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PRIORITIES AT LINE-OUT

• To watch where the referee cannot see
• What are we looking for?
• Are we ball watching?

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Lineout

• Line of touch to help referee?
• Is the gap established and maintained?
  
• Is the hooker stood in the correct place?
• Is he delaying, dummying the throw?
• Is a jumper or support player taken out or
  impeded?
• Did the ball go 5m?
• Defender obstructed?
• Numbers in line out?
• Foul play?

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PRIORITIES AT TACKLE / RUCK / MAUL

• To watch where the referee cannot see
• What are we looking for?
• Are we ball watching?
• NEW SHEET FOR TACKLE

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Maul

• Legal entry?
• Pulling/binding on legs?
• Collapse (identify)?
• Guards onside?
• Backs onside?
• When is maul over?
• Complement referee
• Cynicism?
• Foul play?

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Ruck

• Legal entry?
• Illegal cleaning out?
• Correct rucking?
• Guards onside offence and defence?
• Backs onside?
• When is the ruck over?
• Complement referee
• Cynicism?
• Foul play?

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PRIORITIES AT SCRUM

• To watch where the referee cannot see
• What are we looking for?

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ScrumWHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

• How are the front rows engaging and binding?
• Body angles (props) before, during and after
• How are the back rows binding?
• Are the attacking back rows obstructing the
  defending back row?
  
• Monitor scrum halves (kick out of hand)
• Throw in ?
  

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Scrum

• Backs onside?
• Cynicism?
• Collapsed scrums/forwards getting to their feet
• Complement referee
• Foul play?

What and when do we input ?
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Open Play

• Late hit on passer?
• Early tackle on support player?
• Is tackle legal?
• Defender obstructed?
• Cynicism (knock on)?
• Complement referee
• Foul play?

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Open Play Kicks

• Is there a late/dangerous tackle on kicker?
• Complement referee and other TJ
  
• Location of kicker and chasers
• Obstruction?
• Contact at landing
• Foul play?

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PRIORITIES AT PENALTY/FREE KICKS

• To watch where the referee cannot see
• Foul play after the whistle
• . . .(maybe when the referee has relaxed)
• Ball taken away from the non-offending team
• Getting in the best position to judge when the
  ball goes into touch

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Penalties/Free kicks

• Running touch
• Wheres the ball?
• Dwell
• Scan
• Players10m?
• Foul play?

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PRIORITIES AT OTHER DEAD BALL SITUATIONS

• To watch where the referee cannot see
• After a try
• After the ball is in touch, on either side of the
  pitch

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Touch / Touch in Goal

• Has the ball crossed the vertical plane of touch?
• Has the ball carrier touched/crossed the touch
  line?
• Is the catcher in the field of play?
• What happened to the ball after it crossed the
  touch line?
• Is a quick throw possible/legitimately taken?
• Foul play?

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Conclusion

• You are a TJ. Your priority is Foul Play and
  Running Touch. Anything else should be a bonus to
  the referee as long as you deliver the
  information in the correct manner.
• In order to identify foul play and run touch
  correctly we must be in a position to see the
  offences.

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. . and however difficult you feel it is . .
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