NSW RUGBY UNION

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NSW RUGBY UNION

• What is acceptable on-field player behaviour and
  how much
• should a referee take?

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Background

• 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.

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NSW RUGBY UNION

• The implementation of this policy has the full
  backing of NSWRU and the various Judiciaries in
  NSW

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Managing 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.

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Who 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

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Aim

• To provide strategies and guidelines that ensure
  dissent and referee abuse is removed from Rugby

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Learning 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.

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What 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?

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What 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

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Why 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

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Why 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

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Why 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!!!!

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What 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

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How 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

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What 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

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Pre-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

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During the Game

• Game time is divided into two areas which effect
  the way we communicate with players
• Active play
• Down time

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Active 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

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Down 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

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Therefore, 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

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What 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

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What should a referee do when he feels he is
losing his temper due to a player outburst?

• What not to do
• Video example

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What 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

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Learning 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.

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Conclusion

• 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.

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NSW RUGBY UNION

• The implementation of this policy has the full
  backing of NSWRU and the various Judiciaries in
  NSW