Refereeing
In Practice
a guide for rugby referees
by David Fryer
PREFACE
This booklet was first produced by and for the
Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and is designed to be used in conjunction with its
companion publication “Referee coaching in Practice.” It should assist referees at all levels and
it should be equally valuable to referee coaches.
Several individuals have contributed to the
booklet including Paul Akon who wrote the original “Play the Whistle,” David
Fryer (the author of the current version), Kim Lees and Bruce Cook. The IRB is grateful to all four, together
with the ARU and the many others who have contributed in various ways.
I hope you find this booklet useful and helpful.
Geoff Evans
Head of IRB
Masculine gender has been used throughout this
publication for the sake of simplicity.
In reading however, the masculine gender is inclusive of all genders.
table of contents
(hyper links)
Checklist
For The Referee’s Bag
Game
Management By The Referee
A
Summary Of A Referee’s Attributes
Management is now the
key word for all levels of referees.
This book is designed as a practical guide for new and less experienced
referees. However, it is hoped that it
may be a useful reminder for all referees, especially at the beginning of a
rugby football season. In no way can it
replace a sound knowledge of the laws or experience gained through on field
involvement. It should be used to assist
in the practical application of the laws.
The emphasis in the
booklet is focused on assisting the referee to “manage” the game. To do this, the booklet is designed to
provide practical hints and advice.
Checklists for major components before and during the game provide
important key reminders for the referee.
They are designed so that over time, and as the referee becomes more
experienced, the checklists will be mentally retained. With practice off the paddock, the reaction
of the referee to a breakdown in play or for set plays during a game will be
instinctive and automatic. When an
unexpected incident does occur, the referee will be better able to handle it.
There is a chapter on
practical hints to assist the referee in using the whistle to the best
advantage. This too will need practice,
as it is a very important component of good and effective refereeing. Guidance is also given on the possible
characteristics of younger age groups and how the referee may best handle the
players at these various levels.
It is hoped this book
may be of assistance not only to new referees but to equal interest to anyone
involved in the game or keen to achieve the best standard of “referee
management” at all levels of rugby football.
checklist for the referee’s bag
·
BOOTS
·
LACES
·
SOCKS
·
GARTERS
·
SHORTS
·
2 WHISTLES
·
WATCH
·
COIN
·
JERSEYS & BADGE
·
PENCILS & NOTBOOK
·
RED & YELLOW CARDS
·
TOUCH JUDGE FLAGS
·
PERSONAL ITEMS:
·
WATER BOTTLE
·
SUN TAN LOTION
·
CAP
·
PLASTIC BAGS
·
TOWEL AND TOILETRIES
·
LAW BOOK, LOCAL COMPETITION RULES, ETC.
It is recommended that this checklist of gear be
photocopies and laminated and kept permanently in the referee’s bag.
Whatever your sport, it
is important to look after your gear.
Personal presentation is very important in the way players will view the
referee. “Looking the part” will impact
on players and spectators alike. Make
sure your gear never lets you down. You
will have enough to do when refereeing without worrying about a broken bootlace
or your socks falling down. Here are
some hints:
BOOTS Make sure your boots are of good quality and
kept clean. There are two basic types of
boots used by referees: boots with molded soles or boots with short studs to be
used when grounds are hard and boots with long studs for when the grounds are
soft or muddy. Use metal screw in studs
for the latter so they can be replaced as necessary. Check your boots and studs regularly. If your boots are covered in mud after a
game, clean them immediately before the mud hardens. If they require polish, ensure they are
polished as soon as possible, in case you are called upon to referee at short
notice.
LACES Always have a spare pair of clean laces in
case one breaks when you are putting on your boots. After tying your laces tuck the loose ends
under the tied laces, which helps to stop them coming undone. You can also use tape (preferably black) to
secure the laces.
SOCKS Don’t let socks get the “woolly look” or be
at “half mast.” Have a second pair of
socks available.
GARTERS Garters can be elastic, old laces or tape but
make sure they are not too tight, stopping the circulation in the legs. A referee must never be seen to have trouble
with socks falling down.
SHORTS Shorts should have good pockets to carry your
spare whistle, coin, handkerchief, notebook, send-off and sin bin cards and
pencils. Many associations provide
shorts as part of their issue of uniform/gear.
Be prepared for the team
that has a similar strip to that of the referee. It is good practice to check teams’ colors
prior to a game to avoid a clash. The
referee will be expected to change his jersey.
Therefore, one or more different colored jerseys should be in the
referee’s bag.
Some associations have
the referee’s badge woven into the jersey.
However, if a separate badge is provided, it is recommended that the
badge be secured to the jersey with Velcro so that an alternative or the same
badge can be worn either on the same jersey or on a different colored jersey,
or the badge can be replaced. Badges
should be washed separately from the jersey.
Value the badge and be prepared to use it on a new or different jersey.
WHISTLES Have at least two whistles.
COIN For the toss.
WATCH A wristwatch with a stop watch facility is
recommended.
PENCILS AND NOTEBOOK To keep the score and other information such
as details of send offs. Don’t use a
ballpoint pen – they can leak!
RED AND YELLOW CARDS For send offs and sin bins.
TOUCH JUDGE FLAGS Be prepared for team managers and/or touch
judges to ask you for touch judge flags.
The referee’s association often provides touch judge flags.
SUN TAN LOTION AND YOUR
REFEREE ASSOCIATION CAP A cap should not be
worn while refereeing. However, as a
touch judge a cap may be worn.
YOUR OWN WATER BOTTLE Be prepared for those extra hot and/or sunny
days. Don’t be a victim of dehydration.
PLASTIC BAGS To put muddy boots and gear in after the game.
CHECKLIST It is recommended that a checklist of these
items and other items you may require personally, e.g., the law book, local
association’s information handbook with local competition rules, length of
matches and conditions of play for different grades etc., be kept in your
referee’s bag. This should be a strong
weatherproof traveling bag dedicated for your rugby gear.
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BE PREPARED; DON’T BE
CAUGHT OUT Start thinking about the
game before match day. On match day ensure
you have time to consider each aspect of the forthcoming game. Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance
(5Ps).
CHECK OF GEAR Make sue you have a final check of your gear,
preferably the day or night before and again prior to leaving for the game. Now is the time to start thinking rugby.
GETTING TO THE GAME IN
PLENTY OF TIME It is recommended that you
plan to arrive at least 40 – 60 minutes prior to your game. Allow for possible traffic jams. On arrival at the ground, relax by walking
around the ground to familiarize yourself with the layout and any unusual
features, e.g., a narrow in-goal area.
If possible, walk onto the ground and ensure you know if there are any
vary muddy areas or potholes. Get the
feel of the ground and the spectators.
Be visible before a game so that both the teams and coaches know you are
there and that you are available to answer questions and clarify points of law.
WEATHER Be prepared for different weather conditions
and be aware of where the sun will be during the game. This may influence your positioning for
different phases of the game, e.g., at line-outs and kicks.
REFEREE COACH If a referee coach has come to see you
referee, introduce yourself prior to the game.
Don’t expect the coach to come and find you. Be ready to let him know any key areas of
your refereeing with which you may wish assistance. These could be refereeing areas requiring
improvement commented upon by a previous coach that could be improved. If there is another experienced referee available
to watch your game, when no coach is available, ask that referee for some
feedback in lieu. Don’t forget to find
that referee or referee coach after the game to thank them and to obtain their
comments. Alternatively, telephone them
later.
CHANGING Start getting changed at least 30 minutes
before a game. This will give you time
to check your gear, to warm up, meet and brief the teams and inspect their
boots. Don’t keep the players
waiting. It is a fact that players can
keep referees waiting but not vice versa.
This is the time to concentrate on the game ahead and to complete your
mental preparation.
TOUCH JUDGES Make sure that both sides have touch judges and
ascertain if they are qualified. Whether
they are qualified or not, remind them that their primary duty is to indicate
when the ball is in touch. If they are
qualified, remind them of how they can assist you, the referee, in reporting
foul play, being especially vigilant around the goal line and assisting the
players by marking the offside line at penalty and free kicks and
line-outs. Ask one of the touch judges
to keep the time as well to check on your timing and as a back up if your watch
fails. Act as a team of three.
TIME Make sure you know how long each half should
be and whether extra time is allowed for injury. Also if there is a drawn game, check if extra
time is to be played and the scoring procedure.
If another game is due to be played after your game on the same ground
and your game starts late, it may be necessary to shorten the halves of your
game. Don’t forget to restart your
stopwatch after a stoppage for injury when injury time is played. In case you forget (it does happen to the
best referees!), make a note of the time at the start of each half as well as
asking your touch judges to keep the time.
BRIEFING TEAMS AND
INSPECTION OF BOOTS The boot inspection
should be done well before the start of the game to avoid interfering with a
team’s warm up. If you have not already done
so, introduce yourself to the coach and captain. Also check for watches and jewelry. If you have qualified touch judges take them
with you so that from the beginning they know they are part of the team of
three and the players see them.
Dependent on the experience of the players and the expected level of the
game, speak to the players and coach so they know what to expect from you. Don’t try and brief the players as they line
up in the centre of the field. At that
time they are waiting to play rugby and will not wish to listen to a speech by
the referee. Brief the teams when boots
are inspected. Keep the briefing short
and simple. Players will not absorb a
lot of information when they are trying to focus on their forthcoming
game. Possible briefing points could be:
Checklist 1
a.
Communication through the captains. Emphasize that you (the referee) will
communicate through the captain who is responsible for the team.
b.
Scrum engagement. Remind
the teams of the “Engagement” sequence and that the ball won’t be allowed into
the scrum until the scrum is steady and square, to ensure the safety of the
players in the scrum.
c.
Tackles, rucks and mauls.
Remind the teams of the responsibility of both the tackler and the
tackled player.
d.
Line-out. If it is intended
to use the front players in a line-out to maintain the gap, inform the players
at the briefing prior to the game and at the first line-out.
e.
Laws. Clarification of
recent changes to the laws or interpretations of them.
f.
Swearing (U19s). In some junior
or school competitions swearing is an automatic penalty.
g.
Finally wish the team an enjoyable game and let them know how long
before the kick-off.
THE TOSS The toss of the coin (remember the coin is
provided by the referee) is usually done prior to the game at a time convenient
to the two captains. It is usually done
immediately after both teams have been briefed.
However, sometimes teams prefer to toss after they run onto the ground
and line up opposite each other.
Generally the home team will toss the coin and the captain of the
visiting team will call. Remember the
winner of the toss can only choose on which side his team will play or take the
kick off. Some inexperienced captains
sometimes ask to “Receive” which is not an option. This is also a good time to inform both
captains of any possible problem areas on the ground such as very wet areas, or
small in-goal areas.
RUNNING ONTO THE PLAYING ENCLOSURE It is the referee’s responsibility to get the teams onto the field. Blowing the whistle outside the