Referee respect down to rugby ‘tradition’
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In a recent article in BBC Sport Ed Morrison who is the head of elite referee development of the England’s Rugby Football Union was quoted as saying “rugby officials are shown more respect than in football because of the tradition of the sport. In rugby terms I think we’re well placed as referees. Our regard is pretty high and we have to make sure we stay there” Morrison told BBC Look East: “In the game that has been handed down to us the referee is very much respected.”
His decision making is accepted. That’s a tradition in rugby. It’s not necessarily been so in soccer. “In recent years football has increasingly shown a culture of players surrounding referees in an attempt to influence his decisions.”
Rugby is often noted for the authority referees possess on the field and conversations between players and officials are broadcast to viewers and spectators. Morrison, the head of elite referee development for the Rugby Football Union, believes the respect his colleagues receive is inherent in the game.” Soccer referees are incredibly skilful. They live in a very different environment to the environment we live in,” he said. “They’re not blessed with that tradition we’ve got. What we have to do as referees is uphold that tradition and make sure we pass it on. Rugby referees regularly face criticism for their inconsistency for the decisions around the scrum and the breakdown. But Morrison, who retired from refereeing in 2001, believes the game as a whole has a responsibility to tidy up the scrum. “A lot of the problems around the scrum are not because of the complexities. It’s because of poor coaching, not such good playing ability or poor refereeing,” he said. “The problem with the scrum is a game problem. It’s not an isolated referee or coaching problem. The game as a whole has to face up to that responsibility.”
Why I look at the above is because everybody when commenting on the game in our back yards has a swipe at the referees for all misfortunes .The
Ed Morrison
comment is most made even the thoughts have no relevance to the topic under discussion. Referees as I see it will continue to be the pet hate despite that if not for them the game cannot go on. With the way things are going I cannot see a 360 degree turnaround of referees or the criticism in the near future. The environment for a referee has not been very encouraging for most to take the field. The respect if any is deteriorating though despite there is no culture of surrounding referees unlike in soccer.
There is no point in talking of the background of the present referee unless those who profess of that background have the spunk to get to the middle and take in charge of a game. The better way is for those who talk of the traditions and the glory of rugby to at least getting the old boys to referee the junior games.
As a starter they can handle all games up to under sixteen at least. At least one or two will continue with the whistle as it is important to keep the respect that Ed Morrison is talking about. The proof of the pudding is in eating and the taste can be had if you try to implement what you have been talking of. There is no pointing talking and or criticizing unless you do something about it. That something can be a small contribution starting with inter-house matches and proceeding to referee the junior friendly games. The criticism will continue as the supporters of the other school will start accusing you. Others withstand the pressure and are on the field and then that is what you got. Stop complaining and start helping and you will either help the game and or understand as now you are in the shoes of a referee.
Why should old boys and or parents not referee the junior games when this is a sport that always talks of values and traditions of the game? The problem is the culture that is taking root around the game. That is the culture of distrust that keeps building around the game. The talk of the money that is being spent that leads to the pressuring for a win. It is not looked as a sport where the philosophy is to inspire fair contest. Let the schools that talk of traditions give a start next year by getting an old boy to referee the junior game. Let both schools accept that it is a game where fair play is a cornerstone to mould the boy in a way your fathers and forefathers did. Let us not talk of the greatest sons produced and or the sportsman of stature that once were. Let us produce another lot now. I remember the time I was involved in coaching and the junior match between Trinity and St Josephs refereed by Devapriya Perera an old boy of Trinity and also involved in coaching. Trinity had a hard time as he was very strict on them. When I spoke to him after the match his attitude was Trinity is my school and they should learn to play it properly. That’s the thinking that needs to be re-introduced.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB
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