On the subject of referee abuse
View(s):Reading the USA Rugby update on referee abuse issued dated October 9; I thought this is something we should talk about. This is not the first time a rugby playing country has issued a directive and may not be the last. This is worth discussing as sometimes in our own backyard we think this issue is limited to Sri Lanka. Definitely it is not but what we can do is to have self regulation and set an example than expect the authorities to issue a notification.
USA rugby starts quoting the IRB regulation and documents as follows: “Rugby owes much of its appeal to the fact that it is played both to the letter and within the Spirit of the Laws. The responsibility for ensuring that this happen lies not with one individual; it involves coaches, captains, players and referees.
It is through discipline, control and mutual respect that the Spirit of the Game flourishes and, in the context of a Game as physically challenging as Rugby, these are the qualities which forge the fellowship and sense of fair play so essential to the Game’s ongoing success and survival.”
The note goes on to say: “We are all passionate about the game and at times we are emotional, but we have a responsibility to the game and each other to be respectful and control our behavior. Regarding verbally abusive behaviour from coaches, team staff or team substitutes towards the match officials and/or to their players or opposition players, USA Rugby Referees will, with immediate effect, be applying the following”: The referee will ask the identified person to refrain from this behavior ONCE, On the second occasion the referee will EJECT the person from the grounds; Zero tolerance approach will be applied.
The indication is that action from the bench does not give a favourable environment to a referee and impacts the game. The action taken by USA does not stand alone but has precedence. The responsibility for managing the game cannot be left solely in the hand of the referee as stated in the IRB regulation and quoted in USA Rugby; it is a collective responsibility.
It may not be necessary to take action and or put in place a system like this directive but to affect a system of self regulation by those in Sri Lanka. It should not be left to the administrators to direct but for participants to put in place a code at club and school. This issue is more apparent at schools games and a nuisance at junior games. If we act wisely in enforcing a code; you are responsible and you want it that way and not because others have imposed it. This can be a greater success as you take responsibility for the betterment of the game.
Texas Rugby goes further and as an operational measure advice to use the captain during the game to communicate to players and coaches that foul language, taunts, incitement to violence and petitioning for calls will not be tolerated. It says that Coaches who persistently use the referee’s name to petition for calls MUST be dealt with through the captain. In the background of how the game is managed on the field there is an important role for the Captain to play being the main point of contact with the referee. Among the attributes one would seek for in a captain two that is important is to be •mentally strong and be. •Emotionally disciplined. The captain should have “Fire in the belly but ice in the brain.”
This is important for three reasons: (i) as a role model the example set by the captain must meet every expectation he has of the players. For example, if the captain becomes angry with the referee and constantly questions his decisions, then he cannot expect his players to accept refereeing decisions themselves. (ii) If the captain loses self-control and vents his anger or frustration (whether against an opponent, teammate or the referee), he will have lost the ability to make rational decisions. His performance will also suffer; a loss of emotional control will affect timing, co-ordination and the ability to ‘read’ the game as awareness becomes more narrowly focused. (iii) A loss of emotional control will be seen as a sign of weakness by the opposition, boosting their confidence whilst undermining that of the team. This does not mean that your captain becomes an emotionless robot, devoid of passion, but rather he plays (in the words of the great Welsh coach Carwyn James) “with fire in the belly but ice in the brain”.
Texas Rugby goes further in defining abuse: • Coaches petitioning ARs or Touch Judges for calls or asking them to bring something to the referee’s attention. • ARs & TJs need to focus on the field of play and not spend time explaining calls, defending calls or the center referees character. • Coaches consistently outside of technical area. • Coaches on field to argue call (Automatic ejection). • Coaches, players in uniform or administrators calling the referee by name to plead for a call their way at high volume. • Personal insults to opponents or referees delivered by a coach, player or administration. • Coaches, players or administration in the technical area inciting violence or revenge • Physical or verbal confrontation with referee before, during or after the match. • Abuse of referee in social media or press before or after match. •Habitually using the “third party” complaint technique: Shouting to captain or players from the sideline to “tell the ref to watch for this or that.
Clubs, the big brother of rugby can set a standard easily this season with a good cause which will be a great example to follow in the schools season that will not be far off. After all you are the role models for the kids.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB