Managing Captains and Coaches
Continuous Referee Development Award
Continuous Referee Development Award
Aim of this session
To help referees identify strategies to avoid
participation and escalation in conflict with
Coaches and Captains
Continuous Referee Development Award
What Some Captains and Coaches Think of
Referees
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Those referees who see themselves as
policemen rather than managers will always
cop the most as players and spectators etc
react to their style.
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Comments?
Continuous Referee Development Award
What Some Captains and Coaches Think of
Referees
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Referees should not take themselves so
seriously, they need to enjoy themselves
more and understand the public is there to
watch the rugby, not them.
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Comments?
Continuous Referee Development Award
What Some Captains and Coaches Think of
Referees
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Some refs unfortunately think they are the
most important person on the field and at
times don't think or recognise that they make
mistakes as well as the players.
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Comments?
Continuous Referee Development Award
What Some Captains and Coaches Think of
Referees
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I witnessed one example of zero tolerance of
referee abuse taken to the extreme this year,
with a team being marched 10 meters after a
lineout penalty where a player didn’t say
anything but shook his head.
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Comments?
Continuous Referee Development Award
What Some Captains and Coaches Think of
Referees
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Encourage referees to be part of the social
fabric of rugby. I would like to see the refs
being more proactive in approaching the
clubs and the players and meeting the
players on their own turf, not in some room
at the refs society.
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Comments?
Continuous Referee Development Award
What Some Captains and Coaches Think of
Referees
•
I saw only one referee lose control of a
match this year. It all stemmed from the way
he spoke to the players and his lack of
respect for them, then from there it all fell
apart. This would be my only message,
show respect and you'll be respected.
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Comments?
Continuous Referee Development Award
So how are we perceived?
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Like policemen
Self important
Too serious
Arrogant
Exclusive
Pedantic
Are not all these factors things which would
escalate a situation?
Continuous Referee Development Award
What can we do about it?
• Do not participate
• Do not escalate
Continuous Referee Development Award
Do not participate
• When you meet with conflict during a match,
deflect it or avoid it.
Continuous Referee Development Award
Do not escalate
• Do not carry out any action which can be
construed as being aggressive or
confrontational.
Continuous Referee Development Award
How would you handle a Captain who does
not respond to your management efforts?
• The Captain who wants
to query every decision.
• The Captain who will
not support you when
you have to speak to
one of his players.
• The Captain who is a
problem player himself
Continuous Referee Development Award
Consider these ideas
• Do you seek out another senior player in the
team for assistance?
• Do you penalise the player for backchat what does this do to your relationship?
• Is your tone in talking to the captain different
to that you use when talking to other players?
• After the game, if you have had difficulty, do
you actively seek out the captain to discuss
the game with him?
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Group Discussion
•Devise some word strategies for these
scenarios
Continuous Referee Development Award
Scenario 1: At half time the coach of the
losing side aggressively questions you
about the number of penalties against his
team
What do you do?
How do you “not participate”?
How do you “not escalate”
Continuous Referee Development Award
Scenario 1: How do you “not participate”?
• “Talk to your Captain, he has been briefed.”
• “This is not an appropriate time to be
discussing this issue.”
• “Like the players, I also need a break and a
drink, can we discuss this after the match?”
• “I must remind your that this is
inappropriate. You should not be talking to
me at half time.”
• Under no circumstances answer his
question.
Continuous Referee Development Award
Scenario 1: How do you “not escalate”?
• Maintain a neutral body stance, neither
aggressive, nor acquiescent.
• Maintain an even voice tone, speaking
slowly, clearly and perhaps quieter than you
would normally to make the listener
concentrate on your words.
• Then walk away
Continuous Referee Development Award
Scenario 2: A captain has continually
questioned what the penalties were for,
when awarded against his team. At a penalty
situation, the other team tries to have a
quick restart, but he again questions you
What do you do?
How do you “not participate”?
How do you “not escalate”
Continuous Referee Development Award
Scenario 2: How do you “not participate”?
• Do everything reasonable to facilitate the
quick restart.
• “I will discuss it at the next stoppage.”
• “Back on side, they are playing on”.
• “You are offside, stay out of it”
• Then move away (hopefully with play after
the quick restart).
Continuous Referee Development Award
Scenario 2: How do you “not escalate”?
• Keep the tone conversational if you can.
• Don’t march the Captain 10m and penalise again.
• Do explain at the next stoppage but do not debate
the issue.
• Seek his support, appeal to him as a captain to set
the right example
• Reiterate ground rules for quick restarts in play.
• Ensure that your “whistle, signal, talk” is getting the
message across.
Continuous Referee Development Award
Scenario 3: A coach has continually shouted
abuse and criticism in unacceptable
language at you and your decisions from the
touchline. You have asked him quickly to be
quiet but that has had no effect.
What do you do?
How do you “not participate”?
How do you “not escalate”
Continuous Referee Development Award
Scenario 3: How do you “not participate”?
• Don’t ask questions direct of the coach.
• Use his captain as a go-between.
• Don’t tell the captain to “shut him up” rather
ask “can you help me with this”
• When you are on his side of the pitch, slow
down your signals and communication so you
look and sound more assured
• Turn your back to him if necessary
Continuous Referee Development Award
Scenario 3: How do you “not escalate”?
• Keep the tone conversational if you can.
• Don’t confront the coach and threaten with
abuse form or abandonment.
• Do ensure the coach knows that you are
unhappy
• Seek his support, appeal to him as a coach
to set the right example
• Agree that you will meet him after the match
to discuss his issues.
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REMEMBER
• Do not participate
• Do not escalate
Continuous Referee Development Award