Managing the Captain and the
Coach
• “The ate dot points”
Background
• This was an hot topic during our Referee Abuse
Seminar last year.
• You indicated that you wanted some strategies on
how to deal with these people.
• It is not adequately covered in the current referee
courses or Continuing Education Modules.
Scope
• We will look at some coaches responses to our a
survey done last year on their view of our
percieved behaviour.
• While prevention is always better than the cure
we will look at some strategies to deflect or
diffuse aggression on the part of the over excited
Captain or Coach after it has happened.
Some coaches responses to our
a survey done last year on their
view of our percieved
behaviour.
Those referees who see
themselves as policemen rather
than managers will always cop
the most as players and
spectators etc react to their
style.
COMMENT?
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.
COMMENT?
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.
COMMENT?
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.
COMMENT?
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 association.
COMMENT?
I saw only one referee loose 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.
COMMENT?
How are we percieved?
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•
•
•
•
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Like policeman
Self important
Too serious
Arrogant
Exclusive
Pedantic
Are not all these factors things which
would escalate a situation?
What can we do about it?
“The Ate Dot Points”
• A little play on words as there are really
only two dot points, not eight. They Are:
• Do not participate.
• Do not escalate.
• What do we mean?
Do not participate.
• When confronted with conflict during a
match, deflect it or avoid it.
Do not escalate.
• Do not carry out any action which can be
construed as being aggressive or
confronting.
• Lets war game some scenarios.
How would you handle a Captain
who does not respond to your
management efforts (5 mins)
• 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.
Consider some of 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?
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?
Scenario 1 Do not participate.
• In the first instance don’t go near the team huddles.
• If things have been “hot”, brief the captain of the
offending team as he leaves the field for half time.
• Position your drink bottle on the far side of the field and
go to it (away from the two teams).
• Make the unhappy coach walk a long way across open
ground to get to you.
• Surround yourself with Touch Judges (security in
numbers).
Scenario 1 Do not participate.
• And if a coach still comes up to you and questions
you aggressively, say the following:
Scenario 1 Do 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.
Scenario 1 Do not escalate.
• Maintain a neutral body stance, neither
aggressive, nor aquiescent.
• 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.
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?
Scenario 2 Do 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).
Scenario 2 Do 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.
Scenario 2 Do not escalate.
• Reiterate ground rules for quick restarts
in play.
• Ensure that your “whistle, signal, talk” is
getting the message across.
Syndicate Discussion
• Devise some word strategies for scenario
1 and 2
• Be prepared to deliver these strategies to
the rest of the group.
• The best suggestions will be included in
this PowerPoint on the web and used by
other associations in the future
Remember the “The Ate Dot
Points”
• Do not participate.
• Do not escalate.
• Any Questions?