COACHES COUCH
July 2024
Welcome to the July edition of the Wellington Rugby Referees Coaches Couch this is a space where we can share information from the coaching group, New Zealand Rugby and keep you up to date with what’s coming up. FInals are on the horizon so keep your availability up to date as it is a busy time of the year.
Training Sessions – All 7pm at the Petone Working Men’s Club unless otherwise noted
1 July – No meeting
8 July – Mind, Set, Engage (Referee coaches at 6:15pm)
15 July – No meeting
22 July – Social evening – Porirua Bowling
29 July – No meeting
Looking to move to the next level.
We have had a few questions around what you need to do to progress through the levels, the link below takes you to our current document that has a wealth of information around refereeing in the WRRA. With NZR releasing their new documentation this year we will look to review this and bring it in line with the NZR documentation
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k_n85Lcw6D1m3YsP1UZY7-vbJbo5hhFrIm5-pl328JA/edit?usp=drive_web
Trends – what are we seeing
Lineout – This is becoming a critical platform for attack mainly by mauling or one off runners with the opposition backs starting 10m back, what are our triggers at this phase
- Non throwing team not competing – standing back and not engaging, there are many possible offsides in this situation, check out law 18 section 30 through 36
- The non throwing team sacking the lineout, this must occur by the first player engaging and occur quickly (a sack can’t occur once a maul has formed)
- Ensuring all players are in the right position, do you have a non throwing hooker, same numbers in the line out, all others back 10m
- Ensure you don’t have obstruction if a maul forms from the lineout
Where are you positioning yourself to manage the contest? Does your position give you good presence at the lineout? Are you adopting various positions?
As we head into finals you may have AR’s or be an AR, make sure your team of three is clear on what each person’s role is. Without comms it can be difficult but feedback at down time to the referee will help to get the right result in the fixture.
Grow Model – Finals Rugby
As we move towards finals rugby you need to focus on your individual development plan and your game plan. These will have served you well during the season so don’t go changing them. Staying with what you have praticed all season will set you up well for finals.
We will see teams become more desperate as they hit the knockout stages, this will require referees to make good use of their ‘Management Piller’ below are some notes from the WRRA Coaching and Grading Guidelines
Management
- From a management perspective, the onus is on the referee to ‘connect a series of decisions’. For example, if the referee gives two or three penalties against one team at the tackle, within a few minutes, is she/he aware of this sequence and what is she/he going to do about it?
- The management pillar is all about the referee’s ability to connect their decisions throughout the play, and achieve the right outcomes with the captains and the players. It is about their ability to eradicate negative play, eliminate illegal technique, ensure positive play is rewarded, and allow teams a fair contest.
- Example – is a ball not thrown in straight at a Lineout a ‘one off’? Does the referee manage the offence by blowing the whistle; playing advantage; or playing on? Regardless of the decision, the referee needs to consider some form of management action, whether this action ranges from a quiet word to the thrower through to Yellow Card for repeated infringement.
As you may be an assistant referee for a final or a representative fixture, write a plan so you are focussed on that role rather than being a referee.
Te Ara Rangatira – The Rugby Way
We as referees are an integral part of the rugby community, our actions both on and off the field should reflect Te Ara Rangatira – The Rugby Way
Law test time
Why not set up a log in with World Rugby and give their law test a go, World rugby also has a whole bunch of resources that can assist with your development
https://passport.world.rugby/laws-of-the-game/laws-of-the-game-exam/
Key coaching contacts
Selections and Assessment Convenor – Brent Murray
Level 3 Manager – Dave Munro
Level 4-5 Manager – John Mitchell
First year referees Manager – Colin Dallas
Coaching Coordinator – Jared Clarke
