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If players are role models for junior players, then coaches are role models for junior coaches too. The continuous sprays and allegations of ‘poor refereeing’ dished out by NRL coaches such as Des Hasler and Shane Flanagan are very dangerous at a junior level.
Never mind that in most cases, the sprays are used to deflect attention from the performance of their team.
Ben Ikin from Fox Sports believes it’s a bad example for those at a junior level. Often, coaches aren’t the only ones being notably aggressive towards match officials – there have been numerous stories regarding parents at junior matches.
If this is an issue at junior football, the coaches are the ones responsible to correct their own aggression. And coaches should be the link between parents and officials.
This open communication between parent and coach should exist. It should be managed by the coach, who sits on the sideline within parents and players.
Coaches should lead by example, and if they are abusing referees like the leading NRL level coaches are, then parents and junior players will follow.
Coaches should aspire to better the game on a strategic and player management level. They must play by the rules for the enjoyment of fans and players.
The top-level NRL coaches are setting a bad example. It is up to coaches to openly communicate with parents, players and officials and to not abuse referees for their decisions.
Not only will the juniors take it on board, they will mimic it and think it is acceptable.
Then, who in their right mind would want to become a junior referee in a rugby league game if this continues, or if it’s already happening?
Junior rugby league should be fun, fair and friendly. This is the reason we all played rugby league when we were kids.
We need to stop using referees and officials as scapegoats and get on with the game and just enjoy it.
If NRL players have behavioural guidelines because they are role models, so should NRL coaches.
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