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As a rugby union referee and former lock, my advice to everyone who wants to referee the game that I love more than any other sport is simple – play the game first.
It is a very complicated game to learn and it is even harder to referee if you have never played it. I have the luxury, I believe, of understanding both the players’ and the referees’ perspectives.
Let’s start off with the scrum. I have been in a scrum and I know about the pandemonium that goes on at scrum time.
When I packed down in the scrums I had to get the binding tight, feet shoulder-width apart and parallel, my chest below my chin which was below my eyes, and so on.
As a referee, I understand the pressure that a scrum has and I understand what is expected of the players.
The lineout is another area that can be chaotic. You have got to look for early lifts, correct numbers, players tackled in the air, crooked throws and more.
Being a former player, I know which infringements affect the contest and which ones don’t.
At tackle, ruck and maul, I can understand better if a player is infringing and whether or not it affects the contest for the ball.
I recently attended an education function by the ARU. I asked all the referees in attendance, “Can I have a show of hands who has played the game?”
All but two of the referees had played the game.
One of the big topics of discussion was empathy. Because we are current/former players, we can fully understand what the player is thinking and provide more consideration for what they do.
After all, as fans, we go to watch the players and not the referee.
Another big topic is changing behaviour. You change behaviour by picking up trends and by politely talking to players, not down to them.
There are a couple of things I try to do as a referee.
Firstly, make the game about the players, not myself. When I played, I wanted the referee to respect me and I then showed respect to the ref. It is the opposite now.
Another thing is to not penalise technical infringements that I could see but that didn’t materially affect the game and which are not clear and obvious to the fans. I only penalise the infringements that affect the contest for the ball.
Again, this position is easier to understand after you have played the game.
I enjoy rugby as a player, referee and fan. I want as many people playing as possible and after they finish playing or currently playing, to move into refereeing.
I would love to see Richie McCaw become a referee when he finishes his playing career. It would be an excellent career choice for him and great for the game.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.