Friends,
This weekend has been hard.
Not only because my beloved Ponies lost in a thriller. It was hard because, during and after my match as a volunteer official, I was the subject of verbal match official abuse.
While I do not wish to write a story of ‘woe betide me’, and will certainly not entertain the masses with the comments aimed at me, there must be a way we, as a rugby-loving community, can be better.
Refereeing is the only thing that I am (relatively speaking) good at on a rugby pitch. For many referees, there is either the sense of giving back, of contributing to the game in some way, or for some sneaky pocket change as a junior referee before their own match.
At what point is it still ‘rugby’ that players, coaches, club officials and spectators abuse a match official?
Notwithstanding the vitriol aimed at the professional level of referees as seen in recent weeks across SR-AU and SR-A, that these behaviours even occur face-to-face at a local, volunteer level is disgusting. The excuse of “passion”, or, “I lost control in the moment” is not viable.
What is more concerning is that my story is not an isolated one either. I know of other matches across numerous jurisdictions where referees, both adults and children, are the subject of match official abuse this weekend gone.
In some instances, the club involved have been vocal in their apologies to referees involved; others where there was no way out for the referee except to beat a hasty retreat to the carpark and hope to escape the attention of the remnants of the crowd sinking a tinnie and a snag sanga.
While I, and most other referees, are all for banter and ‘the ironic rugby cheer’, the line that ought not be crossed is seemingly becoming invisible.
Perhaps this is a result of social media, of news outlets giving airtime to unrepentant coaches in both union and other codes looking for a scapegoat, or society losing some of its compassion and ethic around treating sporting volunteers.
I would be battling many other referees for the position to be the first to put my hand up and say “I’m not perfect”, at some point there has to be a clear line in the sand. Many referee associations are at breaking point with a lack of members.
Referee abuse is a leading factor in the loss of referees to our code.
I would suggest at least 40 per cent leave each season due to abuse.
It is little wonder it’s next to impossible to find new talent, let alone retain whomever associations have.
What is the answer? To be honest, there is no clear and simple fix that I can see. Club culture starts at the top and works its way down to on-field leaders.
Jurisdictions must have, pardon the referee terminology, a clear and obvious plan with consequences that will be followed through. Referees must also be courageous and feel supported in reporting the abuse so it can be identified and dealt with.
Players take part in a training session (Photo by Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)
Across the ditch, we have seem examples of the Hawke’s Bay competition having a crystal clear match official abuse policy after repeated incidents of match official abuse lead to the withdrawal of refereeing services for a fortnight. Of interest, players, clubs, ground marshals and spectators are ‘rated’ by the referee team for the day. There are severe sanctions for anyone abusing match officials and this is enforced from thr organising bodies down to clubs.
As a rugby community, I implore you as a spectator to place yourself into the footy boots of the volunteer with the whistle and/or flag. These men, women and children are volunteering their time to be involved in the game they love. Often, they are by themselves with no support at the ground due to the nature of refereeing at every ground.
The referee will make errors.
The referee is not perfect.
Until you are willing to try to referee yourself, keep your unhelpful and abusive comments to yourself.
But by all means, help us to “get em’ onside!”
Adam
Guest
Great article and unfortunately this is what drove me away from refereeing some years ago. I was capable but was never going to be anything fantastic but would turn up every weekend do a juniors game, a seniors game and generally back up to be an AR as well and for the most part enjoyed it. But when you have a coach of a team not only abuse you when you're on the field but turn around and then abuse your wife who was there on the sidelines to support with a 12 year old and 7 year in tow, that did me. The goose had the temerity to come up to me at the end of the game and tell me I made a mistake - my response was if I only made 1 mistake in 80 minutes then it was a pretty good game. this was before I knew he had abused my wife. The issue was reported and I never heard anything back. Be careful people when you start abusing the volunteer officials - they won't turn up again then there will be no game for the players, no game for the spectators and no development for the juniors. I don't care what sport it is, there is no place for referee (or AR) abuse in any club level sport.
Keir Anderson
Roar Rookie
That's why Super Rugby always had neutral referees in finals, and why international matches have neutral referees. The same should have happened here
Keir Anderson
Roar Rookie
I'm with you mate. In the words of Dan McKellar "players and coaches are held accountable for their performances, everyone else should be too." I think it's a fair comment. We spend the week after the game analysing a player's performance and pointing out their mistakes. I think it's only far we do the same with referees. Especially professionals.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
My son's junior club had a very strict policy on this. Abuse a referee or AR and the culprit is first told to tone it down. Next time the supporter is put out of the ground or worse. Very little trouble with supporters in the comp.
DD
Guest
Better referee training will deliver better match outcomes (less foul play "overlooked" or missed); lack of referee training is actually the root cause of most problems.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Referees have and will always be an important part of the fabric of rugby. We can't have the sport without them. For me, at my club, we simply don't tolerate verbal/physical referee abuse. If someone is found to abuse a ref verbally or otherwise, they miss the next fixture - simple as that. In our league too, there is a big culture of respect towards officials and volunteers. The league takes any abuse very seriously, the league sanctions certainly make it not worth the time for the crime. For me, it all starts with the culture within the league and clubs. If the League have a zero tolerance approach and appropriately deal with guilty players/supporters, it stamps it out pretty quick. If the league is relaxed, which when I played in Melbourne growing up it definitely was at times, you had some bad examples of refs copping an unwarranted spray after the game.
Players have to respect the Refs but sorry as a fan that sounds a bit dictatorial…Maybe a bit cold war Russia…..I give respect to all when I first encounter people but their actions after that decide if that respect stays or drops dramatically and I just cannot respect a Ref who shows clear signs of bias or incompetence. And why should I have to? However they have the ability to earn my respect back as refs if they then prove they have got to an acceptable level of ability. To be clear tho its a respect of their ability not of them as humans…
AndyS
Guest
I'm suggesting the laws of the game require you to respect an organisation regardless of whether you think they have earned it or not. And note that your first post can be almost directly paraphrased as "I have nothing against referees, I have even eventually come to respect one of them". The general attitude to them as a group, that they have to specifically earn your respect before any will be given, and the particular parallels that have been drawn, seem pretty obvious and reek of a casual -ism.
JamesDuncan
Roar Guru
Well put, Charlie. There's far too much tolerance of abuse for officials in rugby and other sports. It's unacceptable what you and other officials cop from people. More cracking down needed.
LowerGradeLunchtimeLegend
Guest
Hi Oliver, As a lower grade player and coach I can certainly see your points. Referee abuse is a blight on the game. As a volunteer, match officials deserve to be given some respect and treated as an important part of the game. I know what it is like to be given the message late on a Friday that no referee has been assigned to the match and the scramble to find someone willing to carry a whistle. I am sure that many of you referee because you enjoy the game and either not skilled enough or too broken to continue to play so choose to make your contribution in another way. For that I am grateful to you and others (such as the referee who stepped into manage our fourth grade game where no match official was appointed and immediately backed up to referee colts). The only thing I ask for in a referee is consistency and an understanding of both the Laws of Rugby and the competition laws. I don't expect Nigel Owens, Wayne Barnes, Amy Perrit or Angus Gardner in fourth grade but at least the ability to rule consistently on their interpretation of the laws and explain that interpretation clearly. This is often the cause of the problem. Note that I am not excusing the behaviour but trying to identify a cause and potential solution. We need more people to hold up their hands to be match officials and those that do need to feel psychologically and physically safe so that they get what they want out of the game, just as much as the players do. Thank you for your contribution and that of your colleagues.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Whilst I understand what you mean, I rarely see cases of it. The thing is many are consequential anyway. Like if a player shoots up offside, but isn't near the ball, it's still consequential because they have shut down an option. One of my biggest bug bears in officiating errors is when refs call hands off repeatedly at a ruck, and then the ball spills out for the defending team. Because clearly the player infringing has had some consequence.
Andy thats a bit odd...I didnt suggest I stated... Its you projecting suggests....Are you suggesting I should be forced to respect an organisation before they have earnt respect? The last 2 years of reffing has been horrible in NZ and Aus and even worse when they got together for the RC last year. How do you respect such mediocrity? I go in positive but if their actions turn me negative its hard to see how thats my fault or my issue to deal with. Do you not expect quality reffing? Do you happily accept mediocrity then respect it?
AndyS
Guest
Doesn't sound to me like actual respect for referees and refereeing though. Suggests he is just another ordinary decision against the ABs from you being all over him again, or that if another ref were to make a similar mistake you'd not hesitate get stuck into him.
Objective
Guest
Fair enough. But to give an example, a ref might see a punch thrown but not be sure of the point of contact, so he penalises it. Unbeknown to him, it clocked the guy on the chin, hence red. So in your case, it's a weak call, but it's as he saw it. Not saying that's what happened in your case, but just pointing out not everyone sees the same thing.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Train, I’m guessing it’s ‘not pulling up every irrelevant technicality’ that is inconsequential to the contest. But I’m with you when it comes to ‘only just offside’ and other aspects that are crucial to contest. It’s my belief that the game would improve exponentially overnight if ‘daylight at last feet’, box kick chasers staying behind the halfback and ‘March another 10’ laws were enforced. Pegging the ball after copping a penalty is another area that would reap reward IMO.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No he saw it. Because he penalised it.
Objective
Guest
Did he really see it, or are you assuming he saw what you did ? He may have been glancing in another direction at the critical moment and not seen the incident as clearly as you think. If so, he shouldn't adjudicate on a guess.
Understand that Ken but the conversation went in a direction so we followed that direction. Kinda like mentioning a race driver in an article about learning to drive eh.
Its like casual racism, you’re either genuine in your respect for referees and other volunteers or you’re not. Sorry Dave but to insinuate racism and ref respect are the same doesnt work for me. Respect is earnt and some refs really do earn fans respect. As a NZer I was very anti Wayne Barnes for costing NZ a place in the Semi's of the 2007 WC but he has since earnt my respect as a good referee. I dont see how that can be related back to racism in any way...
Wally James
Roar Guru
Leg, times change I suppose but not necessarily for the better!