Rugby League Coaching Manuals

RLCM Coachtalk Extract - Aug 2009 ".......match officials, like Police officers, aren't there to make friends. They just have to do a job. So if we apply that back into our business, we just need to get on with it and play within the confines of the law," he explains. This seems simple enough. However, rugby league, like most competitive sport, comes down to winning, which often tends to compromise appropriate behaviour.

To help coaches, players and referees understand why situations sometimes get out of hand, Trotter and his fellow league enthusiasts identify some key issues and concerns with the player - coach - referee relationship.

They list them as:
• INCONSISTENCY of the interpretation of the rules from week to week and throughout the game.
• APPLICATION OF LAW.
• LACK OF COMMUNICATION off the field between the coach and referee and the player and referee.
• IMAGE OF THE GAME is tainted when players are arguing with referees, not showing any respect, giving young kids the perception that this behaviour is acceptable.
• LOSS OF RESPECT towards officials.
• EDUCATING referees and coaches so they understand the individual roles of each.
• BLOCKED COMMUNICATION CHANNELS on the field between referees and players. When referees feel threatened or challenged they hide and put up a front rather than speaking to players.
• LACK OF DISCIPLINE on the field when referees are questioned.

WHY IS THE RELATIONSHIP IMPORTANT?
The group identified that the relationship is important as it impacts on the image of the game. The trust that both sides do the right thing is another important aspect. Trotter believes the onus should be put on the captains to control the behaviour of the team, while the referee facilitates the game.

"Put the responsibility on your captain and your senior players to uphold whatever standards you want to enforce, and the ref will do what he's got to do," he explains.
He also proposes an ideal working relationship between the captains of each team and the referee, which can be used as a guideline.

"This involves the referee having a role as the third man, only having to step in when captains aren't keeping their team in line. If they don't keep their players in order, then the ref has to switch into the number one position, otherwise he can stay at number three," he advises.

CAPTAINS
When selecting captains, Trotter believes that their ability to run the team or run the match and interrelate with the referee should be a big consideration.
"If he's quiet and leads from the front, then that could be the right leadership model. But if the going gets tough he's got to sort out the bad eggs or otherwise you've got problems, because he will determine what the match official reacts to."

Trotter lists some important ingredients needed in the recipe for a successful working relationship:"To make sure the relationship works at its best, coaches must be respectful, which may require some to change their attitude towards match officials.

"Having respect for game officials has got to be set from the start of the season and has to go through the club. Everybody in the club needs to pass the philosophy through," says Trotter.

He uses the personal philosophy of one coach in attendance - based on the idea that your own performance is what you should worry about - to provide a valuable insight for coaches.

"I don't believe you should worry about things that are out of your control. I don't believe you can control the ref's decisions. So you should be trying to teach your players to accept whatever the ref says. Don't disrespect him and just try and keep the communication lines open.....................

Click for RLCM December Resources + Application Form