Welcome to the October meeting.
I am pleased to say we have another magazine packed full of articles and features this month, many thanks to the members who have submitted articles this month. Please keep them coming.
I am sure many of you have been watching the rugby world cup and comparisons with the between the football and rugby referees is inevitable. Although, I would say how anyone can possibly referee rugby is beyond me, it appears to be like wrestling with a ball.
One of the aspects of the referees game in rugby which is certainly superior to football is their communication skills. Whenever play is stopped the referee signals to all, the players, managers and the crowd of his decisions, so we are all left in no doubt what decision he has given. Many a time in football we here people say "what's he given there". The referee merely indicates a direction. In the crowd especially at some grounds, where you are a distance from the action you don't know if it's a push, handball or a trip. By communicating better I'm sure it cuts down dissent.
In local football, opinion appears to be split on using signals, which are not included in the official rulebook. When you are on the line, if you give a free kick many referees ask you to indicate to them why you gave the kick. E.g. if the kick is being given for shirt pulling, by pulling your shirt, so that if a player says to the referee what did he give that for the referee can reply. Although I have heard many an assessor after the game say you are using signals not included in the handbook.
I must say I am in favor of using signals, which are not in the handbook where I feel it can help your game. I remember refereeing a game last season, where the bell was kicked 60-70 yards up the field, two players chased for the ball although it ended up out of play. The linesman pointed his flag in the direction of the defending team and I went with the linesman and gave a throw in to the defending team. The defending team took the throw in quickly although the linesman started flagging furiously. I stopped the game and went over to the linesman, I asked what he was flagging for, ''it's a foul'' he said not a throw in the attacking player was pulling the defender back.
Needless to say if the linesman had communicated this, the situation would not have arose. I'll let you guess what the players said to me Happy refereeing