Advantage Over podcast for rugby referees – Détails, épisodes et analyse

A walk through the law change proposals coming out of World Rugby in recent weeks. What is going on? What will actually change?  And when? 

In today's episode, I will walk through where this law chat has come from, the importance of World Rugby's Shape of the Game meetings and all the elements that are flowing from that event held at the end of February 2024. 

More information mentioned in the episode: 

1) World Rugby press release: Shape of the Game meeting. 29 February 2024

2) WR Press release 2 - World Rugby reveals phased plan to enhance rugby’s global appeal

3) Law Application Guideline: March 2024 - Reinforcement of current law

Also - Laws and the change programme were discussed in the WR Player Welfare & Laws Symposium held on Monday 8 April. You can watch the session here

If you're a match official, please do come and join our RugbyReferee.net Facebook Community 

And if you appreciate this podcast, please do buy me a coffee to say thanks!

Feedback always welcome: ref@rugbyreferee.net  or come and find us on social media usually at the @rugbyrefereenet handle

Today, I walk through some great tips for all those rugby coaches out there who have to take charge of a match as a referee.

Are you a Coach with a Whistle (TM), rather than a rugby referee? Maybe you're a reluctant ref - a volunteer being thrust forward because you had too much to say during a match? Maybe you just didn't avoid eye contact quickly enough when your parents group were asked for help?

Or maybe you're just starting to think that you might want to give refereeing a go!

Well, firstly THANK YOU!  Especially if you're the former, we know you’ve already given up so much of your spare time to dedicate to the kids under your charge. To cajole them from the proper littlies, through tag and into tackling rugby. That takes some doing and we know just how many of you are out there doing an awesome job. We all appreciate that.

If you're any of the latter, THANK YOU too! It's not easy to make those first steps, whatever reason sits behind it.

And, as the kids get older, the games of rugby they play get better, more structured, more… well.. rugby like. And so they need refereeing more too.

Our goal is to "Make rugby better - By making better referees", so here's six tips  to help make rugby better for the kids in your matches.

1. Tweak your mindset - We'd encourage you to shift  your mindset from one where you’re approaching the game 'because no one else will do it', to one where you’re approaching a game 'to enhance the experience of the kids who are playing in it.' It's a subtle shift but how you approach that match and how you're seen to approach it, will then be very different. We want kids to keep turning up on a Sunday (and Wednesday), and staying involved in rugby. The experience they get through these formative years is crucial, and a slight mindshift when it comes to the whistle blower, might just help them (and you)
2. Confidence - Take the confidence you have as a coach onto the field.  You have no problems telling and showing players what to do. Do the same as a referee.  Do anything  with confidence, they'll believe you!  You can explain tackle drills easily, tactical plans with comfort, and come with an explain  lineout calls with superheroes/travel modes with ease - take those skills onto the field when you have a whistle! Half the 'sell' to everyone is the blag! Even if you don't believe it deep down, they won't notice if you do it confidently
3. Communicate - You're a coach - so you can communicate already! Just take that with you when you referee. Short simple phrases to players on the field will get them to do what you want/need
4. Look the part! When was the last time you watched a game where the referee was wearing an untucked shirt, muddy tracksuit, or odd coloured socks round their ankles?? Just make a bit of an effort to look like the referee when you’re on a field refereeing a game. Not saying you need to get a replica RWC referees shirt - just find a neutral top (pref one without your club logo/emblem on it) that will make you look and feel more neutral. That'll rub off on everyone else.
5. Get a good whistle!!  If you’re using a crappy whistle that you won in a Christmas cracker put it in the bin (or use it to train the dog!) Please get the proper whistle - Im not sponsored or supported by them in any way, but a good old trusty, solid Acme Thunder of some type are my go to - and then, for the love of God, blow it properly!  The difference the noise makes in the different way you can blow it will definitely make the game better experience. I know it sounds really silly but a simple blown whistle well can make a huge difference to everybody around who’s watching that game and being involved in it. [Edit: Since I wrote/said this, the kind people at Acme have given RugbyReferee.net readers and AdvantageOver podcast listeners a great discount for whistles - head to rugbyreferee.net/acme and use code REFNET20 at checkout!]
6. Rules & regs - Make sure you know the regs/rules for your age grade. It's not easy sometimes working though who can  do what as the age grade pathways change.  No matter where you are in the world, there'll be a website which hopefully explains what applies to what age group in your country.  A lot of listeners are in England - and so Ive done a chunk of work to help. I've been through the RFU appendices (and had some gaps clarified by the RFU) and so I've done the hard work for you! Ive created an info sheet for each age group and master grid for all age groups from u9s to u16s showing the areas of the game. Check out https://rugbyreferee.net/agregrade to get them (for free!)

Hopefully, that's enough to get you ready for refereeing action this season. We'd love to hear from you and follow your journey, and even help more along the way. Let us know at ref@rugbyreferee.net how you get on! Or, come join our referee community on Facebook

If you have any comments about this episode, or suggestions for future shows, then drop me a line at ref@rugbyreferee.net!

You can follow us here:

Twitter: RugbyRefereenet

Instagram: RugbyRefereenet

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Facebook Group: RugbyReferee.net Community

Or you can connect with Keith personally on Twitter or LinkedIn

I'm joined for a second time by Ross Hanbury, a referee fitness specialist who's been working with various referee societies and referees for some years now.

We talk about all sorts of things through this episode - from finding small ways to keep mobile while working from home, to getting started again, staying fit when we're all stuck at home, some mobility and speed suggestions.

We also go through the various fitness tests which rugby referees can do to set a benchmark for future attainment. And we also cover some advice for those of you who may be of more advanced years.

To contact Ross to discuss his 16-week referee fitness programmes, drop him an email at rosshanbury@gmail.com or find him at @rugbyrefereesnc on Instagram.

A slightly different style of show for you here as I bring you the audio of a Facebook Live show, recorded on 22 July 2020, and hosted by Three Blokes, A Ball & Bod.

Co-hosted by Advantage Over host Keith Lewis and the show's own Big Joe Sheppard, we were joined by Bay of Plenty Referee Manager, Cam Russell and Premiership Rugby TMO (who had 110 appearances as a Premiership referee) David Rose.

We covered so much ground in the show and it was a shame not to bring you the audio. It was record live and involved contributions and questions from the live viewers as the show went on.

If you've enjoyed the show, do leave a rating and review wherever you found it. Those ratings help other folks out there find the podcast.

If you'd like to support the work of RugbyReferee.net, then you can buy us a coffee over at rugbyreferee.net/coffee - we'll be most grateful!

Bonus episode as World Rugby have today outlined 10 possible temporary law changes so that rugby can restart in a post-Coronavirus world.

It will be up to individual Unions and competition chiefs to decide whether to introduce the, and which ones, on a temporary basis to suit local regulations or guidance.

For full wordings and story, visit: https://rugbyreferee.net/2020/05/28/post-covid-19-law-variation-options-announced-by-world-rugby/

Today, we're joined by Nick Marshall, active referee and organiser of Marshalling Men's Minds - a community and support network for those with poor mental health,

We talked about his refereeing and mental health journeys (one upwards, one less so..) and how he overcame it.

We talked about how to spot if you're struggling, what triggers you (or your nearest and dearest may see) as well as how that manifests when you head onto the field.

We covered some ground around dealing with pressure on the pitch, and some tips on refocussing when you need to.

Nick talked briefly about the Dodger 7s team who are an invitational side made of those who have suffered from poor mental health, or have been around it. Check their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dodgerrugby/

The key thing around the whole mental health issue is to talk. To anyone. But please do. You can contact Nick via the website or on Facebook or, for those outside the UK, you can head to mentalhealth.org to find local resources to where you live.

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

World Rugby have today (12 May 2020) changed the scoring law, removing the ability for a player to score a try by grounding the ball against the post protector.

Why? Well listen in and find out! (Hint: player safety)

Full story: https://rugbyreferee.net/2020/05/12/law-change-grounded-against-post-protector-removed-as-scoring-possibility/

In the second of our shorter form podcasts, we take a look into refereeing advantage in rugby.

It's one of those areas, plenty of people have a view on, so let's look into what the law says, and how we should best look to referee it.

As ever, we'd love to know what you think so let us know - find us on social media at @RugbyRefereeNet, or comment on the blog over at rugbyreferee.net

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Twitter: @RugbyRefereeNet

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Referee Community group: RefSquad

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If you enjoy the podcast, then feel free to support our work: rugbyreferee.net/coffee

Welcome to episode 24 of the Advantage Over podcast.

This is the first of series of shorter podcasts aimed at keeping your refereeing mind ticking over - especially given the events we’re all living through all over the rugby globe.

Today, we're looking at in-goal. Why? Well, it's the most queried area of the game in our community discussions over on Facebook. It’s such an important area, and without fully thinking it through, could have big repercussions on the game if we get it wrong!

So, in the podcast, we go through:

1. The Law - what is dead, and how the law is written about restarting:
2. What that means for restarting - hint: it's all about who puts the ball into in-goal!
3. Charge downs which go dead
4. Knock ons into in-goal

We hope you enjoyed this shorter form podcast. We’ll have a few more like this in the near future, as well as the longer form ones in the pipeline too.

If you have any law queries or specific things relating to refereeing, you can drop us an email at keith@rugbyreferee.net or you can voice record your question and send that as well and then you can be part of the podcast too!

We’d always appreciate your ratings and views wherever you found this podcast - and if you really want to support RugbyReferee.net to allow me to keep bringing you great content like this, you can buy me a coffee (or a few coffees) by heading to rugbyreferee.net/coffee

Hopefully you'll be inspired by his journey and want to get involved - let us know!

Other things mentioned in the podcast:

• #RefSquad - You've seen us using that hashtag on our social media content. If you're posting your own content, then add that hashtag so we can all join up!
• You can also head to refsquad.com to join our Facebook referee community. There's some application questions to answer and then we'll let you in asap!
• Want to contribute to Keith's coffee pot? Then head to rugbyreferee.net/coffee and you can help us keep the podcast coming, the emails and website up and running! We'd be extremely grateful for any support. Thanks in advance!
• Links to get started as a referee: rugbyreferee.net/links