From our Touchline Tales archive, 2014, about an U15 cup game…
Last weekend we lost 20-22 in a cup game. The opposition scored at the end from a disputed lineout on our line and we felt our jumper was impeded.
Were we frustrated? Yes, no doubt. And so was their coach earlier when one of his players was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on in front of the posts. He was still steaming about the incident after the game.
But our coaching team thought the referee, who was centrally appointed and neutral, had a good game.
To put it into context, one of our coaches is with a semi-pro team and they also had lost by two points the day before. He said he felt the referee had made a mistake at a crucial moment. His coaching team had quizzed the referee afterwards, showing himvideo footage of the incident. The referee acknowledged he’d probably made the wrong decision, but both groups had agreed that split-second calls can be difficult in the heat of the moment. Otherwise he’d a good game.
And that’s why we thought our referee had had a good game. He’d let the game flow, been clear and decisive at thecrucial moments. Afterwards he explained his view of the lineout. He felt the ball had gone before the contact had been made. It was a difference of opinion, yet in the context of the whole game, it was one mistake.
After the game I spoke to the opposition coach. We both agreed that it was far better with a neutral referee because if one of us had been reffing the game, both of the disputed incidents could have left bad blood between the teams.
That doesn’t mean that neutral referees can’t have shockers. Last season, I was frustrated a couple of times by officials who were swayed by a noisy coach or didn’t police the offside line.
But I do always say – you have to learn to play the opposition, the elements and the referee.
Sarah Cottingham, teacher educator and Educational Neuroscience MA, challenges us on how we think we learn and how we might apply it to our coaching.
Dan Cottrell provides the rugby examples. MORE
It is interesting to reflect on the impact of famous author Dorothy L. Sayers on modern coaching. Way back in 1947, she challenged teachers to make their students think deeper and think more, so they learn for themselves. MORE
In my previous article, I outlined how I set up my Veo for games and training.
I've now had a greater opportunity to use it for recording games.
Again, I come at this without much recent experience of using video analysis software. I don't have much time to sit down and code games. Instead, I will mainly use the footage to pick out some key points to help inform my coaching and to share moments with the players. MORE
This article comes from Alan Zondagh LinkedIn account. It is discussed by Alan with Phil Llewellyn in a Roundup Rodeo special, with guests Ian Costello and Nick Wood. Former Bulls Director of Rugby and seasoned South African coach Alan Zondagh believes the sport is in need of a drastic overall change. My rugby journey started... MORE
Bill Walsh won three Superbowls with the San Francisco 49ers. When he took over as head coach in 1979 they were arguably the worst team in American football history. Within two years they were the best. This sympathetic and honest book, published after Walsh’s death in 2007, but largely in his own words, explains in detail the methods he used to achieve extraordinary success. MORE
Whether you won or lost this weekend, I expect you are thinking “there’s still so much to do”. No matter if you are just starting the season or mid-season, it always seems to be the case. Here is the good news: all the other teams are in the same predicament. The way forward? Balance your... MORE