Reffing kids rugby

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

So I coach and by coaching, end up reffing kids rugby. I'm currently doing under 10s having started when they first started (in reception year).

I've found recently (maybe linking into the introduction of the ruck), that this season I've had multiple coaches or parents shouting not really with abuse but lots of shouting / appealing for things or shouting at things I've missed.

Now I'm no mug, I know the laws but in under 10s rugby I could literally give a penalty away at every other breakdown which would kill the game and is also against the way the RFU try to encourage reffing kids.

I always try and let the game flow and give each side the same opportunities. Just wondering if there are any other kids coaches who are dealing with that.

I've thought about stopping the game before and speaking to the parents or opposition coaches about their shouting but can't be bothered with the conflict especially when half the coaches I meet don't actually know the laws correctly in the first place.

Any thoughts advice welcome.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

So I've never reffed 10u but I spent a lot of time around 10u games here and in South Africa just cause I'll be at the grounds anyway.

But isn't 10u like a year or two from there being any actual structure? I know in stellenbosch the coaches just want the kids to have fun so they'll come back in the future and keep playing once they have the skills and attention span to plau with structure.

Just keep it safe. Cut out the blatant cheating cause there's always one kid who feels they found a loophole. Personally id call offside just cause I think the kids would have more fun that way.

Sucks that coaches are getting on you for giving it a go, especially since that rugby is so sloppy it's hard to referee. Let the kids have fun and keep them safe

 

[Which Tyler]

Might be worth having a word with both coaches beforehand, or at half time, rather than stopping the match; and explain exactly that.
Something like "I'm not a stickler for the laws, this is U10s, I want the game to flow, and most importantly, I want the kids to have fun. I will obviously blow for obvious or repeated cheating, but base it on 'materiality', but I don't really care about technical infringements. I see my job as providing a structure within which the kids can have fun, and want to come back next week, not to nit-pick the details. I've learned over the last couple of months that I now need to say this to you, I do not need your help from the sidelines. I don't mind the kids being over-excited, but I expect better from yourselves."

Come up with a spiel that you're happy with, have a word with the coaches beforehand; and remind them at HT if necessary.
Maybe phrase it in such a way as to try to get the coaches onside to help prevent parents from being over-involved?

 

[ShropshireAllBlack]

At that level, all you want is the kids to enjoy themselves and to come back next Sunday. While I never changed the outcome of a match, if it was very one sided, I would "put my finger on the scale" to keep it competitive. And be upfront with the coaches beforehand about it, and make it clear that managing outspoken parents is their job.
Finally, North Mids CB frequently threatens to deduct 1st XV points from clubs if their M&J's parents get gobby.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Might be worth having a word with both coaches beforehand, or at half time, rather than stopping the match; and explain exactly that.
Something like "I'm not a stickler for the laws, this is U10s, I want the game to flow, and most importantly, I want the kids to have fun. I will obviously blow for obvious or repeated cheating, but base it on 'materiality', but I don't really care about technical infringements. I see my job as providing a structure within which the kids can have fun, and want to come back next week, not to nit-pick the details. I've learned over the last couple of months that I now need to say this to you, I do not need your help from the sidelines. I don't mind the kids being over-excited, but I expect better from yourselves."

Come up with a spiel that you're happy with, have a word with the coaches beforehand; and remind them at HT if necessary.
Maybe phrase it in such a way as to try to get the coaches onside to help prevent parents from being over-involved?

Awesome advice thank you.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

I feel for you. I am not optimistic about things like these. I don't think there is much you can do to prevent this, unfortunately. Talking to the coaches might help, but my guess is the problem lies with the parents, so odds are the message wouldn't reach them.
You can react tho, but even then doing so is not risk free. If you see a parent, or group of parents who appear to be causing the ruckus, maybe, MAYBE approach them at half time. Tiptoeing. And even then, that could backfire spectacularly. 'ARE YOU TELLING ME HOW TO SUPPOORT MY SON!!!' There is always an idiot.

Some parents should be banned from attending their kids' games.

Just be careful, and do your best to ignore outside comments. It's not easy. Best of luck and keep it up. These sort of things you are doing embody what we should be aiming for. The impact these things can have on kids is gargantuan.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Really really agree with Cruz here. The people who like rugby and want kids to have fun should already be on your side. The hyper-competitive short sighted people will just get angrier that you aren't holding them to champions cup final standards.

 

[AlRums]

At that age they should be enjoying themselves which will encourage further interest, rather than sticking to the letter of the law. That'll come later.

 

[Rewind668]

Don't be too hard on yourself. The early years of rucking are a complete mess in every game. It gets a bit better at U11's after they've had one season, but even then at every single game players, coaches and especially parents are in disagreement over the rules. The problem is, it's a very difficult thing to coach and it's tough for the players to get to grips with. I don't ref (other than in training) myself but I have coached through the grades. Even just this last week I was reffing a training game and called something at a ruck which was completely different to what other coaches saw.

A lot of the time, people see infringements and immediately associate it with cheating whereas at u10's, they're more often than not just making mistakes.

Couple of ideas you can try:

* focus first on the basics. So we had players going in, contacting over the ball (forming the ruck) and then scooping/rolling the ball back with their hands. That is an absolute no, not like a side entry type thing. Call it as a pen. Start there and gradually tackle other aspects such as holding, side entries etc.

* Difficult to do, but when you call a pen at ruck, even if you may have got it wrong, slowly and calmly explain what you think you saw and what the correct way to do it is. I've seen asking the players why they think you've penned them is a good way to just calm things down. Obviously you need the game to flow, but it is a balance.

* Speaking to other coaches before helps. I always found the the steal bit messy. World Rugby rules say a ruck is formed when players contact over the ball so if a defending player has his hands on the ball before being contacted, in my mind that is stolen. Just clarify how you intend to ref it.

* Not that they listen all the time, but calling "ruck formed", "hands away!" helps. You are allowed to coach both sides through the ruck.

* Rucks are a mess so Call out the obvious ones. Don't let the little things hold up the game

* read the World Rugby ruck laws so if anything is questioned, you're 100% confident.

* If any parents of your players start kicking off, ask them to volunteer. They'll be running and hiding in their cars in no time! ;-)

The ruck is a mess and it's really tough to ref. It's trying to find a balance between being fair and calling infringements, but also letting the game flow. As long as these messages are communicated to the opposition beforehand it at least sets the tone.

 

[Rewind668]

In terms of coaching the ruck, playing with a fixed 9 and 10 helped. Players must have roles. Either they are carrying the ball, first to the ruck or waiting outside 9 & 10.