Rugby Sledging

Australian youth changed dramatically with the invention of video,  DVD players and game consoles.

Not only do Australian youth seem to spend more time indoors than their predecessors and have less social interaction with peers and adults, there is also a general acceptance of lower social standards including 'sledging' opponents in sports and swearing. Some of this change may also be attributed to violent and submissive movies.

This has been a minor issue in youth Rugby Union matches, but still one that required addressing. All participants involved in matches including players, coaches and referees, touch judges, administrators and spectators are bound by the Code of Conduct.

The Code includes players respecting their opponents, coaches coaching within the Laws of the game and spectators accepting refereeing decisions.

With the advent of Rugby professionalism in 1996, the game of Rugby became faster with a greater contest for possession and this inevitably flowed down to recreational levels of the game. The outcome here was that the referees had to be fitter - physically and mentally - to stay up with play and tended to disregard side issues of 'player chat'. Often the 'chat' embellishes the game and individual humour has always been a part of the fabric of the game.

Not withstanding, there has been anecdotal evidence of an increase of swearing, either at opposition players or referee and sledging of opponents. The issue came to a head at the National Schools (Under 18s) championships last year. In the heat of combat, a player began swearing at his own players - within earshot of the referee and close to the sideline.

This incident may not normally have been unacceptable except that there were a few extenuating circumstances. Firstly, the referee was microphoned to the video operator who was filming each game for judiciary reasons and for re-sale. Secondly, the infringing player was within earshot of parents who we, as administrators, felt reflected badly on the game.

So what did we do....and why? Essentially we outlawed anti-social behaviour as a 'new' competition rule, even though it was generally covered within the Code of Conduct.

In the following days, the process was simple. If a referee heard a player swear he would penalise (penalty kick) the offending team. Further, the referee would caution the captain that if there was a recurrence then the offender would be sin binned (yellow card and temporary suspension). If a player sledged an opponent, the referee would automatically sin bin the offender. A repeat offence would be a send off (red card) and the identified player would have to face the judiciary.

The result of these decisions was quite outstanding. We found the following:

• all video/DVD reproductions were absent of swearing and sledging and sales improved for the video supplier;
• individual players became more responsible for their conduct on the field. It also meant that individual players were concentrating on what they had to do and the skill level of games improved;
• the referee was given instructions to deal with offenders harshly. The consequence was that the referee could concentrate on the 'action' and was more likely to get decisions correct, as there was less 'chat' from players; and
• the whole event and the skills displayed, created change from the sideline. Players had communicated to their parents and friends 'the rules' and there was less abuse of the referee.

What have we learnt from this experience? We learnt that competition managers and Union administrators could make a stand about acceptable standards from game participants. The outcome was a better standard game with better skills and sportsmanship. The big picture is that if we have higher standard games at lower age levels, then in five to ten years time the contest for Wallaby jerseys will be immense.

Warren Robilliard

ARU Coach Education Manager