Dear John
Welcome to the fourth and final edition of Coaching & Officiating E-News for 2007.
This issue is released as the 2007 Rugby World Cup kicks off, and midway through the inaugural Australian Rugby Championship (ARC). It will include articles on the ELV's being used in the ARC competition, Coaching the Scrum, and how to ensure you Stay Accredited as a coach/official. In addition, Ian Alker is profiled - Ian will soon take over the role of General Manager, Community Rugby, here at ARU.
We hope the newsletter continues to provide you with information you'll find useful in your role as a Rugby coach or referee.
All the best and Enjoy the World Cup!
ELV'S
EXPERIMENTAL LAW VARIATIONS (1)
(1) Coaching & Officiating News acknowledge the article by Rod Macqueen, former Wallaby Coach and member of the ELV Group for the IRB , in the Mazda Australian Rugby Championship Official Match Program, Volume 1, Issue 1.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) established a Law Project Group to review the Laws of the game with the aim of increasing the "cans" in the game and reducing the "cannots" whilst adhering to the following principles:
• Make the game easier and simpler to play, referee and understand
• Let the players determine the outcome of the game, not the officials
• The game is for all shapes and sizes.
For the past two years the Experimental Laws Variations (ELV’s) have been trialled by a number of member unions at various levels. The outcomes of these matches are analysed by the Law Project Group (comprising members from Scotland, England, France, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia) and adjustments made where deemed necessary.
Four of the ELV’s have been recently trialled in premier grade competitions in Sydney and Brisbane. Now for the first time in Australia all the ELV’s are being trialled in the Australian Rugby Championship. This is the highest level at which these laws have been trialled.
Click here for 2007 ELV's
[includes- Inside the 22m line, Scrum, Breakdown (tackle and post tackle), Lineout, Maul, Post and flags around the field, Touch judges, and Sanctions]
Comment..
From the referee’s perspective, all those who officiated in the opening round of the Mazda ARC were unanimous in their praise of the ELV’s and the way in which they added to the spectacle of the competition. The referees also agreed that they needed to be more vigilant at the breakdown in relation to the tackler rolling away, the tackler exercising his options in playing the ball and arriving players entering through the gate and remaining on their feet. All participants have agreed that the game is quicker and more enjoyable to play.
Stricter application of the Laws and quicker decisions in relation to the ball being unplayable at the breakdown in Round 2 resulted in faster ball at the breakdown and a more entertaining game. It was also noted that the players contributed to this through the use of the “long place” and the first arriving players either cleaning out or picking the ball up.
When compared to other competitions in Australia (see Tables below) the following observations can be made:
• The total number of stoppages has reduced - 88 (2006 APC), 82 (Premier Rugby Sydney & Brisbane with part ELVs) and 78 (MARC).
• Ball in play time has increased from 33 minutes in Super 14 to 37 minutes in MARC (36% to 41%)
• Tries per game have increased from 5 in 2007 Super 14 and 5.4 in 2006 matches to 6.3 in MARC. Many tries are being scored from turnover ball.
• Turnovers have increased – players on their feet at the breakdown being allowed to contest the ball.
• Total PK./FK has increased in ELV games, with an increase in the % of PK/FK at the TRM
• Lineout PK/FK per game have increased (introduction of FK for not straight throw)
• Kicks in General Play have increased. Most kicks are for territory and not for touch.
ELV Timetable
Any changes to the Laws of the Game are subject to defined principles of acceptance and implementation as determined by the iRB Council. The timetable from hereon is:
Oct 2007 – Presentation by the Laws Project group to the iRB General Assembly
Nov 2007 – Review of other Law proposals by the iRB Rugby Committee
Dec 2007 – Submission of recommendations to the iRB Council
Jan 2008 – Circulation of proposed Laws to national unions for comment
Jan 2008 – Presentation by the ELV Laws Group to the iRB Conference on the Game
May 2008 – Consideration of any new Laws by the iRB Council and subsequent implementation as ELVs on a date yet to be determine (but not before 1 July 2008).
Nov 2009 – Review by iRB of the ELVs and adoption into Law.
Table 1 provides a detailed comparison between Aust Provincial Championship & Sydney/Brisbane Premier Rugby in 2006 (no ELVs), Sydney & Brisbane Premier Rugby in 2007 (Part ELVs) and the Mazda ARC competition in 2007 (Full ELVs).
Table 2 provides a comparison between Super 14 in 2007 and Rounds 1 & 2 of MARC
Click here for Table
COACHING - THE SCRUM
Scrum Problems…
The scrum continues to be the foundation on which the game is built. Have a strong scrum and you should have a strong (and successful) team. Why is this so?
The scrum is a test of strength endurance, skill, flexibility and agility. It is about channeling the sum of all the forces in one lateral plane, and its about gaining a tactical advantage. The goal for any scrum is to provide ball in the appropriate channel from which to attack. A scrum that moves forward all day provides the best platform from which to attack. For the backs it means that eighteen (both scrum and halves) are confined to a small area and provides space in which to attack the opposition.
There are so many variables in a scrum. It’s eight versus eight and both the individuals and groups are trying to gain dominance- not just physical dominance, but psychological dominance. At the Foundation coaching level we talk about the scrum being stable, square, solid and synchronized.
There are a few tips that will aid coaches and lower the number of re-sets that are a plight on the game. These include:
• Build the scrum from the ground up. Start with the feet, and then work on the correct body shape.
• A stable base is generally the feet a little more than shoulder width. Once engaged, the legs should be ‘loaded’ so that they can generate and resist force.
• The binding on own team members and the opposition is imperative and a law requirement. The opposition props must bind on their opponents jersey and not the sleeve or the arm.
• The hips should be high (but below shoulder height under law) and provide an excellent surface on which team mates can push.
The requirements of scrum engagement are simple. Once the players are bound the referee will call “crouch”; “Touch-pause”; “engage”. The aim is to have both scrums at the same height; players focused on where their heads go; at the correct distance so that they can engage in one horizontal plane.
Too often we see front rows trying to out manoeuvre their opponents by setting up directly opposite, forcing their opponents to engage on an angle (with spines not in line); crowding their opponents to beat them to the ‘hit’; props driving in on hookers and the list goes on.
The things that referees continually need to focus on is whether they teams are abiding by the verbal instructions; whether their binds are correct prior to the feed and whether the scrum is stable and square prior to the feed. Any team can technically, physically and tactically beat their opponents once the scrum has been fed. It’s all a matter of practice and being able to adjust to opposition forces.
Lastly, the ‘Mayday scrum’ (safety procedure) has been in existence for about twenty years, yet players still claim no knowledge of it. This is an education issue for all coaches – regardless of the players playing level. Every coach must practice the process with their team as a priority item each year. The ‘Mayday’ is when a player fears for their life either post engagement or after the ball is fed. It is almost always going to be one of the tight-5 who makes the call, and it is essential that everyone in the scrum knows the process. If they do not know then the coach is ignoring their duty of care. SmartRugby provides excellent resources that will aid coaches and it is only when everyone is on the ‘same page’ that the incident of injury is reduced and playing for enjoyment is achieved.
Warren Robilliard
ARU Coach Education Manager
COACHING ACCREDITATION
Staying Accredited
On an annual basis coaches claim their ignorance in espousing that they are ‘accredited’ when in fact their accreditation has expired. A coaching (and refereeing) accreditation, at Levels 1,2 and 3 are only good for four years, after which time they can be re-registered. An individual coach or referee can check their status directly on MyRugby which is located on the ARU website, www.rugby.com.au.
In the case of SmartRugby qualification, its only good for two years. The interesting change with SmartRugby is that there is the option to complete an on-line version once the coach/referee has attended the face-to-face session.
This is how it all works. SmartRugby underpins everything. No one can coach or referee tackle variants of the game without it. For a coach/referee who attends a session in the first half of 2008, they will be qualified for the 2008 and 2009 season.
Those who attend a session in the second half of 2008 are covered for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. However, to attend a session in the second half of the year the individual must have been current in the first half of the years as this is when the great majority of Rugby is played. The expiry date in all cases is 31 December, 20XX.
In regard to ‘accreditation’ which is competency based, and registered with the Australian Sports Commission, they are valid for four years. Once again, the expiry date will be 31 December 20XX. Coaches can automatically re-qualify for re-registration depending on what they have coached during their period of registration. Renewal and updating information can be found on the ARU website under Community Rugby. Under the heading any individual can find what competencies they are assessed against.
‘Assessors’ are registered with the ARU having attended an Assessors Course. Coaches or referees whose accreditation lapses can be re-assessed against the criteria, as long as they at working at the appropriate level. Any queries can be channelled through the State Union Coaching or Refereeing Manager.
Warren Robilliard
ARU Coach Education Manager
PROFILES
- ARU Re-structure -
Ian Alker
There has recently been a re-structure within Community Rugby at the ARU with our current GM, Geoff (Bunter) Shaw moving back to Brisbane as Project Leader of the National Rugby Academy at Ballymore from 1st October. Geoff has done an outstanding job over the last six years as GM and everyone wishes him a fond farewell from Sydney. His replacement is Ian Alker who has been the Head of Events and Venues for the last 6 years. Ian played his Rugby at The Armidale School and represented NSW Schools before heading to Canberra University and then played and worked for the Northern Suburbs club in Sydney as a Development Manager before moving into Events at the NSWRU then SOCOG and then to the ARU.
Rugby experience?
• Played rugby from 12 years old to 30 years old
• Coached the Northern Suburbs Under 16 team for one year
• Northern Suburbs Rugby Union Club Youth Development Officer 1992-93
What are your qualifications (coaching/officiating level)?
• Level 2 Coach (currently expired)
How did you get involved in refereeing/coaching?
• started playing when I went to high school
Your rugby career highlight?
• Playing some junior representative rugby – Australian Under 17’s (1986); NSW Schools 1st XV 1987; NSW U/19 1988; ACT U/21 1990; ACT – 2 caps (1991)
• Stuart McDougall Medal Winner – B+F player in ACTRU Comp 1990
• Captain North’s (Canberra) first grade 1990
• Co-captain Northern Suburbs (Sydney) first grade 1993
• Over 100 grade games – Northern Suburbs
Your future aspirations?
• I would like to coach a Club grade or colts team at some point in the future
• Most likely coach my kids teams at some point
Coaching / Officiating idol/role model? Why?
• Coaching role model – I have admiration for Paul Roos
Other interests aside from Rugby?
• Family – 3 kids under 5 years
• Other sports such as AFL, Cricket
• Playing golf & tennis
• Gardening
