Match officials communication update

The August 2004 issue of Coaching & Officiating News, included an article on communication for match officials. In particular, this article focused on the need for communication to be accurate, brief and clear in order for it to be effective. 

Since then, the International Rugby Board (IRB) has produced a protocol for match official communication and this protocol has been adopted for use in community rugby within Australia. The aim of this protocol is to provide a consistent approach and guidelines for communication for referees and touch judges at all levels of the game.

The protocol was distributed to state refereeing staff earlier in the year, however to ensure that all coaches, referees and touch judges involved in the game are aware of the protocol, a summary of the protocol is provided below.

The theme of this protocol is “Less is Best”.  A good communicator will keep his communication short and sharp and uses it only when necessary.  The communication should also be relevant to the event that is taking place. Too many times do we hear referees constantly talking throughout a match with the resultant effect that players take no notice of what is being said to them.

Referee Communication Guidelines

When explaining decisions, referees should be succinct and wherever possible use the language of the Law Book. For example -  

• blue 6 offside” or penalty kick to white”
• “Knock on by blue 6, no advantage, scrum white throw in.”
• “Blue 6 in front of ten metre line, penalty kick here or scrum back to white.”

The explanation should be accompanied by the appropriate secondary signal.

Preventative statements should be used as single accurate statements and used sparingly throughout the match.

Whilst the ball is in play the preferred communication method is to use the team’s name or colour plus the number of the player.  The use of a player’s name should not take place.

Referees may say “play on” when the ball can be played after rucks and collapsed mauls i.e. artificial offside lines should not operate.

Referees should not engage in conversation with players other than the captain and then only to address specific issues.  Referees should make this clear to the captains before the match.  Offenders should be penalised. Referees should use down time to address specific issues with individual players.

Foul language should never be used

It is important to note that referees communication style is part of the personality of the referee and it is vital that the referee is able to utilise his unique style.  The above represents a set of guidelines to assist referees in communicating in an acceptable manner.

Touch Judge and Team of Three Communication Guidelines

The referee has responsibility and the accountability for the match and for his decisions.  He may take assistance from the touch judges in accordance with the protocol, but the match referee has the ultimate responsibility for all decisions.

The primary and secondary duties of a touch judge relate to the decision in respect of

• Touch
• Touch-in-goal
• Dead ball line
• Kicks at goal
• Foul play

Any other forms of assistance to the referee are tertiary and must not intrude on the primary and secondary duties.  Touch judges must be aware that their positional play relative to the primary and secondary duties often precludes other assistance.

Touch judges should not give visual signals to confirm or negate tries.

The touch judge should always signal for foul play irrespective of whether the touch judge believes that the referee has seen the offence(s).  The touch judge and referee should then communicate in the following manner:

       The touch judge gives number and team of offending player (or team only if the player cannot be identified).  However, it is important for touch judges to concentrate on the offence/offender until the number can be identified).  The referee may request a sanction recommendation i.e., Severe reprimand, formal caution and temporary suspension, or send off.  The touch judge should only provide a recommendation when requested to by the referee.   The referee should then repeat the information provided back to the touch judge.  This will ensure that the correct information is provided and acted upon. 

The touch judge may also advise the referee at stoppages in play of trends in the game e.g. back line close to offside line, preventative warning necessary, or check tackled players to ensure release of the ball.  Touch judges may, if requested and where appropriate communication equipment is available in a match, communicate to the referee any clear and real infringement to which the referee is un-sighted and where the infringement has a critical effect.

Touch judges should not communicate to the referee the touch judge’s view on marginal decisions relating to forward passes, knock-ons, off-sides, crooked-in to scrum/line-out etc.

The touch judge should not shout instructions at players at ruck and maul; Particularly at ruck post tackle e.g. “roll away”, “on your feet”.  In these areas  touch judges should concentrate primarily on foul play, and then offside lines. This does not preclude a touch judge from communicating with players in an unobtrusive manner to prevent further infringements relating to foul play.

Scrum management remains the responsibility of the referee.  Assistance, if requested, may be given.

Referees may confirm 'close' touch down awards with the touch judge by eye contact and verbal confirmation.  The touch judge should remain on the touch in goal line while try is signalled.

Touch judges by placing themselves correctly and by discreet communications with players, will be able to assist in the preventive management of off side lines at scrum and line-out and to a lesser extent at ruck and maul.

This protocol does not preclude touch judges from providing encouragement and positive support to the referee.

 If requested by the referee in his pre-match briefing, the touch judges may use key words and phrases that assist the referee with match management.