Simon Griffiths
Referees in England
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MATCH TYPE Hampshire 2 League
LEVEL 10 DATE 26th January 2008
MATCH RESULT Millbrook (22 pts) -v- Nomads (3 pts)
1. CHALLENGE OF THE MATCH:
A dry pitch, soft underfoot with a light wind blowing up the pitch. These two mid-table Hampshire 2 clubs were committed and enthusiastic, but mostly bereft of any tactical awareness or consistent patterns of play. With their young fast backs Millbrook wanted to play at pace and with expansive ambitions, which materialised with four backs’ tries.
Both teams struggled for fitness as the match went on, and in some cases even a basic knowledge of some Laws was lacking.
Simon’s major challenge on the day was to keep the contact areas ‘clean’ and with careful management of offside lines allow space for whatever play there was to develop –he did the latter well, but allowed too much interference at the tackle and ruck transition phases. Overall his clear communication & assertive refereeing established a good framework for the match. However it is crucial to recognise escalating and repetitive problems (e..g post tackle / ruck offences), and take appropriate sanctions (three yellow cards could have been correct sanctions – one in each half to Nomads and one to the Millbrook prop for a 5m out [red zone] ‘defensive hands-in’).
Match Stats [Millbrook FH/SH Nomads FH/SH] PK 5/4 7/9; SC 4/7 7/10; LO 7/6 5/7
One critical incident occurred in the first half, with chased ball going into Nomads goal area. Simon made three correct decisions at once regarding chasing players and grounding of ball by defender first. Good positioning – well done.
2. MATCH MANAGEMENT:
Simon had good empathy with the players and used his communication skills to good effect. The players were in no doubt as to his decisions (even if they didn’t know on occasions the Law he was correctly applying). Both his verbals and signals were crisp and well timed, but I do advise less ‘excitement’ in tone of voice for his preventative calls (‘hands off’, ‘back foot’, etc) – be cool & calm but yet assertive, which is a better approach than escalating volumes and urgency.
Simon was at most contact and breakdown points, spotting the first offences in 70% of cases, but his fitness and speed was not good enough on too many occasions for even for this pretty low standard level 10 match.
He did play advantage well and allowed the correct time for play to develop for scrum and penalty advantages, before either allowing the advantage or returning to the offence.
A last minute altercation (which had been brewing for some time) was handled well and a red card for punching correctly awarded.
PLEASE ASSESS THE REFEREE’S MATCH MANAGEMENT USING THE CRITERIA: MD
3. THE REFEREE’S POTENTIAL:
Simon demonstrated that he was comfortable at this level, but needs to raise his fitness levels and change of pace before contemplating the challenges of higher levels. He has the management control, and clear decision making needed, but until he can consistently be at the breakdown in open play, he may miss key offences / decisions. His level of player empathy, clear management controls, and well balanced decision-making will hold him in good stead once he gets fit, and with a better off-the-mark speed needed for the higher levels that should come his way in the future.
4. KEY COMPONENTS
TACKLE
ADVANTAGE
RUCK
MAUL
KICKS
SCRUM
LINE-OUT
AREAS TO DEVELOP - Please select up to three of the above units to outline areas that need to be developed using the Key Components Descriptors.
Tackle / Ruck – Simon allowed too much latitude in the post-tackle and ruck transition at times. Some slow tackler roll away, tackled player holding on and players arriving & going to deck were evident on occasions, and correctly penalised, but yellow cards should have been used to eliminate this negative play. On other occasions Simon was not there early enough to see the first offence(s) and slow ball / uncompleted ruck occurred.
You must get to the contact earlier and establish the clear phases, waiting for each one to be complied with before moving to the next. 1. tackler release & away 2. tackled play the ball 3. arriving players on their feet and thru gate 4. ruck formed ‘hands off’ release.
Scrum – overall Simon managed the scrum well – CTPE, SH throw in, back foot and back row bindings were all good. He correctly penalised Nomads #3 for driving up. However he missed Nomads #3 and Millbrook #1 spending the last 20 minutes standing up at 45 degrees / driving under each other and changing their binds, when on his blind side.
Look across the FR backs – are they parallel to ground and with touchline – can you see anyone at an angle of drive, higher or bent back, etc ?If you cansee it, or suspect it then get round to that ‘blind side’ immediately SH has thrown ball in. Penalise as appropriate (defending side is often the culprit).
Ruck / Maul – Simon needs to get greater movement and flexibility of view with his ruck/maul positioning.
Once you have got compliance and the ball is won, get out much further away from the SH/FH pass and runners channels. This will open up your view and spot back foot offsides, players slipping up the side, and players in at the side. Keep on your toes and work both sides of the rucks/mauls throughout the match – do not get into a false comfort zone.
REFEREE’S STRENGTHS - Please select up to three of the above units to outline the referee’s strengths in this match, using the Key Components descriptors.
Offside Lines – Simon used good preventative verbals at tackle, ruck, maul, scrum and line out. This kept space open for some play to develop in an otherwise dour match. Where appropriate he penalised instead of warning.
Lineout – Simon established his clear requirements from the start and all components were managed well throughout the match.
Always ask your self why you do things – “why am I at the back if every throw has gone to the front jumpers so far ?”
Advantage – both scrum and penalty advantages offered and taken in some cases. When no advantage accrued, Simon promptly called play back to the original offence at the correct place.
LEVEL 10 DATE 26th January 2008
MATCH RESULT Millbrook (22 pts) -v- Nomads (3 pts)
1. CHALLENGE OF THE MATCH:
A dry pitch, soft underfoot with a light wind blowing up the pitch. These two mid-table Hampshire 2 clubs were committed and enthusiastic, but mostly bereft of any tactical awareness or consistent patterns of play. With their young fast backs Millbrook wanted to play at pace and with expansive ambitions, which materialised with four backs’ tries.
Both teams struggled for fitness as the match went on, and in some cases even a basic knowledge of some Laws was lacking.
Simon’s major challenge on the day was to keep the contact areas ‘clean’ and with careful management of offside lines allow space for whatever play there was to develop –he did the latter well, but allowed too much interference at the tackle and ruck transition phases. Overall his clear communication & assertive refereeing established a good framework for the match. However it is crucial to recognise escalating and repetitive problems (e..g post tackle / ruck offences), and take appropriate sanctions (three yellow cards could have been correct sanctions – one in each half to Nomads and one to the Millbrook prop for a 5m out [red zone] ‘defensive hands-in’).
Match Stats [Millbrook FH/SH Nomads FH/SH] PK 5/4 7/9; SC 4/7 7/10; LO 7/6 5/7
One critical incident occurred in the first half, with chased ball going into Nomads goal area. Simon made three correct decisions at once regarding chasing players and grounding of ball by defender first. Good positioning – well done.
2. MATCH MANAGEMENT:
Simon had good empathy with the players and used his communication skills to good effect. The players were in no doubt as to his decisions (even if they didn’t know on occasions the Law he was correctly applying). Both his verbals and signals were crisp and well timed, but I do advise less ‘excitement’ in tone of voice for his preventative calls (‘hands off’, ‘back foot’, etc) – be cool & calm but yet assertive, which is a better approach than escalating volumes and urgency.
Simon was at most contact and breakdown points, spotting the first offences in 70% of cases, but his fitness and speed was not good enough on too many occasions for even for this pretty low standard level 10 match.
He did play advantage well and allowed the correct time for play to develop for scrum and penalty advantages, before either allowing the advantage or returning to the offence.
A last minute altercation (which had been brewing for some time) was handled well and a red card for punching correctly awarded.
PLEASE ASSESS THE REFEREE’S MATCH MANAGEMENT USING THE CRITERIA: MD
3. THE REFEREE’S POTENTIAL:
Simon demonstrated that he was comfortable at this level, but needs to raise his fitness levels and change of pace before contemplating the challenges of higher levels. He has the management control, and clear decision making needed, but until he can consistently be at the breakdown in open play, he may miss key offences / decisions. His level of player empathy, clear management controls, and well balanced decision-making will hold him in good stead once he gets fit, and with a better off-the-mark speed needed for the higher levels that should come his way in the future.
4. KEY COMPONENTS
TACKLE
ADVANTAGE
RUCK
MAUL
KICKS
SCRUM
LINE-OUT
AREAS TO DEVELOP - Please select up to three of the above units to outline areas that need to be developed using the Key Components Descriptors.
Tackle / Ruck – Simon allowed too much latitude in the post-tackle and ruck transition at times. Some slow tackler roll away, tackled player holding on and players arriving & going to deck were evident on occasions, and correctly penalised, but yellow cards should have been used to eliminate this negative play. On other occasions Simon was not there early enough to see the first offence(s) and slow ball / uncompleted ruck occurred.
You must get to the contact earlier and establish the clear phases, waiting for each one to be complied with before moving to the next. 1. tackler release & away 2. tackled play the ball 3. arriving players on their feet and thru gate 4. ruck formed ‘hands off’ release.
Scrum – overall Simon managed the scrum well – CTPE, SH throw in, back foot and back row bindings were all good. He correctly penalised Nomads #3 for driving up. However he missed Nomads #3 and Millbrook #1 spending the last 20 minutes standing up at 45 degrees / driving under each other and changing their binds, when on his blind side.
Look across the FR backs – are they parallel to ground and with touchline – can you see anyone at an angle of drive, higher or bent back, etc ?If you cansee it, or suspect it then get round to that ‘blind side’ immediately SH has thrown ball in. Penalise as appropriate (defending side is often the culprit).
Ruck / Maul – Simon needs to get greater movement and flexibility of view with his ruck/maul positioning.
Once you have got compliance and the ball is won, get out much further away from the SH/FH pass and runners channels. This will open up your view and spot back foot offsides, players slipping up the side, and players in at the side. Keep on your toes and work both sides of the rucks/mauls throughout the match – do not get into a false comfort zone.
REFEREE’S STRENGTHS - Please select up to three of the above units to outline the referee’s strengths in this match, using the Key Components descriptors.
Offside Lines – Simon used good preventative verbals at tackle, ruck, maul, scrum and line out. This kept space open for some play to develop in an otherwise dour match. Where appropriate he penalised instead of warning.
Lineout – Simon established his clear requirements from the start and all components were managed well throughout the match.
Always ask your self why you do things – “why am I at the back if every throw has gone to the front jumpers so far ?”
Advantage – both scrum and penalty advantages offered and taken in some cases. When no advantage accrued, Simon promptly called play back to the original offence at the correct place.
