Cold.....very cold

[Andrew1974]

I've just got home from refereeing this weeks match. Good natured, if a little one sided.

The pitch was in good condition, no snow (despite plenty to be found around the country) and the ground was certainly not frozen BUT today I have been the coldest I have ever been in my life....outside temp was 1C but there was a significant wind chill...it certainly felt a let colder, my game finished 1 1/2 hours ago, and my fingers still feel a little numb!

So, my question, has anyone every had a game called off because of the cold? (Rather than frozen pitch or snow.)


Andrew

 

[Phil E]

Stop moaning, at least you had a game! :wink:


........and the answer is no.

 

[colesy]

At the risk of a Hampshire harrumph, my winter weight base layers are going on tomorrow. I dare say some of the U16s might even be wearing leggings.

 

[Davet]

Do more running - it keeps you warm.

 

[Ciaran Trainor]

I've been in a few games over the years as a player and a ref where the score gap is sufficient to say will that do lads? let's get in the bar

 

[Toby Warren]

When it's cold I struggle with the fine moto skills.

Binned one yesterday had to turn over my score card to write the details - took 3 attempts!

Ref in gloves?

 

[Browner]

So, my question, has anyone every had a game called off because of the cold? (Rather than frozen pitch or snow.)

Andrew

I'm aware of a U16 County Cup final started in atrociously cold/windy conditions, game was abandoned c60 mins. I'm sure the referee was under pressure to start it due to the logistical organisation of the host club !

 

[Ciaran Trainor]

When it's cold I struggle with the fine moto skills.

Binned one yesterday had to turn over my score card to write the details - took 3 attempts!

Ref in gloves?

Regulary Toby, don't care what the assessor thinks Wollen Fingerless type. If I'd have reffed this week would have considered tracksuit and hat!!

 

[OB..]

Years ago I started in a 3rd XV match with freezing rain that turned to sleet. After a while we all agreed to give up, and returned to the club house to find that the 1st XVs had given up 10 minutes earlier and used all the hot water.

 

[Agustin]

On cold days I've sported gloves ever since the day my fingers were so numb it took me 30 seconds ( = an eternity!) to pull the red card out of its holder because my fingers were so numb!

 

[Browner]

Years ago I started in a 3rd XV match with freezing rain that turned to sleet. After a while we all agreed to give up, and returned to the club house to find that the 1st XVs had given up 10 minutes earlier and used all the hot water.

Not surprising, better players usually make cleverer decisions & nearly always get there quicker ! :wink:

 

[didds]

I have a mental image of you apologising to the player that you are taking a while to red card him

didds

 

[matty1194]

Yesterdays game, the weather conditions before game had the temp gauge at -1 , having completed my warm up and spoken to both teams, it took a good 20 minutes for me to get feeling back in my fingers, so I dived into my bag and pulled out my Karrimor thin gloves, £3 well actually £2.99 for our Yorkshire members.

Hands were warm all game, legs were a funny shade of purple, even allowed skins to be worn, better to have a game with some wearing skins than not have a game at all.

 

[Rushforth]

Two very cold games this weekend. Both 30 minutes each way, Saturday U17; Sunday because KO was delayed by 20 minutes. The AR (yours truly) to the previous match had already started a beer inside when informed that the expected ref had not turned up!

But nothing compared to the time we played on a partially-frozen cow pasture where it was considered more pleasant to be tackled (or tackle) on the icy bits. Especially once there was ... no warm water for showers.

 

[Simon Thomas]

I went to observe a L6 referee with Group aspirations.

pre-match away side (from sarf London had a Zimbawean (English heritage) #10 who was wearing leggings - 10 mins before match he asked referee if he could wear them (I was there doing comms check) o check with me, as away side coach had already told him to not play in them. Big girl's blouse.

After two minutes play, home side wing seen to be wearing leggings and home skipper told to make him get them off - a replacement was made (as he had tape round them needing cutting) and he came back on at half time without leggings !

I had full wet / cold weather gear on, including RFU Gilbert anorak (good on skiing trip this year to -10 !) and multiple layers underneath - and was still very cold.

Home club President had arranged whisky & hot water for both teams and referee (and me) for immediately we got back to dressing rooms - he is a medical consultant (specialism veins !)

- - - Updated - - -

even allowed skins to be worn, better to have a game with some wearing skins than not have a game at all.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat ! Hurrrrrrumph

 

[matty1194]

Unfortunatly Simon T, a cold weather injury does not discriminate age or gender and I understand the provisons set out regarding the wearing of leggings/skins/tights etc. However on this occasion with the weather in the minus and the wind chill a major factor, I made a sensible decision to allow them to be worn, having seen up close and personal the effects of various cold weather injuries from amputation to crippling loss of use and suffered a minor cold weather injury myself to my feet due to work conditions.

Presumbly this would be a major no no in RFU land, but common sense dictated in this situation, and i guess the fact I wore a long sleeve top and thin gloves myself would have resulted in a "word" from a more learned collegue/assesor.

 

[Simon Thomas]

matty - there is no tongue in cheek icon for me to have used, and regulars on here know all about the record thread on this topic.

if wearing leggings and you in long-sleeve top / gloves was appropriate in your match on Scotland on the day, then so be it. I was at a L6 match in warmer Southern England, which is relatively serious rugby with medical teams, fitness coaches, etc and very fit young men playing. The conditions were not bad enough to have any danger of severe cold weather injuries, but if they were in your case good call.

I do know exactly what you are talking about as I have had extensive experience of sub-zero temperatures during academic research in Iceland and Greenland (in pre-Gortex days), and relevant emergency medical training. Plus 20 years + of regular visits to the Alps at 2,000m + in January/February make one respect the cold and snow/ice conditions.

 

[smeagol]

Not the same level of cold, but:

Yesterday, I refereed at a tournament where the temperature never got above 50F (10C). No tights, but when you have 1-2 hours between matches, the wind was particuarly biting. As I left the tournament around 6pm, I saw that both myself and my significant other were sunburnt!

The uber-cold came the next day, when I had to drive through: a thunderstorm, sleet, and the winter storm slamming the midwest. What was a three-hour trip down there, took five hours coming back.