Development Leagues

[SimonSmith]

My challenge is that each team will see the same opponent on a three week cycle.

Try managing grudges across that timespan.

 

[crossref]

Q. In a development game should the ref be
A.. more inclined to issue cards for dangerous play
B.. less inclined to issue cards for dangerous play
C.. makes no difference
?

I suspect that the correct answer is C but in practice it's often B

 

[BikingBud]

so I think we have so far
- heightened awareness of safety - especially to the possibility that players may be unwittingly putting themselves or others at risk
- more time and willingness to explain decisions, - acknowledging that players genuinely may not understand
- more preventative calls to reduce offending
- some coaching - to improve saftey and also to reduce offending

Could we add perhaps
- lower tolerance for 'trash talking' (goading/gloating etc)

Why would you accept trash talking in any game development or league?

 

[chbg]

Q. In a development game should the ref be
A.. more inclined to issue cards for dangerous play
B.. less inclined to issue cards for dangerous play
C.. makes no difference
?

I suspect that the correct answer is C but in practice it's often B

A and B.

A for the more experienced / rougher players.
B for the less experienced, accident-prone players.

 

[Dave Elliott]

As a for instance, I recently did a ladies development league game, and I gave a bit more instruction about what I wanted from the players, so more preventative refereeing and a bit more explanation of what they were doing wrong. Similar to how you would ref M&J.

However one of the players asked me if I could let a bit more go, as it was a development game (I am guessing knock-ons, slightly forward passes). My answer was no, because its a league game, so you still need to adhere to the laws, but I will try and assist you in understanding those laws.

Was this the correct approach? How do other people manage it?

I had the same in the IRG which has a development league. Some how it was ranked 8, but within minutes it was obvious it was an 11.
Scrum was a fast, every line out not straight which led to another scrum!!
Ended up not calling the not straight and managing the scrums. The loose head was coaching the oppo tight head how to scrimmage while engaged!!
Was never unsafe though so continued contested. Very low skill level but then a lot of players had never played before

 

[tim White]

If I know a player is seeing a red mist and clearly agitated I will speak to the Captain and explain what I have seen. I will make sure the Captain understands that the player is on my radar and I will be watching them like a hawk. I will then ask the Captain to speak to them and calm them down.

More often than not this will lead to the player being interchanged.

I have asked a Coach if he would 'Like to sub a particular player before someone gets hurt and/or Red Carded' -he did.