Had a senior match today (friendly), very boring to ref - one side played like frikkin' idiots and were totally outclassed by the opposition (80-odd nil in the the end)
Anyway, to the point....
My management style - which I explain to capts, SH etc. before the game is that I won't call every ruck, every maul, every lineout over, every "ball out of scrum", lines straight etc... I'm there to ref, not be a TV commentor, they are there to play. I won't get into the situation where they claim they did something because they'd previously relied on me to hold their hands. Obviously at lower ages I do more preventative stuff (before you ask!)
So....
Green (the side who ran out the winners) were awarded penalty (irrelevant what for)
Purple (the muppets) go back what they think is 10m (it happens to be OK too)
A purple greek chorus then chirps up behind me "ref, are we back 10m?"
I was dealing with the opp. player taking the penalty (not a kick at goal) at the time (chatting to him about something I'd seen him do that I didn't like). I turn and tell them I am speaking to the opposition player and please wait.
The greek chorus just gets louder, their capt. tells his players to shut up, greek chorus keeps going. But, behaving like little children they want my attention, and they want it now.
On reflection I "gave up" on them at that point, they were being trounced and not listening - and beyond sending about 6 of them off and making a mockery of the game to which I would be blamed, I just decided that nothing I could do would change their behaviour so they deserved the trouncing - i.e the punishment was to stay on the pitch!
I did ATP, used cards, called capts over, etc.etc.. but felt I was on a hiding to nothing and it was just one of those nightmare games that I daresay we all get.
It really was a mismatch at all levels.... how have others coped in these situations?
Anyway, to the point....
My management style - which I explain to capts, SH etc. before the game is that I won't call every ruck, every maul, every lineout over, every "ball out of scrum", lines straight etc... I'm there to ref, not be a TV commentor, they are there to play. I won't get into the situation where they claim they did something because they'd previously relied on me to hold their hands. Obviously at lower ages I do more preventative stuff (before you ask!)
So....
Green (the side who ran out the winners) were awarded penalty (irrelevant what for)
Purple (the muppets) go back what they think is 10m (it happens to be OK too)
A purple greek chorus then chirps up behind me "ref, are we back 10m?"
I was dealing with the opp. player taking the penalty (not a kick at goal) at the time (chatting to him about something I'd seen him do that I didn't like). I turn and tell them I am speaking to the opposition player and please wait.
The greek chorus just gets louder, their capt. tells his players to shut up, greek chorus keeps going. But, behaving like little children they want my attention, and they want it now.
On reflection I "gave up" on them at that point, they were being trounced and not listening - and beyond sending about 6 of them off and making a mockery of the game to which I would be blamed, I just decided that nothing I could do would change their behaviour so they deserved the trouncing - i.e the punishment was to stay on the pitch!
I did ATP, used cards, called capts over, etc.etc.. but felt I was on a hiding to nothing and it was just one of those nightmare games that I daresay we all get.
It really was a mismatch at all levels.... how have others coped in these situations?
