Shirt choice

[JJ10]

Hi there guys,

I'm new to these forums and to refereeing but have been playing for most of my 21 years!
I have completed the ELRA 1&2 and just waiting on being assessed to get Stage 3 done.

Just wondering what you guys would recommend for shirt selection - I'd like, whoever I'm reffing to look the business, as a player I was always more like to push a ref if he looked crap.:bday: Managed to pick up an RFU level 5 jersey on eBay. Would you recommend either unpicking or sewing over the bit that says "L5" on it?

Any tips for this Sunday? Helping out my local club doing a u13 cup game (not society appointed) Before an adult game back in Devon the week after.

Cheers

 

[loten10]

I would say that shirt choice is important as if you turn up in any old shirt then you not look the part. Personally I would be wary to wear a shirt that is a L5 one as you this will probably be picked up by assessors if they watch you. Personally I would say that a L5 shirt is something to aspire to and earn. If you are planning on joining a local society I would wear their shirts as then you really do look the part. Until you join just wear a shirt that doesn't clash with either side and then get society kit asap.

As to your game at the weekend, enjoy your U13 game as it should be fairly easy. It could be used as an opportunity to practice what you want to do for your adult game, positioning, whistle tone etc.

For your adult game remember to set your stall out early, don't take any rubbish from the players even though you'll be flying by the seat of your pants. Don't be afraid to use your whistle. Remember what it says at the start of the law book as guiding principles (well at least it used to). Safety, equity, law. First, make sure the game is safe, second, are you being fair to both sides and then lastly are you applying the law. Remember to enjoy it as well!! Don't panic if there is loads of blood, I had a spectator come and whack a player for my first ever senior match so hopefully yours will be smoother than that.

Hope this helps.

 

[oldman]

Have a look at Lovell rugby's teamwear section usually have some good single colour shirts, and cheap

 

[dave_clark]

As to your game at the weekend, enjoy your U13 game as it should be fairly easy.

wow, that's a way to get someone to walk away when they don't find their first match a walk in the park!

JJ10 - read around these forums for first match advice. you may feel lost, you may feel like things are happening around you rather than under your control. these are normal first match outcomes. match two is easier, and match three even more so.

(i watch immediate post ELRA referees, many of who are young).

 

[JJ10]

I only got the L5 shirt as it is bright yellow and was half the price of the ones on Lovell - being a student is a tough life. I'll just stitch/unpick the L5 bit and then can sew it back in once i get there(!) Plus it was going to be a while till the society could get me a shirt - thought this was the best way of doing it.

Thanks for the advice though. Have been looking forward to getting reffing, will continue to trawl the forums.

 

[crossref]

The RFU do a ELRA Referee shirt!

I've uploaded the order form to google docs here

https://docs.google.com/open?id=1tYZ6gJ2xuWjXGkIq_UMR3YBEvtwV14CU1wuyqu9JOLTkzMpQkCwZuUZTp4HC

 

[JJ10]

The RFU do a ELRA Referee shirt!

I've uploaded the order form to google docs here

https://docs.google.com/open?id=1tYZ6gJ2xuWjXGkIq_UMR3YBEvtwV14CU1wuyqu9JOLTkzMpQkCwZuUZTp4HC

I have been looking for that for ages - multiple searches on google and RFU, but couldn't find it. Ah well. But, even if i had, £24.99 plus a fiver postage?! I managed to get an RFU branded one, looks just like that, Gilbert, Second Hand (admittedly with the L5 bit on!) for 11 quid inc postage. Cant argue with that in my overdrawn state!

But thanks for the link. I'll hold out for my society to get hold of one for me and wear the yellow RFU one in the meantime.

 

[crossref]

I have been looking for that for ages - multiple searches on google and RFU, but couldn't find it..

they are not on the website -- they are distributed by secret email, on a need to know basis.

I am not joking!

(well I am a little, I actually emailed my contact in the ref dept at the RFU earlier this season; at first he thought they were discontinued as he couldn't find anything about them either, then a week or two later he found them after all and emailed me the form)

 

[PaulDG]

Any tips for this Sunday? Helping out my local club doing a u13 cup game...

1. Unless you're absolutely sure of the changing arrangements, go changed. The last thing you need is to be changing in an area shared with 12 year olds - you could end up in very deep water!

2. Make sure you're aware of the variations (25 minutes each way, scrum must not be pushed more than 1.5 metres, not more than 45 degree rotation and same side put in if it does go 45 degrees. Scrum half offside line for the non-winning SH is the tunnel. No lifting in the line out. No squeeze ball. No extra time (except injury time) under any circumstances. (As it's a cup game, there's also likely to be a rule that the score difference must not exceed 50 points and the game is over if it does. If it does end in a draw, NO EXTRA TIME. Hopefully, the coaches will be aware of this but as they might be new to cup matches and might be ex-footballers, they might think there's a 10-min each way or "golden try" stage. There is NOT. Most likely the competition rules award an away win for drawn matches, but this is NOT YOUR PROBLEM. You just stop the game when the ball goes dead at the end of the second half and let the organisers sort it out.)

3. Be aware of the myths like "can't take the second one quick", "can't hand off to the face at U13", "can't do a quick throw in at U13" and, of course, "he's got to let him up" and "double movement". All of those are nonsense.

4. Kids at this age are unlikely to be cheating deliberately so keep your cards in your pocket for repeated offences.

5. Even though they won't be cheating on purpose, they're beyond the stage where they need lengthy explanations of your decisions. Just whistle properly (most beginner refs "apologise" for blowing the whistle - it needs to be heard by the furthest away child on the pitch and parent at the side line) and give a strong primary signal. They'll be grateful if you do what you've been trained to do (saying something like "Blue not rolling away") and then what they really want to know is just what you wanted to know when you played - "are we getting back 10 or are they?" Secondary signals are great if you can remember them, but most playing and watching don't know what they are so don't worry if you don't fit them in (or forget).

6. Watch for and penalise high tackles (or make it very clear you are playing advantage (a SHOUT of "High tackle, Advantage Red). You're likely to see quite a few of them as skill levels and fitness are likely to be low and as they get tired the tackles become lazy and higher. Don't be afraid of giving a Penalty Try if there's a high tackle close to the line and no other covering defence (remember you don't have to card an offender when giving a PT and, at this age, it's almost certainly not necessary).

And, of course, try to enjoy it!

 

[ianh5979]

Watch for and penalise high tackles (or make it very clear you are playing advantage (a SHOUT of "High tackle, Advantage Red).

I thought we were told not to play advantage for foul play at junior levels

 

[PaulDG]

I thought we were told not to play advantage for foul play at junior levels

If you stop the game for every high tackle at U13, the second half will come to a complete standstill.

If it's dangerous, no advantage. There are degrees of this.

 

[crossref]

1. Unless you're absolutely sure of the changing arrangements, go changed. The last thing you need is to be changing in an area shared with 12 year olds - you could end up in very deep water!

2. Make sure you're aware of the variations (25 minutes each way, scrum must not be pushed more than 1.5 metres, not more than 45 degree rotation and same side put in if it does go 45 degrees. Scrum half offside line for the non-winning SH is the tunnel. No lifting in the line out. No squeeze ball. No extra time (except injury time) under any circumstances. (As it's a cup game, there's also likely to be a rule that the score difference must not exceed 50 points and the game is over if it does. If it does end in a draw, NO EXTRA TIME. Hopefully, the coaches will be aware of this but as they might be new to cup matches and might be ex-footballers, they might think there's a 10-min each way or "golden try" stage. There is NOT. Most likely the competition rules award an away win for drawn matches, but this is NOT YOUR PROBLEM. You just stop the game when the ball goes dead at the end of the second half and let the organisers sort it out.)

3. Be aware of the myths like "can't take the second one quick", "can't hand off to the face at U13", "can't do a quick throw in at U13" and, of course, "he's got to let him up" and "double movement". All of those are nonsense.

4. Kids at this age are unlikely to be cheating deliberately so keep your cards in your pocket for repeated offences.

5. Even though they won't be cheating on purpose, they're beyond the stage where they need lengthy explanations of your decisions. Just whistle properly (most beginner refs "apologise" for blowing the whistle - it needs to be heard by the furthest away child on the pitch and parent at the side line) and give a strong primary signal. They'll be grateful if you do what you've been trained to do (saying something like "Blue not rolling away") and then what they really want to know is just what you wanted to know when you played - "are we getting back 10 or are they?" Secondary signals are great if you can remember them, but most playing and watching don't know what they are so don't worry if you don't fit them in (or forget).

6. Watch for and penalise high tackles (or make it very clear you are playing advantage (a SHOUT of "High tackle, Advantage Red). You're likely to see quite a few of them as skill levels and fitness are likely to be low and as they get tired the tackles become lazy and higher. Don't be afraid of giving a Penalty Try if there's a high tackle close to the line and no other covering defence (remember you don't have to card an offender when giving a PT and, at this age, it's almost certainly not necessary).

And, of course, try to enjoy it!

this is great advice.
I'd only add that while I agree they won't exactly cheat deliberately, they will do things like creep offside when you're not looking at them, handle on the ground if they think you can't seem them, and throw the ball in crooked at the scrum if you let them, that sort of thing. So don't be naive
.

 

[Davet]

I would be wary of wearing a shirt to which you are not entitled, you are not an RFU referee, and wearing a shirt that says you are may lead to confusion. You wish to wear it to appear more experienced than you are, not necessarily a good move.

Just wear a single colour shirt that doesn't clash with the players (or rather does clash, in that it doesn't match...)

 

[ckuxmann]

If you need one PM and I'll send you a jersey I have a few that I don't use anymore, I won't be back in country till the 17th and won't have access with my stuff till the 21st so I can get it to you probs by the end of the month.

There is one condition if you take this by the way, that you continue reffing.

 

[JJ10]

Thanks very much for all the advice guys. As for the shirt, I've stitched over the bit that has the L5 bit on it so now it's just a yellow shirt with White hoop around the middle. I had no intention of looking more experienced than I was, it was literally the best priced shirt I could get a hand on until getting a society shirt. I'm hoping that no-one can get annoyed at this, especially now the L5 bit is gone. Unfortunately, all my other kit is either club or university branded! Not great when trying to look independent.

As for the game - will do my best and see how it goes, thanks for the specific advice on reffing youngsters. Hope to be doing 2 games a week by the end of Jan, so this is just the start!

JJ

 

[sgoat]

I would be wary of wearing a shirt to which you are not entitled, you are not an RFU referee, and wearing a shirt that says you are may lead to confusion. You wish to wear it to appear more experienced than you are, not necessarily a good move.

Just wear a single colour shirt that doesn't clash with the players (or rather does clash, in that it doesn't match...)

Completely agree with DaveT.

JJ as the shirt is an RFU one (i.e. it has the rose and posts logo I take it by your description) you are giving the impression you are an RFU referee. I appreciate that this is not the impression you are trying to give, but you are creating a rod for your own back. Believe me it will be sweeter once you've earned it and can wear it for real.

Nearly everyone who starts refereeing club rugby will start with whatever shirt they can find in the back of the wardrobe for the first few weeks till they can get hold of a proper one. Don't worry about this. What is important is how you come across to the players and the coaches. You need to appear cool, calm and collected. Just be yourself and be confident in your decision making (the players will not know if you're right or wrong!)

 

[Dickie E]

If I saw an U13 ref running around in Paddy O'Brien's old IRB shirt - I don't think I'd be led to believe he was anything more than what he was.

If the RFU had a problem with it, they wouldn't let stuff like this go on ebay.

 

[Taff]

If you need one PM and I'll send you a jersey I have a few that I don't use anymore ...

You deserve a pat on the back for that Cody. :clap:

 

[dave_clark]

doesn't the ELRA shirt have the RFU logo on?

 

[JJ10]

The RFU do a ELRA Referee shirt!

I've uploaded the order form to google docs here

https://docs.google.com/open?id=1tYZ6gJ2xuWjXGkIq_UMR3YBEvtwV14CU1wuyqu9JOLTkzMpQkCwZuUZTp4HC

doesn't the ELRA shirt have the RFU logo on?

yeah - looking at that order form, the only difference between the one i have now and that one is the posts on/around the rose, a white hoop instead of the blue panels, and the now covered up L5 bit! So i don't know what the problem is when you do a comparison.

whilst i can see how some might decide to get annoyed, at me illegitimately wearing an shirt i wasn't given, i'd say really that I'm only trying my best to get a half decent shirt before i can get one from society. I thought (rightly i think) that turning up in any old shirt is only going to lose respect - i know that especially at U16, colts and then adult rugby i always judged a ref before he ever opened his mouth/blew the whistle on what he turned up in. Certainly others did too! Every little helps, and (maybe even more importantly for me!) was dead cheap, over half the price of any plain shirt from lovell/morrant etc etc.

But again, these forums are great, so thanks for all the advice. I doubt a 12/13 yr old is going to care tomorrow anyway!