Rescuing A LowSkill Game

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Rescuing A Low-Skill Game

• Nathan Pearce

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Rescuing a Low Skill Game

• Hands up if youve ever refereed a game that
  wasnt what you expected, gone pear-shaped, lost
  direction!
• VIDEO ONE
• VIDEO TWO

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Rescuing a Low Skill Game

• Discuss expectation vs reality
• Identify areas where we can make a difference
• Identify how we can focus our energies to retain
  or restore quality in these areas

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Expectation vs Reality

• No matter what level you referee, sometimes the
  game loses direction
• Unrealistic expectations
• Below-par team performances
• External influences, eg. weather
• Once we realise our plans are defunct, where to
  from there??

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Areas we can make a difference

• Set pieces
• Scrum, Lineout and Restarts
• General play
• Faster, slower? Dealing with low-skill level
• Advantage
• When, where and how much?
• Control / Foul Play
• Communications, Tolerences, Allies and Game Speed

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Focus - Set Piece

• Take your time these can be allies!
• If they are working, use them. If not
• Identify problem areas/culprits
• Plan B
• Plan C
• Plan D
• Or develop and stick with a reliable Plan A

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Focus - General Play

• Be deliberate with your level of involvement
• The length of the leash
• Most importantly time and space
• Stay close to the game be there, be fit!
• Decisions - quick and accurate

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Focus - Advantage

• Short vs Long
• Lots vs Little
• Minor Adv vs Major Adv
• Foul Play Advantage
• Players on ground
• The effect of pressure on players
• Structure vs Continuity continuum
• Become an advantage expert!

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Focus - Control/Foul Play

• Have an absolute benchmark of acceptability
• To escalate or not to escalate?
• Communication when? More or less?
• Allies - your resources and assets
• Control the game speed
• Incident responsibility association timeline

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Conclusion

• Try and give teams time and space
• Have a thorough plan, or good back-up plans for
  set pieces
• Work out what are your allies, and use them
• Become an advantage expert
• Questions???

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