2/28/2009 Harvard @ University of Connecticut

In the first game of the New England season University of Connecticut welcomed Harvard for 3 30 minute periods of rugby - the first two making up a typical game and third being for the newbies (B side).

Don Morrison also came down from Worcester to coach/evaluate my refereeing, which turned out to be extremely valuable.

For this game I set about to work on my scrum infringement recognition, my positioning, and my control of the breakdown with respect to players keeping their feet.

From Don, I will steal the match report:

The halves were 30 minutes in duration. The game started out with Harvard demonstrating better skills than UConn. More specifically, early in the game UConn really struggled in their first-time venture (practice or otherwise) to the great outdoors of late winter in New England. As the game progressed, UConn began to get rhythm. They established dominance in forward play, especially at rucks, and thus they provided their backs with ample opportunity to attack. However, the transition from forwards to back (i.e. scrumhalf) was severely deficient. Equally important, or perhaps even more so, was the deficiency of UConn’s kicker for goals and for touch. Suffice to say, UConn lacked a couple of skilled positions or they would have easily dominated this game once they got the cobwebs out of their winter hiatus. Harvard was very good at capitalizing on their moments, and their kicker for conversion attempts was brilliant. Harvard deservedly won this closely contested game.

It should be added, UCONN scored their last try on full time to make the score 20-21, they missed the conversion....very close game.

Now, to hit on my goals for the day, there is a lot of discuss, but I want to hit the major stuff:

• Positioning - by and large I improved in this department as the game progressed, as indicated by my eval. Don mentioned at half time that the players were fringing, from my saddle position I had assumed these were marginal, and was communicating to the players to take a step, but since I was in the saddle position, I could not get convince them to take a step back. In the 45 degree position, however, the players would respond immediately (smart players....it is harvard after all).
• Scrummage Infringements - unfortunately the teams did not provide me much of a challenge.
• Breakdown management - per Don's eval, I managed this pretty well. There were a few infringements where I called hands in the ruck where it should have been side entry / killing to the other team. Just need more games to develop my imagery.

I also have the eval for my records, which presents every aspect of the in great detail.

B Side game:

I first went over the scrum engagement again, just to check, since many of the players were new to the scrum. It proved important as one player had a real tendency to have his head below his hips and not bind properly. I corrected him there, but I had to give him a bit more attention during the game, fortunately no penalties. My initial shock in refereeing this period was the serious difference in game knowledge between these newbies and the A side. Essentially every player was coming to the ruck and losing their feet immediately, coming in the side, and well in front of the last foot. I tried my best to communicate the infringements – but I think the players were simply ignorant to their sins. I would penalize if it had a real material effect – such as a turnover or offsides, but I tried to keep the game going as best I could. About 7 minutes in I had a chat with the captains to reiterate my points, gave them a list of 3 things to tell their teams “Last foot, Keep your feet, come in through the gate – I want to keep the game going but we have got to keep it safe” This approach seemed to have effect for a few minutes, but after that they resorted to their original habits.

2/14/2009 Raleigh B v. Fort Bragg

I went down for Raleigh, NC last weekend for a visit. When my older brother realized I was in town, and he had no referee assigned for his club's game, he asked me to officiate - mainly so he didn't have to do it. At any rate, I was happy to get a run in, considering my next game will be Mid-March (St. Paddy's Day in Savannah).

Fort Bragg is a D3 men's club, Raleigh is the 2007 D2 National Champion and is in the D1 playoffs this year - a mismatch as I'm sure you can imagine. The final scoreline, 67-5, was certainly not flattering to Fort Bragg, but considering the quality of opposition and how I have seen Bragg play in the past, I thought they did well as they blooded a few new players (front rowers) and had a numbers of other players waiting on the sideline aching to get into the mix.

A few notes on my performance in the game:

• My fitness is not where I thought it was.

I found myself much farther behind play than I used to be, maybe Crossfit (which I recently joined) is not doing what I thought it would for my running fitness, or maybe my rehabbing ankle had not been on a proper run for awhile. Maybe I was letting my thoughts slow me down as it had been awhile since my last game so I was debating my decisions more with myself....cant be sure, the reason I was behind is probably a combination of all three and the only solution is to referee more games (and maybe run more).

• Scrummage Infringement recognition improved.

This maybe have been due to the inexperience of the Bragg front rowers, but I spotted Raleigh coming in early a number of times, foot up, but no non straight feeds (I warned the halfback). I even had the halfbacks kick the ball back into the scrum twice...NUTS!

• One dangerous tackle

I had an upending tackle in the first minutes of the game and I responded with a loud intimidating whistle and chat with the offending captain (no card). No more foul play / high tackles for the rest of the game. I guess I showed where I stood pretty well....

• Halfback unhappy with my positioning

While refereeing the breakdown, I first take a position close to the ruck (behind, mobile) to find the ball, see that is won and usually retreat to the saddle and check the offsides. The Raleigh halfback, however, complained I was always blocking his line of sight to his flyhalf in my first position - effecting the game since he can't get vision before he passes the ball the second time he looks. I can see where the player is coming from, but the main thing I conclude from this criticism is that I was not varying my position enough. Or he was just a moaner.

• For the first time as a referee, I got knocked over this game - in a swinging tackle, it swung in a direction I did not expect, right by the goal line. Fortunately I regained my feet and was in position for the try a few seconds later. I figured I would be hearing a lot about my stumble after the game, but the only person who seemed to notice was my girlfriend (#1 fan).
• My brother scored a try.

12/06/2008 Toys for Tots Tournament, Charleston, SC

The week before this tournament was my last week of University before graduation, requiring the presentation of my senior projects and other such matter. In an unexpected event my team won 2nd place in the senior design competition for our tape measure and tool used to manufacture it (pictured). We were to win several hundred dollars but were also required to attend the awards ceremony. The awards were set to be given the night before this tournament in Raleigh (4 plus hours from Charleston, SC where the rugby tournament was located). I was the leader of the senior design team, obliged to attend.

Friday night also happened to be the "Hillsborough Hike," the traditional drinking challenge for graduating seniors from nc state - drinking a beer at every establishment along hillsborough street, which I was also obliged to partake in.

In sum, it was a challenge to wake up that saturday morning and cruise the 4 plus hour drive to charleston to referee my first game at 11 AM. As I arrived (at 11 am, on time) I discovered the teams (Citadel Women and Charleston Women) had already taken the field, fully kitted up and ready to go, waiting for me. So I rushed to the field, loaded up with my whistle and scorecard ready to go, sat down to tie my boots and SNAP - my left shoe lace split. Referees cannot be late, my boots are too small anyway, I took the field and started the game, one shoe totally untied. I remedied the problem at half time with my spare shoe laces. 

I refereed the following games:

Charleston Hurricanes v. Citadel Women

Columbia v. Citadel Men

Citadel B v. College of Charleston B

The most interesting event of the day was in the Columbia v. Citadel game, a "cavalry charge." 

First of all, the field was poorly lined, some white lines and some blue lines - used for soccer, track and field, and now rugby. As a player the try line was particularly confusing, there was a very faint white line about 2 meters beyond the actual try line (blue) - throughout the day I had a number of different players score to the white line instead of the actual try line.

At any rate, Citadel was awarded a penalty 5-10 meters out for hands in the ruck. They formed up for a tap and go in a "flying wedge" formation. The players began their run before the quick tap so I prepared to call the cavalry charge.....only for the scrumhalf (taking the quick tap) to pass to his flyhalf and not to any of the players running in the "wedge." The Columbia captain however, immediately protested, all of his players stopped playing, the citadel flyhalf then cut back inside through the wedge OVER THE TRYLINE.....but he was trying to reach the fake one, he was stopped and formed a "maul" (though a maul cannot exist in-goal) (the columbia captain still whining about the cavalry charge). A citadel player then dropped the ball to ground behind him, one his scrumhalf came up behind him and picked the ball up from the ground in the tryzone...I awarded the try....

In sum, maybe I should have stopped play when the flyhalf stepped back inside to the "wedge" of player congestion for accidental offsides...scrum to columbia....but columbia should really just respond to my whistle and not what infringements they think they see.....

I thought this day was an improvement over the some of the previous weekends when taking into to consideration my interpretation of offsides and positioning (still primarily in the saddle), but the Columbia coach said I was missing a lot of offsides from the position....but on the same token, I dont think it's really worth calling those truly marginal offsides calls...it's mainly important the players are just respecting a line around their last foot....

11/22 UNCC v. Davidson, UNCC B v. Belmont

1:00 PM UNC Charlotte B v. Belmont Barbarians

In the morning prior to my arrival at the pitch there

 was a high school game played between two schools from low-income Charlotte areas playing a great game of rugby. It's great to see high school rugby being so successful in North Carolina.

My first game of the day was Belmont v. UNC Charlotte B. Belmont is a club newly formed just south of Charlotte. They are going through their first year of games. The only special note I have from the game is that one of the Belmont scrumhalves tried to pull a fast one on me, faking the ball coming out of the scrum - I had not had anybody try to do that in one of my games before.

Belmont wrote this match report for the game. As a referee it's always satisfying to hear that a game was well played and everyone had a great time:

http://belmontrfc.wordpress.com/

Belmont went to UNCC with a purpose and it showed. From the start of the game Belmont layed hard hits and used their power and speed to hamer the young kids of charlotte. Belmont played a complete game.they destroyed uncc in the scrums dr

iving them back off the ball and pushing back down the field. Rucking was a little slow at first, but then the Barbos started hit the rucks strong which really killed any chance of uncc making a play. Our strong point saturday was without a doubt the backline. They held strong on defense and contained the young speed on uncc with ease. On offense they drove up the field beautifuly passing the ball back and forth like pros. This was by far the best game the Barbos have played yet. The flow of the game was great and everyone did their job, and did it well. We now have completed a great feat we finished our fall with a .500 record. Great job guys that is a feat that other clubs who have been around 7 or 8 years have yet to do.  Our 

Man of the Match was of course Henny. Henny you will be missed on the pitch. We better still see you around the club. Thanks for all the hard play and instruction we appreciate everything.

3:00 PM UNC Charlotte v. Davidson

I did not expect to have a lot of difficulty with this game - but my ankle/fitness sure did having just ran that full game. These boys were hitting a lot harder than I expected them too, but the game was overall rather clean with your typical D3 college men issues at the breakdown. I feel I let the coaches influence me a little too much in this game, actually listening to the sideline moaning a little too much and I think it may have affected my game, which is unfortunate.

UNC Charlotte ended up winners, but only after a lengthy break following a serious looking head injury where the game was stopped for over 30 minutes for a player to be stretchered off. The player simply caught the shoulder of the Davidson player he was trying to tackle....a hooker with a low center of gravity and plenty of momentum.

At any rate, I wonder waht the result would have been had there not been the long break for UNC Charlotte, the more experienced side, to catch their breath during the injury break. Prior to the break the game was drawn, leading to a final 10 minutes where Charlotte managed to run in a couple of tries.

11/8 UNC Greensboro v. Triad Rugby Club

I'm writing this post too far from when I actually did this game.

I recall it being a very close, I was rather liberal with my breakdown laws considering the friendly and lower level nature of the game. UNC-G ended up pulling off the win with a try at the end of the game.

One major incident I recall from the game is when there was a broken wrist, play stopped, player totally capable of removing himself from the field, no head injuries, nothing. Campus Rec officer, however, insists the paramedics must be called and the player cannot leave the field, paramedics show up and allow him to walk to the ambulance, but then instead of taking a ride in an ambulance the player simply has his friend drive him to the emergency room to have his hand looked at.

20 minutes later, play resumed with about 10 to go.

11/7 Davidson v. Charlotte Socials

Following last weekend's debacle with my whistle, I set out to try and not blow it so much this time - failing miserably.

The stage was set, Friday night:

Davidson, a team who had just started playing rugby, none of the team members had played more than a handful of games in their lifetime.

vs.

Charlotte Socials, a team in their twilight years of rugby, out to inflict dirty tricks on a bunch of young ambitious rugby players. There were also a number of Charlotte super league players in the mix as their game the following day was cancelled (Washington RFC).

I should have realized before it was not going to be easy.

I had not refereed any of the charlotte socialite players before (aside from a few at 7s), so they were unfamiliar with my style and immediately set out to test my tolerance levels - both in actual play and how much they could talk to me, after all, all of these guys were at least 10 years older than myself, in some cases probably 30 years. The Charlotte Socialites were coming at me from all directions, breaking every subtle law they could, barking at me about every call, moaning, walking, and having beer breaks on the sideline. To Davidson's credit, they put up a very good match for these old men, using their youthful pace and athleticism to bowl through them and score some very good breakaway tries.

In the end, Charlotte came out winners of a close game, I think it was about 24-20 or something around there. 

Despite all the barking, the socialites did pick up on a few errors I made, letting me know in exuberant fashion, including a strange situation:

Socialite player makes a typical HORRIBLE chip kick, he might have been able to do these 20 years ago, but I think age caught up with this guy. At any rate, an ignorant Davidson player decides to "volleyball" hit this ball on the descent of the kick (making it not a charge down, which is what I'm guessing the davidson player thought it was). I call knock on advantage charlotte, at which point a davidson player claims the ball on the ground - advantage over - scrum charlotte. As it turns out, Davidson player was in front of the knock on...making it OFFSIDES, penalty to charlotte, error by me, never to be made again.

Overall, the game was not a fun experience with all the abuse, but I learned a lot from dealing with these older guys trying to pull one over on me. At the post game social I had a lot of compliments from the Davidson side (probably because I penalized charlotte so much, rightfully so).

11/1 - 11/2 Ed and Sandy Lee Cup - Virginia Rugby Union Championship

I was fortunately invited up to Richmond, Virginia to officiate the Virginia Rugby Union Championship - The Ed and Sandy Lee Cup. This year the tournament hosted only the Division 2 and 3 collegiate men and Divisions 1 and 2 collegiate Women.

I was struck by the support and organization of many of these teams compared to Division 2 / 3 teams in North Carolina. Many of the teams had many serious coaches and had a lot of support travel with them resulting in just about every game being videotaped by supporters along with Bill Burch (Lineout video) on his ladder.

Only the top four teams from each division were invited to this tournament with the winners of the tournaments going onto to MARFU competition playoffs in the spring. For division 2 both finalists and the consolation winner went onto MARFU competition. In division 3 only the finalists move on to the MARFU championship.

On saturday I was assigned the Division 2 Semifinal 1 v. 4, Uni. Mary Washington vs. Virginia Commonwealth University. Mary Washington were the predicted winners.

I took a new approach to my pre-match talk for this game - I had them flip the coin and asked if they had any questions for me - Being division 2 and a semifinal I had reason to believe all of these players were experienced the laws and procedures of rugby thus requiring no additional explanation from me. I told them I would be talking with them on the field if I had any repeating problems and that I would use the cards if necessary......

I then proceeded to do something I have blogging about for a while: a yellow card for repeated infringements, among other reasons:

Yellow Cards 1 and 2: The gold side (VCU) were consistently in the side at the breakdown and not listening to my requests to straighten up and come through the gate. There were multiple penalties and two clear warnings - then moved to a card. White (Mary Wash) then committed an in the side offense, receiving a card as well.

Yellow Card 3 came from repeated late charges. There had been a couple of late charges from VCU on Mary Wash but I had felt they were fully commited. Unfortunately they kept occuring and two I clearly remember were from the same player on the scrumhalf. I could only assume as they were repeated that they were intentional, warranting a yellow card.

Another yellow card offense from VCU was for a dangerous collar tackle preventing what could have been considered a likely try. There was however another potential tackler so penalty try was awarded. One more yellow card at the end of the game went to MW for yet another collar tackle, deemed intentional for it's excessiveness.

Another interesting point from this game is a Drop Goal was scored - something not typically seen in Division collegiate rugby. I called for penalty to advantage saw the MW flyhalf go for the drop...I prepared to comeback to give the penalty.....but watched the ball sail inbetween the sticks from about 45 meters out....amazing.

Other reccomendations I received from my evaluators and coaches after this game included:

• back up to the lineout - always face the players
• be sure to back up to the 5 meter line when awarding penalties near the goal line
• use my height, vary positioning a bit more but know that If the saddle works for me to work primarily from there.
• dont signal if there is no need for a signal (discussed at rucktoberfest as well)
  

I feel that in this game the teams understood my problems with the breakdown and fixed them in response to my requests and yellow cards. I hoped this method would apply in my next game, but it did not work as well as I thought.

My next game was the Division 3 Men's Final, Longwood vs. Virginia Tech III. I tried to approach this game in a similar manner to how I approached the Division 2 game, but in end, it just did not work out as I had hoped. I don't know if it was difference in class between D2 and D3, maybe I was being to strict with my interpretations, or maybe my ankle was just sore from the day before. It was probably simply that it was a FINAL, of two very closely matched teams. Unfortunately the teams kept, as I saw it, playing the ball of their feet, coming in the side, etc. etc. despite my attempts to communicate with them. This eventually led to yellow cards as I had done the day before, but it seemed to make little difference, the poor breakdown formations continued.

I am writing from this point very late (jan 09) so I cannot remember vividly what had happened - but what I mainly recall is that I did not manage the game correctly for the level of play - my penalty count was simply absurd (somewhere in the 40 range, and a penalty try put the cherry on top). My takeaways from this game: manage different levels differently, allow play to go on when safe and fair at low levels - even if things are illegal, nobody wants to hear me blow my whistle all day. Longwood came out on top to win the VRU D3 Championship - due to a penalty try, 14-12.

In sum, it was a great weekend, I got to meet many referees I had not met before, and learned a lot about my game. Thanks VRU.