SOME USEFUL HINTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1923, Page 4

SOME USEFUL HINTS.

TO REFEREES AND PLAYERS

(By a- Referee for “N.Z. Times.”)

The art of refereeing is not to see lmw many times you may blow your whistle during the game, but to see how often you can refrain from doing so, and in endeavouring to carry out this contention, never carry your whistle in your mouth. Far better keep it in your pocket, when you will have to think before pulling up the game for some paltry breach. At the present time it takes more than a Philadelphian lawyer to interpret some of the technical poinis brought up by our controlling body. We are getting away from the spirit of the game altogether. The young referee of to-day goes on the field absolutely puzzled bow'to work in all the knowledge he has received from the different interpretations placed on our laws of tlu* game. Personality is one of the strong factors in the making of a referee, and you will find that tlio man that can command control of the players is the otio that will turn out on top, even if Ids knowledge of rules is not right up-to-date.

The referee can he too strict, thereby making himself disliked (which really dues, not matter), and spoil a good game. It is a great tiling to have the confidence of the players, and a referee should never discuss a. point or argue with players on the field. Always be prepared to state why you blew yoiii whistle. a< this will Imlp players mil to transgress again and to understand your deiisiuiis. In the lower grade matches endeavour to educate the boys ou the laws of the game, that is, explain to Horn their breaches on all it- • ■anions. Rut never become too familiar with the players. Think of the advantage rule all the time. Though a player may he offside or commit some minor breach it is only slowing up the game to penalise him if the other side has gained some advantage from such breath. To r line-out a referee should stank between the toucldine and the five-yard line.

Anticipate the play as much nr possible. This will save a. lot of needles; running about.

Re well up with the play when near the goal line. Many a match Inis beer lost and won by tlie referee arriving

Stand cn tin- same side as the playei uniting the hall in the -rum. See that it is fairly put in. in-i.- t on the v, ing forward playing the game--that is, lie strut ou him keeping behind the ball, and do not allow him to be an ok-siria-tiouist. U you enforce these restrictions from tin start of the game you will find ih< game much easier to control. A free kick cannot lie charged, am: the hall can he placed on the ground: hut remember that the kicker ami > laccr must be distinct perrons. A marl; can be charged, but the bed; cannot he placed on the ground m the •i Ist instance. At kick-off the ball must go tor voids. At drop-our. from the go yards Ii 1:• •. it must go over that line. A player cannot pick up 11 ■ v bull with li:. haiuß or knees whilst in a sertnnijc. A player, when on the ground, is. prrictically speaking, out of play, and cannot interfere with (he i.-hiy or the bail. He must immediately get up. A ball i.~ not considered faillv in the --e.ru mm ago until it has passed a man oil each side. When a player is t'.vklcd (that is. v> held that lie cannot- pass or play lleladl) lie must immediately drop the ball, and then it must he played with the foot. If a player is only held or collared (his arms being free), lie can cary his • p-.miieiit as far a- he likes, and in 11 li - way score a try. A serum mage c -as**s to exist when the part containing the hall is over the gaol-lim . A player can then dive blind score a try or a lone don 11. All “ o-rii'iis " given for I.reaches in- I sic!.- of ten yards of tie- touch-line lv- j tween the •>•'» yards line- must he taken ten yards out. To illustrate sunn- of Ihi - points <>) the game. I am giving below a f'-n question.-, with t 10-ir answer-': - Can a phis or scop- a try by pla-iim the hall on the goal-line os or a force-down. \ i - I 1 ii-l\ ic.cl.i-, <1 one yaid from A'--goal line ; be nut. • » i('i tin- I all. and R player picks it. up and -• 01 vs a 1 rv. Ps ii a try:--It- try. Five lack against R. Alter a tackle the- hall mit-;t ]-,r pi:i\vd with tllf* loot.

A with the ball in bis pos-c-i'-ion is ton ed aver his opoomuit *s dead ball l'Ho. bn; plan'-' Iho laid in goal. The referee allowed ihc try. AVa* thi- < *>r|.e(.tf_Xo. The hall V'Ctoniea d-ad. Drop-out a': twenty-lives. A is ill Ids own goal-line, hut cannot for: e the ball. ID' passes it to I'.mulior A plav r, who is l.eiworm him and the "■!.: !-!iue. This pk’Y.r ioiac- tile h’!!. Was the referee right, in allowing a f.,, .o downy— Xn; whih admitting a player cannot lie offside in In's own Plena I. il is a breach of the rules to pasDee ball forward, so the player is. penalised for this, and a. strum should he ordered live yards nut from the go'lIi! 11 •. parallel to the spot, where the breach oc< urrod. *• A. " taken a mark two yards in front of “ B's " goal-line, lie takes ilie ball .-'.it to the twenty-live yards line I- hi, k at goal. The refer, e blow.- bii-. 1,.* for “ man in front." ’Vl'at is the u: unity, and where 1-—A s'rum ad the ..p-nt (two yards I rum the goal-line) where the mark was taken. The ball is kicked over the goal-line, and an injured player was kneeling on the ground when the hall came to him : he jinn: .’lately forced if. AYliat is: the decision A nl.ivcr while not wholly supported hv his feet has no right to touch the ball or infer,'fere villi tlio play. In I his ,he pwfiajrv would be <. ifh.or. -crum live yards from tin' ■: ad hue. or the award of a try, il in the referee'.-: opinion the illegal act roheoed the attackers of such try. ‘•A.” is attacking, and knocks on over "B’s” goal-line. “U” forces. AYliat would bo the decision, and why? —A force- down, and drop-out at twenty-rive yards lino. 'I he advantage rule applies in this ia-e. A player, who is attacking, is (diaide in ids opponent’s in-fjord. AA li.at i- the decision ;■—A dro]:-out at the twenty-five yards line. In the event of a penally being given against a player si-,outing " all on side" before iii s fellow players are onside. where should the free-kick be taken, and where the scrummage if the hon-olfending; side ask for it in prelcrence to the free-kick?

The free-kick should he taken at the snot where the ofi'ending player was when called “ all on side ” ; the scrummage at. th.e spot where the oft'emling side last placed the ball. A player kicks the ball, and another player on his side, who is on-side, follows through the kick. Can the latter placer put the members in his team, who are off-side, on-side by that act ? If not: why?

Xn. l, c , cannot place the off-side men on-side. Only the kicker can place thorn on-side, and then,only if they are outside the ten yards circle of the plavcr waiting to receive the hall.