Dear Coach / Official
Welcome to the first edition of Coaching & Officiating E-News for 2007.
The Rugby season is already in full-swing, with this huge year including the Australian Rugby Championship (the new national competition), the Adelaide Sevens and the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
This issue's highlights include the launch of SmartRugby online course registrations, an article on Defence Dictating to Attack, nutrional information for Rugby and information on the new scrum engagement sequence. We hope the newsletter continues to provide you with information you'll find useful in your role as a Rugby coach or referee.
Good luck for your 2007 season!
COACHING NEWS
SmartRugby
SmartRugby has gone online in 2007 with the following features:
- Online Registration for all courses in Australia
- Online Course for coaches whose qualification expired 31/12/2006
- Online Course for referees whose qualification expired 31/12/2006
What To Do
If you are not SmartRugby qualified, you are required to attend a 2.5hr face-to-face course conducted by your State or Territory Union. For course information and registration, go to: www.rugby.com.au/! smartrugby
If you are SmartRugby qualified but your expiry date is 31/12/06, you can either attend a 2.5hr face-to-face course or complete a 30-45min course online to re-qualify. For online course registration, go to Online Course for Coaches or Online Course for Referees. To verify your registration, you will receive an automated message to your email address.
Resources
At the course you will receive an updated booklet and CD-ROM, free of charge. Tho! se re-qualifying online are also provided the option to receive the materials. Following the course, you will receive in the mail your MyRugby Card. This will include your personal MyRugby number, details of your SmartRugby qualification (valid for two years) and any other current coach and match official accreditations that you may have.
Is Defence Dictating to Attack?
The 2007 Investec Super 14 is underway and after the first few rounds it appears that the defences may be dictating to the attack. With ever improving defensive structure and increasing line speed, the tackle line appears to be retreating to the concerns of attacks.
This is a major shift as all coaches believed that capturing the ball, and using the ball would eventually reap rewards in relation to scoring points. It was always the case that if a team won the greater share of possession then they would (inevitably) win the game. This is now not the case, and it appears that some teams don't try too hard to contest for the ball. Those teams rely on sound defence and speedy counter attacks.
Statistically, winning the ball from primary possession provides a team a good opportunity to breach the defensive line. However, if this is not successful, the longer the phases go, the more time the defence has to structure itself and the greater chance it has to pilfer the ball from the attack.
Coaching attack is a complex issue and the coach has to ascertain the following:
- If the team wins primary possession will they attempt a line break or will they strive to set the ball up (closing down defensive threats) and attack the opposition from resultant ball?
- Do the skills of the players only allow attack from one side of the field?
- Are there areas/zones on the field that provide a better opportunity to attack?
- Is there any identified weakness in the opposition player(s)?
- How will the team deal with quickly recycled ball as against slow re-cycled ball?
- How does the team turn slow ball into quick ball?
The time involved in solving these issues may be lengthy, and far more time required than coaching defensive ploys. What can the coach achieve at training so that the team has some success on weekends?
Essentially, there are a number of things that can be done; and things that will upskill the players. These include:
- Coach the players in decision-making games at training. Often coaches organise drills where players have practice techniques but where there is no decision-making. On game day they make the wrong decision because they had no practice at making decisions.
- Have the team experiment with different starting alignments. This will effectively change the tackle line. With the first receiver starting deep and outside supports standing flat, the outside players will have time. However, if caught, they will be quite a distance back from the advantage line.
- If the attack is being tackled, bring the first receiver closer to the passer so that they are closer to the advantage line. By running straighter, they will stall the defence and the tackle line will effectively be closer to the advantage line.
- If the defence uses an 'umbrella' strategy have players run 'unders lines' and change the angle of the defenders.
- Have two attackers run at one defender so that the defender has to make a decision as to who may receive the ball. If the pass to the attacker occurs within a metre of two of the defender, then that player is under pressure to make the correct decision as to who will receive the ball.
The fatal mistake that coaches make when their players are caught well behind the advantage line is moving the whole attacking structure back. All this does is move the tackle line further back and provide the defence even more opportunities. Making subtle changes; changing running lines and running speeds will provide enough change to hinder defences.
Warren Robilliard
ARU Coach Education Manager
Eating Right for Rugby
A myriad of dietary information featured in magazines and on television can confuse the most knowledgeable among us; low carbohydrate diets, protein powders, amino acids, the list is endless and all you want to know is what to tell your players to eat. Rest assured, a few simple steps and your troops will be optimally prepared and recovered for every single session.
1) Regular meals and snacks
Even a recreational rugby player will require regular meals and snacks to provide enough energy for all their training and work or school commitments. A simple rule of thumb is to always include a carbohydrate food such as bread, rice, cereal, fruit or pasta with a protein containing food such as low fat dairy, lean meat or nuts. This way, the body receives the carbohydrate it requires for energy and the protein for satiety (fullness) and muscle growth and repair. Simple examples include eggs on wholegrain toast for breakfast, yogurt and fruit for morning tea and a sandwich with lean meat or chicken for lunch.
2) Enough to drink
A recent study involving rugby league players found that 2/3 of the team arrived at training dehydrated. Dehydration not only makes us feel tired, but it also puts the body's cells at greater risk of injury and reduces coordination, the ability to make decisions and increases perceived effort for any activity. The average male will require at least two litres of water every day, which means those who are training for 2-4 hours on top of this will require significantly more to remain hydrated. A simple way to determine hydration status is to check the colour of the urine. Anything darker than light yellow indicates dehydration. Caffeine containing fluids such as coffee and cola drinks can mask dehydration as they can falsely make urine clear. Encourage members of your team to always carry a water bottle with them and allow for regular fluid breaks during training sessions to promote optimal hydration.
3) Pre Session Preparation
Busy, young rugby players routinely forget that they need to top up their fuel supplies before a session. Ideally, a high carbohydrate, moderate protein snack needs to be consumed 1-2 hours prior to a training session to ensure the muscle cells have enough energy for the entire session. Fast, light options which can be readily carried around in cars, training bags and purchased on the way to training include tetra packs of flavoured milk, nut based muesli bars, energy and protein/carbohydrate snack bars or plain sandwiches with peanut butter.
4) Post session recovery
The end of a training session tends to be the last time that young rugby players think of eating something but it is one of the most important times. It is known that recovery is significantly improved between sessions if a carbohydrate rich snack is consumed within 30 minutes of a session ending. Good, quick choices include sports drinks, fruit juice tetra packs, 97% fat free snack bars and 97% fat free muffins.
Good snacks for rugby
- A piece of fruit and a tub of low fat yoghurt
- Banana smoothie with low fat milk OR flavoured milk OR Up & Go popper
- Chicken, ham, tuna or cheese sandwich on grainy bread
- Bowl of breakfast cereal with low fat milk and banana
- Homemade pizza on English muffin with cheese, ham and tomato
- 6-8 cracker biscuits with low fat cheese and vegemite
- Low fat milk Milo
- Homemade fruit muffin and tub of yoghurt
- Toasted sandwich with small tin of baked beans or spaghetti
- Fruit bun
- Lebanese bread wrap with peanut butter, carrot and sultanas
- Banana bread and a milkshake
- Low fat ice block and 6 crackers with peanut but! ter
- Fruit bun and glass of orange juice
- Handful of walnuts/almonds + glass of milk
- Weetbix
- Protein/Carbohydrate bar (30g carbs/20g protein)
- Energy bar
- Protein/Carbohydrate drink (30g carbs/20g protein)
- Fruit muffins
- Tuna + ½ cup rice + sweet chilli sauce
- Paddle Pop
- Peanut butter or cheese on bread
Susie Burrell (B.Nutr & Diet (Hons), B.Sc (psych)(Hons)) is a specialist sports dietitian and the team dietitian to the Blue Bulls rugby team in South Africa and the St George Illawarra Dragons. For more information, see www.susieburrell.com.au.
REFEREE NEWS
New Scrum Engagement Sequence
From 1 January 2007, the scrum engagement sequence has been changed. The new sequence applies to all levels of the game in Australia.
The sequence to be observed by all players and referees is:
CROUCH, TOUCH, PAUSE, ENGAGE
CROUCH
Front row players must adopt the CROUCH position before the engagement. Head and shoulders must remain above the level of the hips, with knees bent sufficiently to make a simple forward movement into engagement. Players should keep their chin up and head straight in order to maintain the normal and safe alignment of the cervical spine.
TOUCH
The TOUCH requires each prop, using their outside arm, to touch the point of their opposing prop's outside shoulder. This is done to standardise the distance between the two sets of forwards. The props then withdraw their arms.
PAUSE
The PAUSE then is to give players time to see that this safe alignment has been made and to sight their target area before they engage.
ENGAGE
The ENGAGE call is not a command but an indication that the front rows may come together when ready. On the ENGAGE call, the front rows should engage the opposition firmly with a short horizontal movement and the props should draw with their outside arms to take binds. In this position, all players must be able to support their own weight and maintain body shape and pressure on the opposition scrum.
Safety at the scrum is paramount.
The following management routine will assist all participants in obtaining greater consistency and safety in this phase of the game
- The referee's call should be spaced so that each stage is separated.
- Referees should manage the sequence so that both teams comply with the correct process.
- If, after initial management, a team does not comply with any step of the process, the appropriate sanction (Free Kick) should be applied.
- Scrum half should be at the scrum ready to throw in the ball in as soon as the scrums have engaged and are steady stable and the referee has moved away from the scrum.
- When instructed, both teams should crouch to, the same height.
- The distance between the front rows is an arms length (established by the touch).
- Teams must remain stationary in the crouched position until they hear the "Engage" call.
- Zero tolerance on early engagements and pulling out (safety).
- The engagement (hit) should be square - players should drive straight through.
- Front row must bind on engagement and on the body - no hands on ground.
- Scrum to be square and steady after engagement and before throw in.
- Scrum half should stand on middle line to throw-in the ball.
The scrum throw-in must be correct. This means that throw-ins that are clearly not straight must be sanctioned.
NSWRU Advance Referee Program
In 2006, NSWRU conducted the first Advanced Referee Program for referees and referee coaches from country zones of NSW. The program, to be opened up to Sydney District referees and referee coaches is the refereeing equivalent of the NSWRU Advanced Coach Education Seminar (ACES) and will be run annually from 2007.
The program is a two-day seminar based on game understanding and best practice refereeing/referee coaching and is pitched at a level above the current Level 2 Referee or Referee Coach Courses. The program culminates in participants refereeing or referee coaching a match with the assistance of a senior NSWRU Referee Coach.
The aim of the program is to provide a professionally delivered developmental experience to senior referees and referee coaches in order to improve the standards of refereeing and referee coaching and to align these standards in the target areas with those of NSWRRA.
The program also aims to facilitate succession planning for referees and referee coaches within the target areas by providing current best practice role models in both refereeing and referee coaching.
Follow up is provided by NSWRU Referee Coaches and Referee Department staff traveling to all areas to provide mentoring and feedback to participants.
Course evaluations and follow up indicated that the program is relevant and suitable with a need to include topics covering Communications Skills for Referees and Handling On-Field Dissent. These will be included in the 2007 program. Feedback also indicates that all participants benefited from the program and all improved over the 2006 season.
ARU Scholorship Referee Program
The purpose of the ARU Scholarship Referee position is to provide a structured development program for a talent identified referee. This will come through exposure to officiating at an elite level and the opportunity to work closely with other high level officials to develop skills and enhance the opportunity to advance to the highest level. This will be achieved through both on and off the field involvement and through working in the Rugby Unit of the Australian Rugby Union
Richard Goswell has been appointed to the position of Scholarship Referee for 2007. Richard is a up and coming referee from Sydney and has been assigned National Referee Squad member Matt Goddard as his mentor. Matt will work very closely with Richard for the next 12 months. The pair will work together on setting goals, reviewing and evaluating performances, training plans, preparation for matches and also cover the technical aspects of refereeing. Other activities Richard will undertake in 2007 will be - attend fitness sessions with the National Referees Squad, attend education sessions as arranged by the ARU or NSW Referees, meet and liaise with international referees, officiate at appropriate National Championships and manage the Fair Play system.
The Scholarship Referee position has been in operation in conjunction with the Australian Sports Commission since 2003 and has proven to be very successful. The previous ARU Scholarship Referees have been Andrew Lees, Ian Smith, Angus Gardner and Luke Colbron.
PROFILES
Fritz Fraser
Officiating Experience
How many years have you coached/officiated?
13 years
What are your qualifications (coaching/officiating level)?
Referee L2, Touch Judge L2, Ref Coach L1
How did you get involved in refereeing/coaching?
Took up refereeing after retiring from playing.
Your officiating career highlight?
Opportunity to fulfil role of Referee manager for National Div 2 Championships. State senior grand final.
Your future refereeing aspirations?
To continue to contribute to improvement of referee performance and support.
What attracts you most to being a State Refereeing Manager?
Simply the chance of continuing involvement in our sport.
Most difficult aspect of your officiating position?
Lack of volunteer support at a local level, particularly given the expectations placed on performance from officials. An unfortunate trend in all sport. It is difficult to balance my employment and the voluntary RDO role.
Officiating idol / role model? and Why?
I do not have any one I would refer to as a role model. I did like the way Andre Watson approached his games. I thought it a great pity that certain Australian referees were excluded from opportunities from world cup finals due to the Wallabies playing in the finals, as the Australian referees at those times were probably the best referees. Likewise, Bledisloe cups have always been excluded from having the best available referees.
Best advice you could give a new referee?
Know your law so your decision making process is sound, but remember not everything is not always black and white, so look to apply the advantage where presented, you can always come back to an infringement.
Other interests aside from Rugby?
Rowing. I hold an Australian Umpires License and have officiated at two of the past three National Rowing Championships & Kings Cup Regattas and will be officiating at the 2007 championships in March. This filters down to my role at a state level as a member of the State umpire's panel, which includes training of new officials and assessment.
Favourite Super 14 team/favourite player?
Brumbies; Favourite players are George Smith and Chris Latham (Reds).
Matt McGoldrick
Coaching Experience
How many years have you coached/officiated?
5 years
What are your qualifications (coaching level)?
I have level 2 coaching accreditation and level 1 refereeing accreditation
How did you get involved in coaching?
I had 2 knee reconstructions as a player and during the 6 months recovery period for the second operation I began doing some scrum and lineout coaching with the Manly second grade side. I found that it was something that I really enjoyed and enabled me to stay involved.
Your coaching career highlight?
In 2005 in the first round of the colts competition my side got beat by Eastwood 75 - 10. In the second round we got beaten 11 - 10 with virtually the same group of players. I have never been prouder of a group of players and made me believe that maybe I wasn't as bad a coach as I previously thought.
Your future coaching aspirations?
To coach the Wallabies (costs nothing to dream!)
What attracts you most to being a State Coaching Manager?
I love rugby and I enjoy dealing with people who share this passion.
Most difficult aspect of your coaching position?
Dealing with people whose accreditation has expired or they have none and they put pressure on you to accredit or reaccredit them.
Coaching idol/role model? Why?
Ewen McKenzie. He appears to never get too carried away and always turns out teams that are well prepared.
Best advice you could give a new coach?
Don't get too carried away with wins and losses as if the players have improved whilst you have been their coach you have done a good job.
Other interests aside from Rugby?
Golf, going to the beach, watching cricket and soccer, going to the gym
Favourite Super 14 team/favourite player?
The Waratahs, Peter Hewat, he has flair and unpredictability, he always manages to keep things interesting.
