The Lonely-Planet Guide to TJing

Key Learning Outcomes Pre-Match Protocol Pre-Match Protocol TJ Priorities – The Roboskills TJ Priorities – The Roboskills Foul Play Reporting Foul Play Reporting TJ Positioning TJ Positioning –Restarts –Scrums –Lineouts –T/R/M –In-Goal

Pre Match Logistics If your referee hasnt had the chance to give you a call or before the game then you make the contact. If your referee hasnt had the chance to give you a call or before the game then you make the contact. –The Ref may be bottling up butterflies for the match and hasnt thought about you! Seek out the Ref before the game for instructions / expectations and to answer any question you may have. Seek out the Ref before the game for instructions / expectations and to answer any question you may have. –You do not make his job easier if 2min before KO you want to have a chat about What to do? & What to say? Some of the most important tasks of the TJ take place well before you hit the field. Some of the most important tasks of the TJ take place well before you hit the field. –An its not a worry attitude –Relaxed organisation! –Plenty of Dont worry about that Ill take care of it –Every stupid little thing you can take out of the referees mind – the better the game he will have

Priorities of the Empowered TJ Touchline Ownership – –Know your Laws for Touch & In-Goal Foul Play Reporting – –Dont leave him hanging out to dry Referee Support – –Deflect as much pressure as possible from the man in the middle

Touchline Ownership Be there quickly Where is it in touch? When can a quick throw be taken? When can a quick throw not be taken? Signal for the ball in touch - flag only Signal when quick throw not allowable - non flag arm - may have to be vocal

Foul Play – Protocol Under Pressure

Think about what you saw – digest it Signal it with the flag, even if you think the referee has seen it – –Once its out, its OUT Keep running touch (but not with flag out) and stay there until invited into FoP If Non-offending team have the ball, play-on If/Once Offending team have the ball, call it in Before speaking prepare what you are going to say

Foul Play – Protocol Under Pressure Hold your flag in both hands at all times Remember the ABCs – –Accuracy Give colour and number and specific offence – –Brevity Stick to what was involved in the incident – –Clarity Use the Language of the Lawbook Do NOT give a recommendation unless asked Restate facts if sanction is unwarranted (either high or low) depending on what you saw Get a mental picture of the restart location (other TJ can help)

Foul Play Clips

Getting Into Position

Kick-Off Positioning TJ

PK/FK Positioning TJ

PK Positioning Clip

Leading & Trailing Ensuring that the two TJs are not in line with the referee – why? To create the triangle one TJ will be ahead of play and one slightly behind play. As per the two rules above whenever play is heading toward one side that TJ will be moving ahead while the other TJ will hang back Dwell until it becomes uncomfortable

TJ TRAILING R/M/ S TJ LEADING Offside Line TJ LEADING R/M/ S Offside Line TJ TRAILING Lead & Trail

In-Goal Positioning Like Sex – Get in Deep & Get in Often – –Be in the opposite position of the referee Let referee take the last pass so you can get in- goal quicker -Do NOT be in line with the ball carrier – toughest place to judge accuracy If the TJ is caught in line or behind the ball as it heads to the goal line then he should stop and view the players crossing the goal line in a stationary position.

In-Goal TJ 1 2 3

In-Goal Dont move under the posts until referee awards the try Dont give any signals unless referee looks directly at you Be prepared for a time-off to discuss the 50/50 decisions in-goal Dwell after the try to ensure there is no foul play after the ball is grounded

Shot At Goal Communicate with your colleague whilst ball is in flight (My call) Do not place flag in the air until you both agree to do so. No signal for a missed goal. Return to touch line immediately for a re- start at the "22" or half way.

Move as the ball is kicked if falling short. Check with TJ Flag up Watch the ball Resume duties & positioning ASAP Hold still please Red 5 advancing before the kick is approached My Post Yes / No Behind the goal line or 10m from penalty 1.Watch the defending players 2.As kick is taken, call the post 3.Check with other TJ 4.Signal Together 5.Unsuccessful – watch for the ball to be dead /touch down 6.Back to position as quickly as possible. STAND STILL Move into position quickly and directly via in – goal. Position at the posts Flag at side. Be aware of suns position Call the post and well signal together Can I see the kicker? Is my view of the posts obstructed / sunlight? Are the defending players standing still 1.Get into position as quickly as possible. 2.One post per TJ – near or far. 3.Make sure you can clearly see the goal post, the expected flight path of the ball & the kicker. ActionCommunicationsThought ProcessPositioning

TJ KICKS HERE TJ Shot At Goal

Scrum Time Set offside lines (Go Left), then come back if issues are persisting or referee direction given Near In-Goal, Set offside lines then move back to corner post Be Expected to give input to anything inside 15m Observe patterns on binding, angles, and engagement Flanker Obstruction at end of scrum is also your area – foul play if material or manage it

Lineouts Manage the hooker on the mark and in the channel Manage the Gap / Channel if referee at the back Look for foul play across the line – –step away from the mark and look at things from an angle that is different from the referees PoV Monitor across-the-line offences from the shoulder down, especially props taking out the oppositions lifters. Opposite TJ Mark 10m early and manage offside lines using winger

Position at Lineout 26 Alt position gives alternative perspective to ref at rear of L/O

Dont Hang The Ref Open play offside Assist referee by correct positioning of penalty award. No marginal calls. ALWAYS Accompany calls with number. Forward pass and knock on Check referees positioning before call. No marginal calls. Stoppages Mark restarts accurately 10m Offside lines Ensure you are both on the same line!

Communication & Trends Trends Repeated incidents – –may be material, but important to address early on in the match Manage internally, then raise it to referee if non-compliance still occurs Telling the referee about it at halftime is useless

Player Management When you are officiating with top players, you have to concentrate on your own professionalism. At the lower levels of the game, you can safely discuss various aspects of the game with the players. At the higher levels, that has to be left to the referee if he wishes to discuss anything. Too many messages can be dangerous so it is best left to the team leader.

Do not react to any verbal outbursts, however personal they seem to be at the time. – –If there is a reaction, they have won. The players themselves will subtly question the touch judges decisions – –The only answer is not to respond in any way and get on with the job. Coach/Player Management

Player/Ref Management Natural Breaks in Play – –Shots at Goal (be wary of who you talk to) – –Lineouts – –Halftime – –Comms when ball is dead NEVER – –In Open Play at the breakdown – –When scrum engagement process underway – –When referee already talking to players

Halftime Team Chat

Give 2 minutes of downtime for referee to get hydrated, fuel-up, and settle down Let referee lead all discussion to cover their own priorities – its his show out there Only give advice if asked Do not point out faults or introduce new trends that you have not managed yourselves Deflect all questions from coaches / players

Beyond the Call of Duty

If the referees in the weeds – take as much pressure off him from coaches and players Be supportive of the referees performance Dont give personal opinions Do not discuss their performance with anyone – –I was concentrating on my job as a TJ so I didnt focus on the referee

Final Take Home Points Regardless of the text book definitions of the Responsibilities of a Touch Judge, the most basic obligation the Touch Judge has is to do what the central referee asks of you It is a Team of Three – but there is only one captain! You need to show 100% SUPPORT to the referee during the game – if you cannot support his calls then you are in the wrong place. – –There are appropriate times for input and appropriate times for disagreement – but as a Team of Three your public persona is that of the supportive understudy!

Final Take Home Points The best Touch Judges not only highlight problems but also provide solutions You are there to get all the calls right every time – –No point in being there otherwise! Dont make him look like an idiot! Refs – Buy your TJs drinks post-match