1. Scrum Management

2. Agenda Scrums as part of the game Getting a Mental Picture Management Philosophy Management Stages Video Material

3. Scrum Restarts the game with a fair contest Confrontational area –momentum changing –Raises the intensity BUT can lower tempo Safety is paramount

4. Unmanaged Scrums Collateral Damage! Offsides Pileups Scrum Avoidance

5. Pre-Crouch (Lower Grade) Everyone Square. Squatting into not down on? Balance over front foot. No shove from behind. Equal height. Look through eyebrows.

6. Everyone Square. Squatting into not down on. Balance over front foot. No shove from behind. Equal height. Look through eyebrows. Pre-Engagement (Professional)

7. Post Engagement Flat back. Square hip and shoulder. High hip & vertical thigh. Active foot position.

8. Binding, Perfect Curved Back Eyes Down Head below hips Text book What is the refs priority?Who could help?

9. Who has done what to whom? What should the ref have seen? Options or Sanction?

10. Who has done what to whom? What could the ref have seen? Options or Sanction?

11. Comment? Options or Sanction?

12. Perfection Both front rows level, flat backs, looking through eyebrows

13. Attacking feet position Enhances hit Risk of slipping Flat feet position Solid hit Distance FRs apart more critical

14. Pick the Faults Exercise Volunteer as Referees (4 refs) –Green Front Row (Right) –Blue Front Row (Left) –Backrow –Scrum Halves Pick the faults, then address them!

16. Management Philosophy Keep it simple and logical Simple –Don’t overcomplicate –Don’t try to impress front-row players with your knowledge –Know key phrases well (eg “Bind on the hit”, “Pack straight”) Logical –What is each team hoping to achieve in this scrum –Who is more likely to infringe?

17. Coach / Player Expectations Understand scrum mechanics Understand roles – attack/defence Be accurate – no guessing!! Reward the dominant scrum (as long as it is legal).

18. Actions that lead to a good scrum Props square at set up Consistent engage call Scrums engaging on ref’s call Steady after the hit Ball in quickly

19. Pre/Post Engagement The scrum is stationary and square before ball is put in. Don’t allow front rows to stand up after the engage is called. Zero tolerance to front rows not engaging correctly after call of “engage”.

20. Immediate Post-Engage Check angles and binding Look at feet and body positions Back row binding (full arm round second rows) use TJ’s Insist of a credible feed (remind 9’s prior to the game).

21. Identification Who is dominant? What are the trends? (on own ball vs their ball) Try to establish these things in a set number of scrums VIDEOS - What can we identify that is simple and logical?

22. Be aware of what is an illegal and legal wheel. Be prepared for scrums where front rows go up – why?? Understand the “soft hit”. Use your Touch Judges for advice and management. Current Trends in Scrummaging

23. What is the tight head doing on his own ball? 2 shoulders What is the loose head doing on the opposition ball? Round corner. Are flankers “crutch binding”.

24. Weaker-Side Tactics Put the ball in on engagement Get the 9 to stand away, inviting the ref to impose the “square and stationary” law a la George Gregan Use Channel One option. Old-fashioned, but still effective Focus on driving your TH forwards –Fastest player over 1m to chase the hit

25. Common Beliefs Tightheads pull down Looseheads push up Looseheads bore in on the opposing Tighthead Tightheads bore in on the opposing Hooker

26. Common Misconceptions Only the side not putting the ball in drop or pop the scrum Only defending teams wheel Only T/heads drop the scrum The bigger the gap the better the hit Scrum halves put the ball in straight

27. Pre-Match Be composed and confident Go through engage call, stressing gaps and the importance of waiting for “engage” Tell them you don’t want resets: –If they keep it up and straight, you will let them scrum –If they don’t, you WILL make decisions Tell the scrum-half to get the ball in at the first opportunity

28. Action Plan - Escalation Without Guessing Step 1 - Free Kicks (Get Out of Jail) –Early engage –Early shove (not square and steady) –Head below hips –Pack straight –Front-Row Binding (ELVs only)

29. Step 2 - Talk to Appropriate Players –Captains or specific players –Your chance to take control –Simple instructions –Closing the gap is often a good start –Tell them that we are now going to P/Ks Action Plan - Escalation Without Guessing

30. Step 3 - Penalty Kicks –Collapsing –Angle (boring in) –Pulling back –Standing up (whilst going backwards) Action Plan - Escalation Without Guessing

31. Step 4 - Cards You can jump any step if the action by the player warrants it. Action Plan - Escalation Without Guessing

32. 3 Key Rules to Performance Management Try to operate with “Facts not Feelings” –Deal with detail. Crowd and others feelings to be recognised but not an influencing factor. Try to disregard these in your decision process. –Try to ensure what you do is right. Gain and trust your process. Once process has been learnt, have confidence in your application of it. Do it – Do it well.

33. Summary Talk to coaches and front rows about their roles. Understand scrummage techniques, and what teams are trying to achieve. Remember the better referees referee the scrum well !!!

34. all You won’t get it right all the time but the more you learn the more chance you will have of getting it right most of the time!

35. Questions Before the Videos?