VIEWS OF A REFEREE.

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 129, 3 June 1922, Page 12

VIEWS OF A REFEREE.

The Rule Book (see page 25) says that there is a pronounced tendency on the part of referees to whistle immediately a. law of the game is infringed, without waiting to see who gains the advantage of the infringement, and, in bold type, that referees are urged not to whistle when the non-oft'ending side gains an ad-

vantage. 7 . " The meaning of the foregoing is quite clear," states a- local senior referee, in dealing with "The Advantage Rule." "The attractiveness of a game, both from the players and the spectators' point of view, is very much in the hands of the referee. Many a game has been quite spoilt by the referee blowing his whistle for every breach noticed, regardless of the fact that in many instances the non-offending side gained an advantage- from their opponent's infringement of the laws. The football field, when a match is in progress, is no place for a musician, however many variations lie may be able to obtain from a one-note instrument. We must always remember that the players want to play football, mid ■ the spectators -want to see them playing it; if either, or both, wants music, they will seek elsewhere for it. " It is a cause of much irritation to the non-offending team to have'the game stopped, say, for a knock-on or a. faulty throw-in from touch from which they undoubtedly would have gained an advantage. ', So long as the non-offending side gains an advantage it does not mat;ter in the least how far the ball has been knocked-on or at what angle the ball has reached play from a throw-in. It sometimes happens, of course, that a referee may, on the occurrence of a, breach, anticipate the course of play, and, not having stopped the game, subsequently find that the non-offending side has been placed at .1 disadvantage thereby. In my opinion, and provided another stage of the game had not been entered upon, the proper thing to _do in.such circumstances is to stop play immediately, and inflict the penalty that would have been given had the game not been allowed to proceed. "Most games are frequently* interspersed with minor technical breaches benefiting neither one side or ( the other, and it would not be in anybody's interest to bring the game to a- standstill for the sake of restarting it at the same spot by means of a set scrummage. , In the cases of drop-outs, kick-offs, etc., one frequently has to contend with players getting in front o£ the kicker, but in the majority of cases the opposing side gains a greater advantage by fielding and kicking, or passing, the ball than they would do were the referee to order the play back for a. scrummage. Therefore, in sucll circumstances, the game should be allowed to proceed. " According to the English Rugby Union's hand-book, a copy of which has just come\into my hands, it appears that in March'of last year the parent body decided not to apply the,advantage rule to (a) the throw-in from touch, (b) the kick-off or drop-out. This ruling' was evidently given on a question raised by one of the counties, and as it wsjs not transmitted to the New Zealand Union it is assumed that it does not apply to our competitions. liiiany event, I consider that the advantage rule should apply to every phase of the game, and if the local authorities contemplate any change from our present practice, I would counsel our association to -respectfully suggest to the New Zealand Rugby ,'Union that the English Rugby Union's 'modification of the advantage rule would not be'in the best interests of the game in New Zealand. "In conclusion, I have only to add that there are plenty of instances in nearly every match where tho .referee has only to use a wise discretion in dealing with trivial and accidental offences against the laws of Rugby, as set forth in the rule book, and if he enters'into the spirit of the play he will not only satisfy the players and- spectators, but will himself derive a great deal of enjoyment in return for the humble service he is rendering in the cause o£ our national game."