Secondary signals and man management with the new rules

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[Twister]

I'd appreciate some thoughts!

We now have an even faster game with fewer natural breaks in play, and therefore even fewer opportunities to intervene with control messages.

So when, and how should we intervene with low level control?

Do we stop the game and the flow (potentially damaging the other team's advantage), wait until the next available break in play (and risk losing the impact of the control message), or try and get a message across in play, as the teams are hurtling up the pitch!?

Whilst I'm all for not sacrificing control for flow, I think the dynamics have yet to be fully understood.  Any of the Aussies / NZers found a way round this?

[mani]

Control message being?

[aussieump]

With the new rules the need to break up play for low level control issues is minimal, the rules if applied correctly create fast play on action, you can still come back to the passage of play later and issue the control measure you wanted. eg GC or use your voice and talk to the players.

Also if a player has been stick checked a few times give them the free instead of trying to play advantage. This way the player eliminates the tackler and gets a better play of the ball without the hassles.

Otherwise use commonsense.

Have had no issues with this at any tournaments or games I have been involved in

au

[Diligent]

Control message being?

I'd guess Twister was thinking about the verbal "Not again, thank you!", and visual "Cut that out". Awarding a penalty lets whistle tone convey the message. But when you play advantage, what then... ?

From a handful of games with 2009 rules, I've learnt, as Aussieump says, that blowing for the quick free hit often offers the best advantage.

[mosley59]

I've found I tend to let my whistle tone give the guidance under the new rules, with possibly a verbal warning in there as well (e.g a game yesterday had two horrible hacking tackles - two loud whistles and a clear and loud "clean it up" warning to the second offender cut those hacks right out). I think I do this because stopping play under the new rules reduces the advantage that could be gained by the attacker, so I have tended to give the offender a verbal warning (*point* "You - clean it up!") as the attacker takes the FH, so as to allow the attacker the most advantage from the situation. As a result, I've noticed my GCs have reduced, while my verbal warnings have increased (where previously I'd have had a GC do the talking) as well as a slight increase in the number of YC dished out by myself for those who don't take notice of my early warnings. I think this is resulting in new alternate pathways through the control ladder for myself, resulting in interesting games as I decide which path is most appropriate for the current game.

[keely]

Twister, I'm finding it's a lot like timing the card, in that you have to decide whether to play advantage and come back or stop the play there and then.

When the player fouled doesn't have a chance to do anything right away, you take that time to send the message. If they have a shot, you try to get the message through with your initial whistle (so that becomes even more important, being "conversant" with the whistle and not just relying on your ability to talk later) and then maybe have a word individually when you get the chance.

I have found this a bit tricky, especially when a team is very good at using the self-pass and getting the ball away. You also need to keep your eyes on the play even more, as there's nothing like sending a lovely message and then looking to where the ball used to be and making a holy s**t run as the attackers run merrily at your circle! I'm sure you'll get comfortable with it in short order.