You don't really need to be that strong a character to command a game. The simple ability to issue yellow and red cards is enough. As only the captains are allowed to dispute with the ref, anyone else he can simply say "Last warning, walk away or I will book you" then follow through it. No need for aggression or a big presence, just use the power available to you.
To set the seen, I played rugby (too big for football) and trained youth teams for my sins, I thought Nigel Owens is a great ref but if I was an Aussie I wouldn't have been over impressed as the Kiwis got the rub of the green. In rugby, its far more difficult to referee because so much is going on in and around the ball so I feel it easier to forgive the referee than I do in football despite all the play acting and cheating that goes on because its a much similar game
A number of interesting points.. I wonder if it would be workable to have an additional assistant referee who is subordinate to main referee. Who could shadow him about the pitch, giving a different perspective on important decisions.
Twice as likely to get in the way and can just imagine the two refs having a punch up over a decision. There is no guarantee of getting every decision right....even video replays can't do that...the best way is to give one person the power to make a decision and everyone let's him get on with it....oh, that's what we have now.
Am I correct in believing that "quick line outs" are only allowed if the ball thrown in is the same ball that went out of play, to stop players grabbing any ball from the nearest ball boy? Reference player conduct, rugby is on an entirely different planet, to football. Small towns/villages will have rugby teams of all age groups and a social club, which has rules of conduct displayed on the wall, which include barring from all club activities for various offences, including insulting/swearing at the ref. And that is just the fans!!! The elders, as in the retired players, that still frequent the clubs for games and social activities, help keep the young'uns in check, and supporters on the sidelines, aged 50+, will often point out errors made by a young, spotty, barely out of his teens ref, in a polite way and by calling him "Sir". As a football fan, who spent a couple of years watching Syston RFC, (near Leicester and the home of Pukka Pies) it was quite an eye opener.
It has to be the same ball, and it cannot have been touched by anyone else. So you can catch the ball as it goes over the touch line, or pick it up from the grass, but if a supporter (or anyone else near the touch line) touches it, a 'full' line out is needed to restart play.
Yes, can you imagine Tomw and Tintin Refereeing and arguing the toss about a decision? The mind boggles!
I just mentioned this on the premier league thread. Can you post it in there after my post. I can't do that fancy stuff
