The Virtual Terrace • New season new rules, WOW
Went to watch a game today at under 18s level, with the new rules for the community and junior games today. 'Wow' was my first impression.
The game was played between two fairly well matched teams, who are rivals. The previous games have always been great fun and everyone was really looking forward to it. That was dampened however during the first five minutes when it became clear it wasn't going to be allowed to be a classic. The players had been briefed beforehand not to criticise the referee for implementing the new rules and the spectactors had been warned not to moan about them as there were RFL representatives there. There was a massive interest in the percentage of penalties given for high shots and the referee, whilst giving a penalty for a high tackle a couple of times a minute, obsessed over penalties for anything else. Shepherds, incorrect play the balls, obstruction, tipping etc. They were 100% trying to 'prove' that the tackle height rule won't change the game as the percentage of penalties for high shots is similar. I'm not sure what the penalty stats for the game were, but I'd estimate around 60. The game was just never allowed to break out into any real rythym, neither side was able to build any momentum. The players were rusty as it was the first friendly of the season, but the general pattern of the game was: play the ball, penalty, kick. Play the ball, penalty, kick. Play the ball, tackle, play the ball knock on. I don't think there was a completed set for either side, other than tries. It was rare that teams got anywhere near the fifth tackle, in fact I'm not sure it happened once during the game. The referee admitted after the game that he had forgotten to even count the tackles several times. The players left the game very frustrated, lots of arm, shoulder knocks and a couple of head injuries too, just from impacts.
As a spectactor, the game was so, so different to watching a normal Under 18s/youth game. It was stop-start to the point of farce. People lost interest in the game a lot and started chatting, there was none of the usual atmosphere at the games or interest in the action. Most of the game was spent watching the lads stand round, waiting for another restart post-penalty or knock on. This in turn didn't help with the level of mistakes, as the game just never got going. A fascinating insight would be the GPS data from games like this. I'd think the players would be doing a fraction of the steps they did previously as the 'ball in play' time is absolutely minimal. If this is how the sport will be going forward (I'll admit it will improve as the players get used to it, how much is a big question though) it has changed from an non-stop action sport to a hybrid of Union and touch/tag. The tackle count is irrelevant and I think may well be removed in future, as it's genuinely pointless now. The frequency of the referee's input was staggering and what's left, if it's what I've watched today, isn't a sport you can sell for TV rights. It isn't entertaining enough to warrant it. If they are going to carry on with this approach, having penalties just advance the line 10m in future might be a better option, as it would remove the delays caused by kicking to touch, getting in position etc. It would at least speed things up and get the ball in play more.
A really disappointing element of it is how regimented and smug the RFL seem about it. They've made their mind up and any suggestion they are trialling this is a farce. The RFL representatives today left declaring it a big success. I'm not sure anyone invovled agrees with them.
Has anyone else been to a game yet this year? What were you impressions of the new rules?
The game was played between two fairly well matched teams, who are rivals. The previous games have always been great fun and everyone was really looking forward to it. That was dampened however during the first five minutes when it became clear it wasn't going to be allowed to be a classic. The players had been briefed beforehand not to criticise the referee for implementing the new rules and the spectactors had been warned not to moan about them as there were RFL representatives there. There was a massive interest in the percentage of penalties given for high shots and the referee, whilst giving a penalty for a high tackle a couple of times a minute, obsessed over penalties for anything else. Shepherds, incorrect play the balls, obstruction, tipping etc. They were 100% trying to 'prove' that the tackle height rule won't change the game as the percentage of penalties for high shots is similar. I'm not sure what the penalty stats for the game were, but I'd estimate around 60. The game was just never allowed to break out into any real rythym, neither side was able to build any momentum. The players were rusty as it was the first friendly of the season, but the general pattern of the game was: play the ball, penalty, kick. Play the ball, penalty, kick. Play the ball, tackle, play the ball knock on. I don't think there was a completed set for either side, other than tries. It was rare that teams got anywhere near the fifth tackle, in fact I'm not sure it happened once during the game. The referee admitted after the game that he had forgotten to even count the tackles several times. The players left the game very frustrated, lots of arm, shoulder knocks and a couple of head injuries too, just from impacts.
As a spectactor, the game was so, so different to watching a normal Under 18s/youth game. It was stop-start to the point of farce. People lost interest in the game a lot and started chatting, there was none of the usual atmosphere at the games or interest in the action. Most of the game was spent watching the lads stand round, waiting for another restart post-penalty or knock on. This in turn didn't help with the level of mistakes, as the game just never got going. A fascinating insight would be the GPS data from games like this. I'd think the players would be doing a fraction of the steps they did previously as the 'ball in play' time is absolutely minimal. If this is how the sport will be going forward (I'll admit it will improve as the players get used to it, how much is a big question though) it has changed from an non-stop action sport to a hybrid of Union and touch/tag. The tackle count is irrelevant and I think may well be removed in future, as it's genuinely pointless now. The frequency of the referee's input was staggering and what's left, if it's what I've watched today, isn't a sport you can sell for TV rights. It isn't entertaining enough to warrant it. If they are going to carry on with this approach, having penalties just advance the line 10m in future might be a better option, as it would remove the delays caused by kicking to touch, getting in position etc. It would at least speed things up and get the ball in play more.
A really disappointing element of it is how regimented and smug the RFL seem about it. They've made their mind up and any suggestion they are trialling this is a farce. The RFL representatives today left declaring it a big success. I'm not sure anyone invovled agrees with them.
Has anyone else been to a game yet this year? What were you impressions of the new rules?
Statistics: Posted by Saddened! — Sun Jan 21, 2024 6:59 pm — Replies 0 — Views 36