The State Cup is NSW's premier Touch competition. This year marked the 32nd annual event and its 20th consecutive year in Port Macquarie. I'm not sure where to begin with describing it but I enjoyed every minute. From seeing the size of the (virtually empty) event venue when I arrived on the first morning to seeing 20-odd games running concurrently during the day and each with its own groups of supporters and spectators - it was unlike anything I've ever participated in before, sporting or otherwise. This was my experience.
Thursday 4th December
"The Wagga Boys & The Irishman"
Not the opening line of a cheesy joke, rather the beginning of an entertaining road trip. I met up with the guys on their way through Sydney. This was about 12noon after the guys had already been on the road from Wagga since before 6am with another 4-5 hours left up to Port. Distance-wise that's roughly the equivalent of driving between Cardiff & London 3 times, from Berlin to Munich and half way back again, or almost 4 times between east & west *coasts* of my native Ireland. Australia is roughly 3/4 the size of all of Europe and long road trips are commonplace. Fortunately with Luke & Blake in the car, entertainment was provided ;-)
Got to the hotel and met Matto & Westy (great to see you again after Euros guys...) as well as the rest of the coaching panel. It wouldn't be until tournament proper that I would start to appreciate just how good these people are at what they do but already blindingly clear was how much they enjoy doing it and being around one another. The ref from Europe (complete with glowing Irish sun tan) stuck out a mile which of course meant various banter was lobbed in my general direction - reminded me that we were here to enjoy ourselves as well as run hard. I confess I’d spent more time focusing on the latter, worrying about my ability being good enough to bridge the gap between Euro and Aussie Touch - especially since I'd been billed as AU4 level badge - so this went some way to relieving nerves.
In an interesting turn of events, I've been told I “star” in one of the coaching development DVDs they use here in NSW! It’s apparently one of my games from the first day at Euros 2008. Now that I think about it I'm not sure it’s a good thing I'm in it given that it’s a coaching tool, i.e. training people to identify what the subject should be doing better! Hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on a copy.
Friday 5th December
"Wow - look at the size of *this* place."
After an early start and quick breakfast - as they generally are at Touch comps - I hitched a ride to the grounds for the 8:30am referees' meeting. I'd seen and heard a few numbers regarding the size of the competition but upon arriving at the ground I realized I had no concept of what they meant (the largest competition I'd ever been to was the 2008 Euros - 6 fields, a referee team of about 50, I forget the number of teams). The referees' tent alone was massive - and it needed to be to accommodate a team of some 220 people - while 22 fields would be the battleground for over 200 teams across 15 divisions. Despite its size & number of people, things would run pretty much like clockwork over the entire weekend. And so it was time to check my appointments.9:35 / Men's Open B. A long walk out to Field 21, but the positive in that is you can get your warm-up done en route. It was a pacey game and an immediate step up in terms of both standard & style from what I've been used to - thankfully it was still rather cool (by Australian summer standards!) but it would only get hotter. I was pleased with my contribution and the coaching I received which immediately gave me something to work on next game.
13:05 / Mixed Open. Really nice open, pacey game and a chance to referee with "The Brick", who I think is as close to a refereeing legend as you'll find. Gary Brickell: a referee of 31 years' experience, 25 of those at "State grade" level (Aussie Level 4 badge or higher), who obtained his black badge at 53 years of age, among numerous other achievements. I've been involved in Touch for just 4 years so some of these numbers are just incomprehensible to me. It was an honour and education to run out with such an experienced and respected figure in the game.
Darting off for an interchange in that game I got a little distracted having to look twice for what out of the corner of my eye seemed a familiar face. Lokkers! Great to catch up with you over here mate - safe travels as you continue your hols and back to Munich.14:50 / Senior Mixed. A disappointing, niggly affair with neither side really willing to listen or work with the referees - of course we had to continue pulling up each offense which led to bickering within and between the sides and ultimately not a nice atmosphere. From a refereeing perspective I wasn't sure what else we could have done for the flow of the game, an opinion echoed by my team mates, but these are the experiences you try to learn from.
16:35 / Men's 35s. Second game of the day where there a coach was present. Accepted practice as I've been learned is for the sideline referee to initiate an interchange in open play and that there is express verbal communication between them and the control referee. This was one example how where I realized referees are on a different plane down here - they interchange seamlessly with as little as a glance or eye contact, certainly at the higher badge levels anyway. So I ended up on-field for far too long first half listening for calls that never came and being restricted to interchanges on possession changes or penalties. Unsurprisingly this was a big coaching point I received at half time. It took me a while to adjust to their system but it got better second half.
With active duties over for the day I now had time to watch a game or two, enjoy the skills of the players and attempt to identify some refereeing techniques I could apply to my own game. Then it was back to the hotel for showers and a carb loading dinner - crisps, pizzas & a "stubby" or two - then an early night. Mmm, champion.
Saturday 6th December
"What a scorcher."
Games tapped off at 8am today so it was an even earlier start than Friday. I wasn't supposed to be up until 10:20 so despite calls of "you idiot :-)" from Luke, I volunteered to run an extra game as I was feeling energetic despite only scavenging a piece of fruit for breakfast.
08:35 / Women's Open. And I'm glad I did. As luck would have it, I got coaching from one of the Panel who saw me yesterday - and most if not all of what appeared on yesterday's coaching sheet was gone today. I had to ask if that was because I'd improved on it and was delighted to get validation of it. Of course, that was now replaced with coaching to improve to the next level, which was a good result for me.
10:20 / Senior Mixed. A solid performance in a decent game with positive feedback. Not much to talk about.
12:05 / Mixed Open. By now the temperature had soared to a sweltering 38 degrees, with high humidity too. This was challenging enough but come half time I was beginning to regret the bacon-egg-sausage sandwich with BBQ sauce I'd devoured barely 30 minutes beforehand (missing breakfast had clearly caught up on me). Fortunately the players also seemed to be feeling the heat and conserving themselves. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it... no lethargy here.
13:50 / Mixed Open. My third game of the day being coached and reinforcement of some coaching points I'd received previously. I'm going to have to work extra hard to develop these ones.
The field
s are by now choc full of spectators and supporters, enjoying a Sunday afternoon of beautiful sunshine and great Touch. I have never seen so many Touchies in one place and I'm starting to think my next European competition, in terms of size, will feel like being out in a small local park.17:20 / Women's Open. The final time slot of the day, which no referee wants, especially if you've had a lengthy break in between. For me it was an opportunity to run at the cooler end of the day and really try to work on some of my feedback. At the end of day 2, I was really starting to appreciate the the SKINS compression pants I'd bought - expensive at AU$140 for the full leg length ones but they really do benefit recovery.
There was a formal referees' dinner that evening, another eye opener for me. Refereeing is taken seriously down here with a goal oriented and success recognition culture, just like in professional organizations. Referees, despite the "shtick" they get, are both admired and respected here for the effort they put in to developing themselves, as it is the players and the game that ultimately benefits from it. So to attend this dinner and see so many people from Australia & New Zealand wearing blazers & ties, pins, etc. in their State or even National colours was fantastic to witness and for me really emphasized the achievement & prestige of becoming an elite level referee and to be recognized for it.
Sunday 7th December
Finals Day
The earliest start of the weekend - 6am! This was to arrive in time for an earlier than usual referees' meeting to accommodate then announcements of finals appointments and lower level upgrades. Then it was down to business - just two games for me today, a Men's Open quarter final and later on a Senior Men's semi.
Men's Open QF. This was a really good, competitive game - which I guess it would want to be given it was an elimination round. I was really pleased with my performance in this one, particularly as I was being assessed once again. Naturally there are a couple of things I need to work on but I got two really big positives too. First, remembering the coaching DVD, I was told I looked a different referee (good different!) to the guy in the video. Second, the feedback on the game was that my effort was "controlled" and that I fit into the Australian Level 4 badge. This was the undoubted highlight of my weekend as I got the validation I came for.
Men's 35s SF. Another really competitive game which this time went to a drop off. They're trialling a new procedure here (I think it originated in New Zealand) where the drop off starts at position of the mark with the team in possession resuming the game - under current rules the team that wins the toss has a huge advantage in the drop off and this amendment addresses it. Either way it was a new experience being in the middle at end-of-game/start-of-drop-off and I was happy to get it.
And that was it for my involvement. 2½ days, 11 games run, coached no less than 6 times... a pretty good return. Now I could kick back, relax and enjoy the finals. In what I thought was a really nice touch (no pun intended) each of the grand finals were preceded by the teams & referees lining up in front of the main stand for the national anthem. We got some high quality games too with scores of 5-4 (mixed), 4-2 (women's) and 6-3 (men's). The men's final was particularly enjoyable with Benji Marshall (of New Zealand international rugby league fame - they recently won the world cup) turning out for Wests Magpies drawing more than one "OHHHHH!!" moment from the crowd... scoop from the roll ball, pause, skip, step then BAM! a reverse 25 metre pass to the wing for the touchdown... a joy to watch.
Brilliant, brilliant event and one I would love to come back some day - thank you Matto and NSWTA for having me. It was great to catch up with old mates and make some new ones. I also got invited for Christmas :-) which was really, really nice. Man, I love this sport and the people it attracts...
To any of my fellow Euro referees reading this, if you should find yourselves on this side of the world in December make sure you get to State Cup - you'll get so much from it.
