Adventures in Aussie Touch Footie Part 2 - Fight! Fight! Fight!

 
I've been refereeing, on average a couple of nights per week, with the Eastern Suburbs Touch Association out in Sydney's Queen's Park. Easts run the largest Touch comp in Australia - the current summer comp has on average 16 fields going for 2 timeslots 4 nights a week with further games running on Saturdays.

It is in essence a "park" comp but every player young or old brings a *very* competent basic skill level, so even down in division 15 (it does exist) they know what they're doing. At the other end of the scale in the upper divisions teams have the added expectation of winning, not to the mention the step-up in intensity that goes along with it. Last night I ran a Mixed Div 1-3 game in which just a couple of minutes in I sensed I may have problems with some of the fellas. It wasn't until later I would learn both sides had known mouthy players and one side had even been "given a season off" in the past - they were also both apparently in poor positions in the standings for exactly what I can't recall but suppose relegation or qualification for finals - either way they were up for putting one over on the other.

The first half was an untidy affair with players being particularly lazy on the scoreline with onside and moving out off the line. Mid-way though both sides started committing clumsy, borderline-physical touches that stuffed up the attacking player's roll ball began to creep in more and more. Not enough to warrant anything more than penalties but I did warn both sides to clean it up before blowing to start the second half. It seemed to have the desired effect, that was until a blue player pushed a red player (guys both of them) off his roll ball. The red player though, went down like a European footballer, like he'd been shot simultaneously with having both his legs broken. Pussy! Yes it was a push, but nowhere near what he'd made it look like. I had to send the blue guy to the sin bin for the push but sent the red guy as well for cheating to milk a penalty. Both guys went without much dispute so maybe the message was hitting home now. Things went pretty smoothly again for a while, that was until the red side got a breakaway from mid-way inside their own half. With the red guy haring down the left link channel a blue guy managed to run him down coming across from the middle. But he didn't stop at a touch, he pushed the runner over. And that's where the "fun" started...

The red guy got to his feet, understandably annoyed, and threw the ball at the blue guy's head - American football style - but thankfully missed. Both players fronted up to one another, testosterone flowing, and traded obscenities and insults escalating to punches. The other guys from both sides of course got involved - some to break it up, others to do the opposite - including one blue player who crossed the field from his own sub box to throw a punch. Not a lot you can do except take a step back and watch - as a referee you're expected to provide a report on this stuff. The squabbling continued even after the teams separated as players just wouldn't shut up. After I regained a modicum of control, I binned the blue player for the initial offense. I didn't realize until later that this was actually the same blue player I'd sent earlier for the same offense - so he should actually have been sent off - but I rectified that with Tournament Control later. Good experience though and lesson learned: stop to take note of players you discipline. The red player who got pushed did get sent off, as did the second blue player - it doesn't matter what others do they can't react the way they did.

Now we're about 2 minutes gone at this stage with players still bickering when, mercifully, the full time hooter went. Strictly speaking, I should have played the penalty but since (i) I couldn't decide (yes I admit it) who should get it, and (ii) I'd had enough of the lot of them, I just ended the game. The guys involved in the scrap were still exchanging verbals by the time I'd quickly and quietly clarified my decisions to one of each team so I just left them to it.

In case you're wondering, the score was tied!