A good friend of Bahamas Rugby, John Devonport, sent me this. I thought it was worth posting.


Source: Dana Salviulo in Rugby Magazine



Turns out, reffing is really hard.


I had been tossing around the idea of reffing for several years. Proof of my intent is the fact that I took the ref test three years ago, but never turned it in. I wasn’t ready; I still wanted to play.


After three more years of playing, I knew more about the game; enough, I thought, to ref. After all, I coach kids in the summer, I coach a little D2, I play D1 and even went to Nationals last year. Basically, you could stick me at flanker, #8 or second row, and I "Get It".


I know how to play. I could contribute to the game and have a positive impact just by being on the field.


On March 26, 2006, I found myself once again on the field making an impact. But, with the whistle in my hand, I would hardly describe my impact as positive.


Kickoff


About three minutes before I blew the whistle for kickoff, I forgot everything I ever knew about rugby. Everything. Gone. Honest. I am not kidding.


For weeks I had been thinking about the kickoff. What would happen? I knew how to manage it all.


The ball goes into Touch. Choices: Re-do, scrum center or line out at center.


The ball goes In Goal, Touch in–goal or over dead ball line: Choices: Re-do or scrum.


I would look for the knock…and even try to play advantage on it. I thought I knew every scenario cold.


So what happened at kickoff? Did I do it right?


I think Coast Guard caught the ball cleanly and started moving upfield. Gee, I wasn’t prepared to manage that!


I don’t really remember the first few minutes of the game. I do remember a player on the sideline asking for a time check (probably wanting to sync their time with mine). After looking at my watch, I panicked! I realized that my second watch (the one I was wearing just in case the first one failed) still read zero. I forgot to start it!


Here’s the best part. The first watch did essentially fail. Well, I failed.

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