Comments on rules / refs I sent to NA Hardcourt

Stop changing the point to offer some validity to your previous question. I mean a FOUL. Do new players know what a FOUL is? do you want me to list the rules here, in case a new player is reading this post, right now?

Typically the sign of a really good ref is that you dont notice them at all.

That's the sign of a match between like-minded players. What happens in a game where you get a team who will happily grab bars and stick mallets under wheels vs a team that is unwilling to do that stuff? If you don't notice the ref in that match then I would say that's a bad ref because they haven't levelled the playing field.

Bill, New players will never learn because they don't play refereed games, they play pick up with people like you.

Take some fucking responsibility for yourself. You know the rules. If people cannot play by the rules then they should expect the community to ask them to stop coming back to polo. Simple.

Surely if you'd hoped that EAST would be like that, you would have told the players before the games that there was no referee.

Lockett did say in his refs briefing that it was a showcase event and he hoped he wouldn't have to be too involved. I understood this to mean that players should keep themselves in check.

And for the most part, they did.

And to point out, I am not saying there should be no referees, I'm saying that my previous point about players having more respect for one another and taking responsibility for their actions is what is really important. At present people are playing as if it's a game based around seeing what you can get away with or without the referee seeing what you've done wrong. And if the player gets caught out, they then carry on bitching with the referee, instead of getting back on with the game or accepting the penalty.
I'm not saying everyone does this, I think some people do.

+1 to all this.

We should also remeber when drawing comparisons with other sports that they are all well established and the rules have been set down and learnt for decades.
We are at the forefront of polo, we make the rules. If we decide to play with a fairer mindset and that cheating will not be tolerated from other players, then we can instigate this from throw-ins up to tourneys. Telling new players that they are playing in a way that goes against the ethos of the sport ensures they start off on the right foot and learn the game the right way.
Grassroots is the place to start and that's where we are now.

+1

Telling new players that they are playing in a way that goes against the ethos of the sport ensures they start off on the right foot...
I agree in principal but this doesn't go far enough for my own tastes, we should be telling old players when they're playing in a way that goes against the ethos as well. If we're not prepared to stand up to each other when we're playing out of line then how will we ever be able to do the new guys?

I agree in principal but this doesn't go far enough for my own tastes, we should be telling old players when they're playing in a way that goes against the ethos as well. If we're not prepared to stand up to each other when we're playing out of line then how will we ever be able to do the new guys?

Definitely agreed. The experienced players should be leading by example.

Andy, you didn't call for tap outs in any of the games I watched/played. I don't understand your point, if you didn't like the way games were being played, you should have blown the whistle.

The players should not be to blame, the referee let's games get out of hand. (to a degree)

Andy, you didn't call for tap outs in any of the games I watched/played. I don't understand your point, if you didn't like the way games were being played, you should have blown the whistle.

The players should not be to blame, the referee let's games get out of hand. (to a degree)

That's just wrong. If the game get's out of hand then it's only the players to blame. You've kinda just emphasised the points we've been making by blaming the ref for the players bad behaviour and not the players themselves.

Yeh but I disagree with them, we have a ref there for a reason, to dictate the rules of the game. If players were breaking rules, they should have been called out on it.

It's hard to discuss things like this over the internet, I am not advorcating subversion of the rules to get away with stuff. I am just trying to make the point that the ref cannot blame players for their conduct in a game if they never mentioned it during play. You basically veto the style of play by not commenting, as a ref.

Agreed. Which kinda takes us back to Gabes point about Geneva and the role of the refs.

This thread reminds me of watching Yorgo ride round and round and round in circles.

and may I add, that Bill is the only ref I have witnessed who has the balls to actually stand up for the rules and dictate them to players. Say what you will about his play if you want, but London should be grateful that we have him. Even when he plays abroad he is called upon for big games ffs. I maintain if he hadn't been in KRH it would have been a mess, most of the other reffing was non existent and completely inconsistent.

Why do people insist on bating him on-line and in person about this. How can you not appreciate his efforts in refereeing polo?

^ I concur, it's also worth noting the lack of respect most referees get in-game.

and may I add, that Bill is the only ref I have witnessed who has the balls to actually stand up for the rules and dictate them to players. Say what you will about his play if you want, but London should be grateful that we have him. Even when he plays abroad he is called upon for big games ffs. I maintain if he hadn't been in KRH it would have been a mess, most of the other reffing was non existent and completely inconsistent.

Why do people insist on bating him on-line and in person about this. How can you not appreciate his efforts in refereeing polo?

Well said. I would like to think that I started out like this when I reffed the league games last season. After a while though I couldn't be arsed with all the grief for very little thanks. Bill's made of much thicker skin than me and can take the flak, fair play to him for that.