Coach's views have wide implications

David Matthews finds that England Coach Eddie Jones may have lessons for us all

Speaking on the popular Radio Five Sportsweek programme ahead of England's autumn Internationals, England supremo Eddie Jones gave an illuminating insight into some of the thoughts which occupy the coach's mind. In a twenty-four hours a day commitment from which it was impossible to switch off - he has been known to send emails at 5.00am and not be pleased if an immediate reply was not forthcoming - he drew upon an analogy with his original life as a schoolmaster. The wisdom, I am sure, would not be lost on top referees.

One stand out recollection from his days in teaching was of the number who entered the profession with the sole aim of securing a regular wage packet. It was essential, he considered, in order to derive maximum satisfaction from the job, that one gave absolutely everything to it; the role of the coach was identical, and when the time came for that not to be the case, or enthusiasm waned, that would be the signal to call it a day. The referee, on his path to the highest level, must surely have the same mentality.

I can honestly say that even before the advent of the full-time referee, once the sport became professional, the game of rugby union had taken on a different kind of intensity. A Saturday match which demanded the highest levels of concentration still occupied the mind on the following Monday which meant that the 'day job' did not always receive full attention. And if there was a big game coming up the following weekend mental preparation was likely to begin as early as Thursday. In the early days of a handful of referees reaching professional status, one of the earliest realizations was not just that the time available to train properly could be carefully organized but that there was quality time to really 'get your head around' the game; all light years ahead of trying to juggle two jobs between Monday and Friday.

Professional anything, be it playing, coaching or refereeing is a privilege. The 'only a game' philosophy ceases to apply, the responsibility is enormous but it is still possible to be enjoyable and those who can convey that to the watching public are usually at the top of their game. It is one feature of the job which is very difficult to coach, the one which combines personality with flair.

You always remember short, concise pieces of advice which stand the test of time. The two I have in mind are not from the textbook but from eminent rugby people who made huge contributions to the game. The first was the late Gordon Macintosh, a revered President of Lancashire, Waterloo and the Liverpool Referees Society. His words were simply "The secret of it all, gentlemen, calmness." International referee Clive Norling offered a more game related “The advantage law, separates those [referees] up there from those down there." Eddie Jones packed a lot into a short radio interview, so much on which to reflect; we look forward to continued success for England over the next few weeks.

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06 November 2016