Prior to the 1980s, international hockey matches were played on grass but thereafter all international matches (and subsequently all league matches) were played on the synthetic Astroturf pitches, where the ball ran smoother and players were less likely to miss the ball. A survey was done to see the effect of such pitches on matches and the following interesting statistic was discovered: in international hockey matches which were played on grass, the ball was in play thirty-five percent of the time but in international matches played on Astroturf the ball was in play seventy-five percent of the time. The ball went out of play less often and the fouls committed were less frequent. As a result, the game was far more interesting to watch and far more exciting (and tiring!) to play. The percentage no doubt rose even more in the 1990s when the offside rule was abolished and the obstruction law was amended – no wonder ‘rolling substitutes’ were also introduced!
One of the biggest frustrations for players and spectators alike is when the whistle is blown regularly, thus disrupting the match. It seems at times that referees enjoy the limelight and delight in being the centre of attention by blowing their whistle for every conceivable infringement; many will think they are doing a great job in doing so as it will show they know the rules and they are not afraid to apply them. They operate by the letter of the law. This also happens at school level, even at junior Primary level, with any and every offence blown up.
It may well be argued, however, that the best referees are the ones who are able to let play flow, who play advantage wherever possible, who understand that players want to keep playing. When a foul is committed the referee can still say, “Play on!” if the team offended against still has some advantage, for what the referee is saying in that context is, “I know there was a foul, I saw it, but it wasn’t serious and you still have the ball and have a chance to do something with it.” In a similar vein, when a more serious offence is committed, a referee may decide that a quiet word a little later on is sufficient to prevent it happening again or that action needs to be taken immediately.
Interestingly, the former Liverpool manager, Bill Shankly, took the view that, “If a player is not interfering with play or seeking to gain an advantage, then he should be.” He was arguing that an effective player should be playing so close to the edge of the rules so that he can maximise his chances; if the referee can play advantage, so can the players, is his view.
In seeking to make decisions, one key factor which a referee needs to consider is whether the offence committed was deliberate and intentional or innocent and accidental. Another factor is whether the team offended against has gained any advantage, in which case the game should be allowed to go on. Thirdly, a factor to be considered is the age group and ability of the players; at Colts level, if the referee was to blow every offence there would almost be no action at all, as the children would constantly be stopped due to a foul committed. We all want the advantage.
The fact is that our views of how a referee should function mirror the way we see how the law applies in life generally. The lessons we learn from sport in this regard are invaluable when it comes to life beyond school. We all need to learn to live, not simply by the letter of the law but more by the spirit of the law, when it comes to how we treat people as well as sport. Wherever possible in life we need to play the advantage ‘rule’, teachers and parents especially. If an offence is not too serious, if an advantage has still accrued, if the lesson has been learned, if it was accidental, then we do not necessarily have to blow up or blow the whistle. The caution or explanation can always come later.
Those of us who have the opportunity of playing sport have a huge advantage (and indeed privilege) over those who cannot, not least as it helps to develop how we treat other people and different situations. It is an advantage (as in tennis) which is a stepping stone to us achieving our goals. We must allow our children to play advantage as much as possible, in sport and in life, so they can gain the most pleasure, the greatest benefit and the fullest experience. It is not just a good pitch that gives players the advantage. We want them to play on with their sport their whole life and we want them to enjoy their life to the full. So, come on – play on! Advantage, receiver!
