Walking the Line

Tue, 13 May 2008 13:11

You see it every Saturday at schools and clubs and even at some provincial venues. Supporters traipsing up and down the touchline passionately following play and “living the game” themselves. These folk are almost never quite and shout and scream at their players, opposition players and the of course referee. Why do they do it and what do they hope to achieve?

An incident last Saturday brought this, I suggest distinctly South African phenomenon, back to the forefront of my mind. I took my school team back to play against my old school. Always a tough one but you always want your own team to win. The game was close and as the death the opposition had a number of line-outs close to our line. With only minutes remaining a successful drive would have seen them regain the lead and probably win the game.

The crowd of parents and boys from my old school moved as one into the corner where the action was. Shouting and screaming and encroaching on the field of play, it was a scene unbecoming of a derby match between these fine schools. I stood back watch and in the process lost some feeling towards my old school. I was left wondering whether schoolboy rugby is being played in the right spirit and for the right reasons.

Recently I attended a talk by Morné du Plessis in which he as founder member of the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Fund stated categorically that one of the main reasons for severe injuries in this country was overzealous and over-competitive parents.

Why can't parents just let the boy’s play? There is so much good about schoolboy rugby in this country – the sheer number of players taking the field and games taking place each weekend. The history, the derbies and the rivalries are unmatched in world rugby. Where else in the world do you have 20-odd teams from one school travelling across the country to play on an almost a weekly basis?

There is unfortunately also so much wrong with schoolboy or amateur rugby and to a large extent it is epitomised by the “walk the line” types. Schoolboy rugby should be kept “pure” and the brand of rugby should be open and expansive. I heard a classic the other day when we traveled to play a school out in the country. The opposition were awarded a penalty close to the line and the parents bayed for the ball to be kicked to touch so they could: “Maak soos die Bulle!” (Make like the Bulls)

Too often nowadays we see physiotherapists, dieticians and even biokineticists running onto the field of play, while sponsors and parents are meddling off the field. Matches should be devoid of bickering parents and most especially violence. Referees also bear the brunt of much criticism and although they perennially make the blood boil, take a step back and realise that without the ref there would be no game. He didn't write the ELV’s and didn't invent the tackle law and is also trying to enjoy himself. He normally receives no more than a Coke for his efforts.

Rugby is a unique team sport in that it has a place for everyone from the plump prop in the front-row to the speedsters out wide. It brings together boys from different backgrounds to play for a collective goal. Lets enjoy the game for what it is – just a game and relish in the fact that our kids have the opportunity to go out every weekend and have fun!