Comments on: Ireland v England: England and the away advantage

By: Blub

Blub — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 10:05:34 +0000

Good article Zane. I was particularly drawn to the comment that the officials “earn only $60 to $70 per game”.

I believe that Rugby refs in England earn nothing below league Level 5.

Over the course of this season I have witnessed some horrendous haranguing of refs during my U16 team’s matches. Sometimes from coaches, who are blatantly trying to influence decisions.

By: Zane

Zane — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 19:10:20 +0000

Great answer here. Just read something recently that quoted a youth sport statistic that said 37% of kids didn’t actually want their parents at the game!

http://www.wtol.com/story/34524524/out-of-bounds-parents-actions-in-the-stands-hurting-the-integrity-of-the-game

By: Zane

Zane — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 19:04:38 +0000

As they say, the most important part of youth sport is the conversation in the car ride home.

By: Zane

Zane — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 18:40:36 +0000

Haha, that’s the most you’ll get though. I’ll admit “it could have gone either way…”
Still thing we earned and deserved it ;)

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 17:48:14 +0000

Agree with this Blub. It is so important that parents show kids why they might love a game rather than focus on success. Encouragement without pressure is the right approach.

By: Blub

Blub — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 12:46:52 +0000

Stroudos, I am not sure that there is much research on the effect on pressure against relative performance in children but there is a lot of research on the continued participation of children in their sports.

Put very simply, the biggest reason children give up sport is because they stop enjoying it, and the biggest reason they stop enjoying it is because of the pressure they feel from adults (pressure to perform and/or to win).

Anecdotally, as a coach of (too) many years I have no doubt that parental pressure, implied or explicit, does not improve performance.

By: Hutch

Hutch — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 11:34:14 +0000

Thanks for the comment, appreciate it :)

We have a great team of contributors at the moment, and it’s all their work.

By: Cadarn

Cadarn — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 11:25:46 +0000

Just commenting to say that i have noticed the insightful nature of revent articles on this blog. Far greater levels of thought recently, i’m very impressed??

By: stroudos

stroudos — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 10:01:33 +0000

Is Zane coming back on here for Q&A?
I’ve got a couple of questions and would appreciate his thoughts:

1. Interesting stats from baseball and basketball, then you mention there’s not much data for rugby. I would have thought obtaining that data would be relatively straightforward and I’d definitely be interested to see if the same pattern is observed. I’m not volunteering to go and do the research…

2. The anecdote about dads watching their kids is illuminating. I wonder if there’s any solid research to back this up and consequently any recommendations for how best to support your kid at sport. I’m sure many of us believe that being there in support is a positive thing, but it’s useful to bear in mind that that might not always be the case.

I’d also like to show any research you have on this to one of the dads at my son’s football team, (OK wrong sport, but mutando mutatis the same rules apply). Constantly giving advice to his kid and to most of the others if he can get away with it. The bloke definitely means well, but it’s clear to all of us that he causes more confusion and uncertainty than anything else. Pisses the coach off no end too!

By: stroudos

stroudos — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 09:50:10 +0000

He’s a psychologist; he’s just trying to gain your trust and get you to like him!!

By: stroudosss

stroudosss — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 09:48:54 +0000

Not sure setting up a match with NZ is a smart way to try and extend your winning record……

By: Tonytaff

Tonytaff — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 09:42:54 +0000

First time I have heard a kiwi admit Joubert’s role in handing the 2011 World Cup to the home nation!