Television Match Official Review in Rugby Union: the Sequence of Referee''s Actions

Abstract

The paper examines how rugby referee requests video review of a game episode by a television match official (TMO) who assists referee in adjusting or revising in-game decisions. Author describes a number of fragments of test rugby broadcasts where actions of a referee from stopping play to video review request are shown. Author derives from the TMO Global Trial Protocol, a special document which regulates sequence and content of match officials' actions during consultation with the TMO. The description is made from the perspective of ethnomethodology and is provided with transcripts of conversations and video fragments. The paper suggests a number of guesses about sequence and content of the referee's actions related to blowing a whistle to stop play, stopping time with or without special signs and gestures, assistant referee's involvement, and location of participants of the situation. Author claims that it is not necessary for a referee to follow the Protocol in case his actions were properly understood by other participants. His moves, gestures and words as well as his orientation on players and assistants provide other participants enough information for meaningful interpretation of what is happening here and now. This allows to prevent halts and breaks during the game when the referee violates the sequence of actions provided by the Protocol. So social and ordered character of the situation under consideration is emphasized.