NonContact Rugby Guidelines Coaching and Refereeing 1222007

1
Non-Contact Rugby GuidelinesCoaching and
Refereeing12/2/2007
Patrick Walsh Potomac Rugby Union Youth League
2
Why Non-Contact Rugby ?

• Parents and kids and organizations are
  comfortable with non-tackle aspect
• Allows larger age range of kids to play together
• Allows boys and girls to play together
• More coaches available who are comfortable with
  Non-Contact

3
History of Non-Contact

• 1994 Laws Committee
• Tony Rocha was chairman
• AAU Jr. Olympics Competition
• Law reviews/updates after event end
• 1995 USA Rugby sponsored video created
• 1999 Rugby Magazine articles
• Starting programs and coaching/refereeing
  Non-Contact
• USA Technical Committee/Technical Director agree
  that youth laws/video under Youth purview
• Youth Rules Committee

4
Theme/Purpose of Non-Contact

• Reduce Physicality
• Teach the skills
• Have Non-Contact look as much like tackle rugby
  as possible
• Improve the coaching rather than change the game
• When demonstrating, explain how it works w/
  tackle, then how it works w/ Non-Contact

5
Overview

• About Rugby
• About Refereeing Rugby
• The Non-Contact Game
• Basic rugby principles
• Adapting from the tackle game
• Referee positioning
• Concluding Points

6
Precedence

• If there is any inconsistency between this
  presentation and the USA Rugby Guidelines, the
  Guidelines are to be followed

7
Preamble

• Developed by USA Rugby Youth Guidelines Committee
  including members from Youth Committee, Game
  Development Committee, and Referees Association
• Guidelines are practical guide regarding
  Non-Contact laws
• Suggestions are welcome
• Call made to LAUs and YDOs
• Suggestions are received, evaluated, and
  Guidelines adjusted accordingly
• Guidelines describe game played by relatively
  experienced players
• For less experienced players
• Referees may decide to not stop play for minor
  infringements
• Be even-handed
• Certain parts of the game (rucks, mauls) may be
  taught later
• DONT UNDERESTIMATE YOUR PLAYERS!

8
Preamble

• Guidelines are worded to describe what players
  and match officials should do
• Coaches should coach players to properly
  appreciate and demonstrate play consistent with
  these Guidelines

9
About Coaching Rugby

• When asked about a particular aspect of
  Non-Contact rugby
• Start with, Heres how it works in tackle
  rugby
• Finish with, So, this is how we do it with
  Non-Contact Rugby.

10
About Refereeing Rugby

• Call what you see
• Not what others may/may think they see
• Appointed touch judges can aid ref in seeing
• "Be there"
• Communicate what you see
• Non-contact game specifics
• Partly a coach, mostly an educator
  encouragement
• techniques
• fan management
• Never a policeman (who just penalizes)
• Always a communicator
• Eventually an exceptional manager...

11
Non-Contact SpecificsOverview

• Principles
• Safety
• Space
• Support and continuity (adapting the tackle game)
• The Tag
• Ruck/Mauls
• Restarts
• Positioning

12
PrinciplesSafety

• Safety is paramount! (there may be age, size or
  gender differences)
• Tag is a tag, not a shove or push (regardless of
  intent) P.K.
• Blocking/obstructing P.K.
• Diving on someone with the ball P.K.
• Chasing after a ball pushing/shoving P.K.

13
PrinciplesSpace

• Critical for good play to occur
• referee defines/enforces the offside lines
• communicate!
• Offside lines at
• set pieces (lineout, scrum, kicks)
• at the maul or ruck
• Space at the tag
• no blocking the passing lanes by the tagger
• one meter from the ball carrier after the tag

14
PrinciplesSupport and Continuity

• Tag (adaptation of the tackle game)
• Tag situation Tackle situation
• TWO (2) hands at the same time
• Between waist to knee
• When tagged
• keep running
• pass 'immediately'

15
PrinciplesSupport and Continuity

• At the tag, the ball carrier may play the ball
  immediately
• if not immediately, defensive team gets the scrum
• 'play' usually means pass
• but could mean place it on the ground
• Referee defines 'immediately'
• Dependent upon players experience/skill level
• time/steps to the pass
• existence of support
• awareness of support
• Balance giving the kids a chance vs increasingly
  challenge the athletes

16
Positioning

• In general play
• on a line through the ball and parallel to the
  try lines
• be close enough to see the tag/hear the ruck" or
  "maul" called.but not in the way!
• At the scrums
• beside the scrum half to insure "crouch, touch,
  pause, engage" sequence
• then slightly behind the defensive scrum, so as
  to see when the ball is out, yet be out of the
  way
• At the lineouts
• at the front of the line during formation to
  coach them into place then move to one side.
  Then follow the ball

17
Concluding Points

• Attitudes
• Players trash talking, taunting not allowed
• Coaches, Parents abusivenot allowed
• Yours helpful, not dictatorial
• Be fair and helpful to both sides
• Communicate / Explain
• After the game, join in
• Above all, have fun!!

18
Non-Contact Guidelines

• Note Penalties are not included in this
  presentation
• Refer to Guidelines

19
Laws 1,2 - Ground and Ball

• Law 1 Ground
• Older participants, full size field (50 yards
  wide)
• Younger Participants, reduce field size
• Maintain touch lines, in-goal, 22 meters, 10
  meters
• Law 2 Ball
• U17, 5
• U15, 4
• U11, 4 (3 may be considered)
• U9, 3

20
Law 3 - Number of Players

• 7 (3 forwards and 4 backs)
• Play 15s style rugby, dont play 7s style rugby
• Free replacements at beginning of each period
• Replaced players may not play until next period
• Exception injury, but only if there are no other
  replacements available
• Player replaced for injury may not play until
  next period
• Yellow card 5 minutes
• Red card may not play, nor be replaced for the
  match

21
Law 4 - Clothing

• Suitable clothing for running, falling down,
  getting dirty, etc.
• All items are to be soft, pliable material
• Exception boots
• Prohibited
• Eyeglasses
• Harnesses, braces, helmets containing metal or
  hard plastic

22
Law 5 - Time

• 4 periods of 10 minutes maximum each
• Half time break is 10 minutes max
• Other intervals are 2 minutes max
• Restart after 1st and 3rd interval
• At place and manner as if interval had not
  occurred
• Suggestion referee note situation at stoppage
• Referee may stop clock for injury, equipment
  changes, incidents of foul play

23
Law 6 - Match Officials

• Referee holds coin toss
• Winning captain chooses field end to defend or
  kick off
• If kick off chosen, then losing captain chooses
  field end to defend
• Referee is sole judge of fact and Law
• Team coaches, other team officials, and others
  may not question referee's authority or decisions
• Includes parents, players, etc.
• When referee blows the whistle, all action stops
• Exception kickoffs
• Referee may appoint touch judges to assist

24
Law 7 - Mode of Play

• Match started with kick-off
• Any player on-sides
• may take the ball
• run with it
• throw or kick the ball
• give or pass the ball to another player
• tag an opposition ball carrier
• fall on the ball
• ground the ball in an in-goal area
• take part in a scrum, ruck, maul, line-out

25
Law 8 - Advantage

• Takes precedence over most laws
• Allows play to be more continuous
• Referee should not stop play if non-infringing
  team is likely to gain advantage
• Referee is sole judge
• For very young/inexperienced players, referee may
  decide to play-on despite certain
  minor/unintentional infringements
• Be even handed for both team

26
Law 9 - Method of Scoring

• Try 5 points
• Player first to ground ball in opponents in-goal
• Penalty try 5 points
• Probable try except for opponent foul play
• Conversion 2 points
• Place or drop kick on a line parallel to touch
  line thru point where try was scored
• Penalty kick 3 points
• Place kick or drop kick at or on line parallel to
  touchline behind point of awarded penalty
• Drop Goal 3 points
• Permitted during general play
• Not immediately after free kick

27
Law 10- Foul Play

• Player and opposition running for ball
• neither shall charge or push other
• except with the shoulder
• Equal and opposite pressure
• Player shall not prevent opponent from tagging
  ball-carrier
• By blocking path to ball carrier
• Players may not twist, grab, push, pull
  opposition
• Including during tags, rucks, mauls, lineouts,
  scrums, general play, etc.
• Ball carrier or not

28
Law 10- Foul Play

• Opposition may not force or attempt to force ball
  from ball carriers hands
• Opposition shall not hold an opponent
• Except in scrum, ruck, maul
• Opposition shall not attempt a tag by diving or
  leaving their feet.
• Players shall not do anything that is
• Unsafe or dangerous for that player or any other
  player
• Against the spirit of good sportsmanship
• Players shall not repeatedly infringe any Law or
  Laws

29
Law 10- Foul Play

• Collisions
• All players are responsible to avoid collisions
• Players may not run into opposition in a manner
  that causes a collision
• Opposition vs. ball carrier
• Ball carrier vs. opposition
• Players may not step into the path of the
  opposition in a manner that causes a collision
• A player must avoid collisions with opponent who
  has just kicked the ball
• Referee decides who caused collision
• Unintentional, yet match impact gtscrum to team
  last in possession

30
Law 10- Foul Play

• Penalty
• Most cases, penalty kick
• Foul play prevents probable try gt penalty try
• Temporary suspension (yellow card) gt 5 minutes
  w/ no replacement in that time
• Serious foul play
• Repeated infringements
• Send off of player (red card) gt remainder of
  match
• Very serious foul play
• Continued repeated infringements
• No replacement for match and possibly balance of
  tournament

31
Law 11 Off-side On-side

• General Comment Player may not be in front of a
  teammate who has the ball or last played the
  ball.
• Be proactive
• Communicate with players
• Warn them that they need to get on-sides or that
  they are off-sides (stand still or retreat)
• Let them know when they are on-sides

32
Law 11 Off-side On-side

• Ball has been kicked
• Teammates in front of kicker must not move
  forward or take part in play until on-sides
• Off-side players within 10 meters of where ball
  will land or where opposition is waiting to
  receive the ball must move away
• Penalty P.K. at point of infraction or scrum at
  original kick location
• How to be put on-sides from kick
• Team-mates on-side pass off-side player
• Non-kicking team
• Blocks kick
• Passes or kicks ball
• Runs with ball 5 meters

33
Law 11 Off-side On-side

• Rucks, mauls, scrums, line-outs
• Each has off-side lines
• Refer to each relevant guideline
• Off-side player becomes on-side
• Opponent runs 5 meters with ball
• Opponent kicks ball
• Opponent passing ball DOES NOT create on-sides
• Penalty P. K. at infringement location
• Accidental offside
• Ball carrier runs into teammate who is in front
• Penalty scrum if opponent prevented from tagging
  ball carrier
• Knock-on and teammate off-sides plays ball
• Scrum if opponents not deprived of advantage
• P. K. otherwise

34
Law 12 Knock-on and throw forward

• Knock-on
• Ball dropped forward or
• Ball hits players hand or arm, goes forward, and
• Touches another player or ground before original
  player can catch it
• Kick charge down
• Not knock-on unless player tried to catch ball
• Throw forward (Forward pass)
• Player throws/passes ball forward
• Penalty Scrum to opponent at infringement
  location

35
Law 13 Kick-off and Restart Kicks

• At 1st and 3rd period start
• Drop kick at center of half-was line
• Team kicking at 1st period decided by coin toss
• Team kicking at 3rd period is other team
• After score, team who scored kicks off
• Teammates behind kicker
• Opposition 10 meters from half way line
• Opposition may not move forward until kick
• Play on!
• If kicked ball travels 10 meters or opposition
  plays ball
• Kickers team may play ball after it travels 10
  meters

36
Law 13 Kick-off and Restart Kicks

• Ball does not travel 10 meters or kicking team
  touches ball first before ball travels 10 meters
• Opposition picks re-kick or scrum at center of
  half way line
• Ball goes directly into touch
• Opposition picks re-kick, lineout, or scrum at
  center of half way line
• Ball goes directly into in-goal without touching
  opposition and is grounded immediately
• Scrum at half way line
• If kick was from 22 drop-out, then scrum at 22
• Throw-in by opposition
• Younger playersconsider
• Distance less than 10 meters for ball travel from
  kick
• A couple chances at completing a drop kick
• Place kick

37
Law 13 Kick-off and Restart Kicks (Drop-outs)

• Drop kick from anywhere behind the 22, must cross
  22
• Kicker teammates must be behind kicker
• Opposition may not prevent the kick from crossing
  22
• If kick goes directly into touch or does not
  cross 22
• Scrum at 22 to opposition
• Another drop-out
• Line-out where ball went into touch to opposition

38
Law 14 Ball on Ground, No tackle

• Player may pick it up, kick it, fall on it
• On ground w/ ball gt get up with it, pass,
  release it
• Player may not stay on ground with ball waiting
  for help
• Player on ground touched by opposition w/ both
  hands on torso or legs
• Must pass or release ball
• After playing ball, must get back on feet to join
  game
• Players on feet may play ball when it leaves
  hands of player on ground
• On feet gt feet support player
• On hands and feet means not on feet
• On knee and foot gt not on feet

39
Law 14 Ball on Ground, No tackle

• Players from both teams on ground
• Ref declares player who wins ball
• Red ball, blue get away, red play it!
• If ref cannot decide, scrum to attacking side
• Ref makes sure
• Players not diving dangerously
• Players not using bodies to shove opposition away
• Players not falling over (on top of)
• Players may kick ball on ground
• May not do so, if hands (other body parts) are in
  vicinity of ball
• Player must be on his/her feet

40
Law 15 Tag

• Simultaneously touches ball carrier with both
  hands anywhere from waist to knees
• Can not be a push, shove, garb, pull, block, etc.
• Can only occur in playing area (Includes in-goal)
• If ruck or maul declared, then no tag allowed
• Opponent must be on feet for tag
• Ball carrier may not fall to ground to avoid tag
• Tagged ball carrier must play the ball
  immediately
• Pass or release ball (can let go of ball, roll it
  back, hurl it back, etc.)
• Ball carrier may continue to run when playing the
  ball
• Time duration adjusted to challenge ball carrier
  to successfully play the ball
• Ball carrier may not intentionally put ball into
  touch
• Receiver of pass does not need to stand still

41
Law 15 Tag

• Tagger
• May not intercept ball when played
• May not touch ball until another player from
  either team touches the ball
• Must move away from ball carrier and assume
  neutral position
• May not move towards support player of ball
  carrier
• May leave neutral position when ball leaves ball
  carrier hands
• May catch ball if passed directly to tagger
• Who has observed the above
• All opponents
• Must observe one meter distance from ball carrier
• No part of opponent may be in one meter zone
• Allows extension of ball carriers hands to make
  pass
• Opponents other than tagger
• May position selves between ball carrier and
  support
• May intercept ball when played

42
Law 15 Tag

• If ball carrier plays ball by placing it on the
  ground instantly
• A tag zone (one meter radius around ball) is
  created
• No steps may have been taken before placement
• When tag zone created
• Ball carrier and tagger must get out of the way
• Out of tag zone into neutral position
• May rejoin action after others posses ball or
  ball leaves tag zone
• Other players may enter tag zone from back door
• If player enters tag zone and gains possession of
  ball
• Must play the ball or leave tag zone
• Opponent entering tag zone legally may tag new
  ball carrier
• New ball carrier may declare ruck or maul prior
  to tag
• No offsides outside of tag zone
• If ball vacates tag zone back to opponent,
  opponent may play ball

43
Law 15 Tag

• Tagger approaches tryline and starts to reach out
  to touch ball down in-goal as tag occurs
• Movement allowed to continue and try or touch
  down awarded if successful
• Tag in-goal in Law 22

44
Law 16 Ruck

• Can only occur in field-of-play
• No contesting of ball during ruck
• Al least one player from each team close to ball
  for a ruck
• How ruck occurs
• Ball carrier, before tag, places ball on ground,
  crouches over it, declares ruck
• Ball on ground, player crouches over it, declares
  ruck
• If ruck declared, then tag not possible and
  declarer must ruck
• If tag made before ruck actions completed, then
  referee declares tag
• Collisions must be avoided
• Priority given to first player attempting to
  crouch over ball
• Players must be on their feet to declare ruck
• Player over the ball, not declaring ruck gt
  obstruction
• If tag zone created
• Players must enter from back door to attempt a
  ruck

45
Law 16 Ruck (Declared)

• Person who declared ruck is setter
• Opponent closest to setter must get in front of
  setter and crouch down
• Both players shall bind gt place hand on
  others shoulder
• All other players must retire behind hindmost
  foot
• Additional player from each team must come from
  on-sides
• Bind onto teammate (either side) already in ruck
• Arm around torso
• All ruck players must be in crouched position
• Ruck may not move
• Ball may not be removed until setter and teammate
  are properly bound
• Picked up by third teammate
• Heeled back
• Then any on-sides player form either team may
  approach ball

46
Law 16 Ruck (Declared)

• When all four players join ruck, then ruck over
  declared
• Opponents join ruck significantly before setter
  teammate, then Turnover gt scrum to opposition
• If ball on ground because tagged ball carrier
  placed it down instantly
• Ball carrier and tagger may not
• Join ruck , remove ball from ruck, be first to
  touch ball if heeled from ruck

47
Law 17 Maul

• Can only take place in field of play
• No contest of ball during maul
• Ball carrier in proximity of opposition, turns
  away from opponent goal line (and has not been
  tagged) and calls maul
• If tagged before declaring maul, then referee
  declares tag
• Ball carrier must set a maul
• Any player may take part in maul
• Include players in neutral position from earlier
  tag
• Opposition in proximity must join maul
• From behind ball carrier and bind , holding ball
  carrier on hips
• Second opponent joins behind first and bind,
  hands on hips
• Ball carrier teammate, joins from behind ball
  carrier
• Takes ball from ball carrier and turns back to
  former ball carrier
• Former ball carrier binds on teammate
• All other players must get on-side
• Behind last foot, on their side

48
Law 17 Maul

• Ball may not be released until former ball
  carrier binds on teammate
• After teammate had taken ball and turned
• When all four players have joined maul, then
  maul ended
• Supporting player must hand or throw ball
  backwards
• Allowing any on-side player to play the ball
• If two opposition players bind significantly
  before ball carrier supporter joins, then
  turnover gt scrum
• If ball carrier supporter joins significantly
  before two opposition players, then referee
  declares advance
• Maul walks forward until second opposition player
  joins
• Maul does not advance before referee declares
  advance
• Opposition may not resist advance

49
Law 18 Mark

• Same as tackle game.
• Rarely used.
• Consult tackle laws

50
Law 19 Touch Line-out

• Sidelines touch lines
• Out of bounds gt In touch
• In Touch
• Ball crossed vertical plane of touch line and
  touched ground or other object beyond touch line
• Touch line is in touch
• Bal carrier touches touch line or ground beyond
  gt in touch
• Player outside 22 and
• Kicks ball in touch on the full, then line out in
  line to kick location
• Kick bounces before in touch, the in line to
  where ball crossed touch line
• Player inside 22, then in line where ball crossed
  touch line
• Same if penalty kick
• Except for penalty kick, opposition throws in
• If within five meters of tryline, line out moves
  to five meters

51
Law 19 Touch Line-out

• Contested
• Players going for ball, not each other
• Maximum of four players in line out
• Two jumpers, thrower, receiver (optional)
• All other players ten meters back or goal line,
  if closer, until ended
• Thrower stands in touch at mark of touch
• Jumpers ½ meter from line of touch, 5 to 15
  meters in field
• Receivers between 5 and 15 meters, separate from
  jumpers
• Non-throwing thrower between touch line and 5
  meters to side of line of touch
• Distances may be reduced for younger players

52
Law 19 Touch Line-out

• Thrower throws ball down line of touch
• Any jumper may go for ball
• Go for ball, not opposition
• Ball must go 5 meters
• Not straight gt scrum or line out decision by
  opposition
• Before throw in, jumpers must stay on their side
  of line of touch
• When ball is thrown, jumpers may go for ball
  possession
• Referee
• Make sure jumpers do not jump too soon
• Other players stay back 10 meters (or goal line)

53
Law 19 Touch Line-out

• Ball is tapped, leaves line out or travels 15
  meters in field, then off side lines ended
• If ball controlled in line out, ruck or maul can
  be created (prior to tag)
• New offside lines created
• Quick line outs allowed
• Throw in behind mark of touch
• Pass parallel to tryline
• Ball travels 5 meters

54
Law 20 Scrum

• Starts play after minor infringement (knock-on,
  forward pass)
• Unintentional offsides/obstruction
• Non-offending team throws ball in
• Ball/Ball carrier contacts referee resulting in
  advantage
• Team possessing ball puts it in
• Check In-goal law for other situations
• Scrum composed of two front rows, three players
  each
• Outside players (props) bind over or under middle
  player (hooker)
• Each front row in line with each other
• Each front row stay tightly bound until scrum
  over
• Front rows arms length, max, from each other
• Referee declares crouch gt front rows bend at
  knees and waist
• Referee declares touch gt Props reach to
  opposite prop on outside shoulder
• Left props outside arm goes inside outside arm
  of opposite prop
• Referee declares pause gt allows review
  positioning of both front rows
• Referee declares engage gt front rows step
  forward, engage along line of shoulders and back
  of neck
• Outside hand grasps direct opponent on torso

55
Law 20 Scrum

• Front rows position selves so head is to left of
  direct opposition head
• Each player in front row support their own weight
• Scrum is uncontested
• Proper form is still required
• No pushing, pulling, twisting, etc.
• Only team putting in ball may attempt to hook
  ball
• Scrum half (usually to left of scrum) must put
  ball in quickly
• Two handed toss, straight down center line of
  tunnel
• Hooker hooks ball be sweeping foot, bringing ball
  thru legs
• Soft sweep so ball stays under scrum
• Proper form required
• Hooker must support self
• Scrum half goes behind scrum to remove ball from
  scrum

56
Law 20 Scrum

• Offsides
• Opposition scrum half both feet behind ball on
  side ball put in
• Can not come around to other side of scrum
• Other players not in scrum last foot of scrum
• Player other than scrum half removes ball from
  scrum
• Scrum half may not shield that player from tag
• Players may not fake ball leaving scrum
• Ball leaves scrum or scrum half places hand on
  ball in scrum
• gt ball is out
• Offsides lines dsappear

57
Law 21 Penalty Kicks and Free Kicks

• Most situations penalty and free kicks awarded
  at point of infringement
• Never closer than 5 meters from opponents goal
  line
• Scrum is an option at the mark
• Kick must be a clear kick
• Foot must propel/move the ball from the hand or
  mark
• Bouncing on the knee is not a kick
• Kick can be in any direction
• Teammates of kickers must put selves onsides,
  behind the kicker as soon as possible
• Offsides no penalty unless teammates tale part
  in play before onsides

58
Law 21 Penalty Kicks and Free Kicks

• Opponents may not interfere with ball or kicker
• Must get back ten meters or tryline, whichever is
  closer
• If kick taken before opponents are inside, they
  may not participate before they are onsides
• Penalty kick opponents must stay 10 meters or
  tryline until kick taken
• Free Kick opponents can charge forward as
  kicker starts to move to kick
• Player may score goal with penalty kick

59
Law 22 In-goal

• Rugby in-goal football end zone
• Tryline is in-goal
• Base of goal post pads, in contact with ground is
  in-goal
• Touch-in-goal is not in-goal
• Dead ball line is not in-goal
• In in-goal
• There are off-sides, knock-ons, obstruction
• There are no rucks, mauls, scrums, line-outs
• Attacking teams score tries
• Defense make touch-downs
• Tries and touch-downs, ball must be grounded
• Ball carrier must touch ball to ground in in-goal
• If ball on ground in in-goal
• Player must press down with hand/s, arm/s, chest
  or belly
• Player out of playing area may reach across line
  and place a hand on the ball

60
Law 22 In-goal

• Referee must see the grounding
• To insure that it is performed correctly
• To determine which team performed the grounding
• If referee can not determine team who grounded
  ball
• Five meter scrum to attacking team
• If attacker first ground ball, try is awarded
  restart with midfield kickoff
• Defender ground ball in in-goal
• If defending team brought ball into in-goal, 5
  meter scrum to attackers
• If attacking team sent ball into in-goal, then 22
  dropout
• Attacker kicks ball thru in-goal out of playing
  area, w/o defender making contact
• Choice of 22 drop out or scrum where ball first
  kicked
• Ball carrier tagged in-goal, then ball held up
• 5 meter scrum for attacking team
• Ball carrier in motion of grounding ball when
  tagged
• Touch-down or try awarded if grounding successful
• Knock-ons in-goal, 5 meter scrum in line where
  knock-on occurs