New rules benefit fans and refs

[Berkeley_Eagle]

New rules benefit fans and refs


By James Phelps | February 25, 2009

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...006066,00.html

Related Links


    * See for yourself: Brand new referees guide for 2009
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/image/refereeskpi09.pdf








IN the referee's briefing room at ANZ Stadium, Bill Harrigan points at some vision of Tigers winger Beau Ryan seemingly fumbling the ball over the try line. "That will be a try this year," he says confidently. "Well it probably should have been last year, but it definitely will be this year."
NRL season 2009 marks the biggest overhaul of the rugby league's rules in history of the game, including the lure of more tries than ever with only "glaring" mistakes to stop the video referee awarding a try.
Changes include:
 THE introduction of two on-field referees;
 PLAYERS not having to control the ball while scoring a try and being able to ground it with their arm;
 FORCING the attacking team to stay bound to the scrum, with backs who rush to pack down in order to have time suspended forced to contest the scrum;
 AWARDING tap kicks from penalties 10m in from touch, not 20m;


 STOPPING the video referee assisting on stripping-the-ball and foul-play decisions;
 CUTTING reliance on the video ref, to make the game more fluid.
The introduction of two referees is shaping as one biggest rule changes in the games history.
It was implemented to stop referees tiring. It is predicted the referee's average maximum heartbeat will drop from 180 to 170 this year under the new rule, while still controlling 80 per cent of the game.




See for yourself: Brand new referees guide for 2009

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

KEY INDICATORS 2009
The Key Indicators set out in this document and supported by the Key Indicator DVD has been
developed to provide clarity for coaches and players on the official’s interpretations in key
areas of the game.
Officials’ performances are measured against these interpretations and the Laws and Notes of
the game.
Please ensure you familiarise yourself and your team on these interpretations.
TACKLE IDENTIFICATION
DOMINANT TACKLE DEFINITION
Note: It is the sole responsibility of the referee to adjudicate on the tackle
• When the ball carriers momentum is propelled backwards towards his own goal
then the tackle is DOMINANT.
• Defenders are permitted to lever themselves up of the ball carrier.
Referee’s Vocabulary – “Dominant Tackle”
NOTE: When defenders are required to move off the tackle the referee will call
‘STAND UP’
SURRENDER TACKLE DEFINITION
Note: It is the sole responsibility of the referee to adjudicate on the tackle
• A SURRENDER tackle will be called if The ball-carrier surrenders his run IN or AT the line.
If a SURRENDER tackle is called the defender/s may:
1. Work the player on the ground, move to a “Bear Hug position, lay on
and/ or spin to the front of the tackle.
When working the player on the ground defender/s are not permitted to do this by
using the ball carriers head or neck as a lever. This will be deemed a GRAPPLE
TACKLE.
Referee’s vocabulary – “Surrender”
NOTE: When defenders are required to move off the tackle the referee will call ‘STAND UP’
Page 5
NEUTRAL TACKLE DEFINITION
Note: It is the sole responsibility of the referee to adjudicate on the tackle
• If the attacking player’s momentum is still moving towards the opponent’s goal
line when a tackle is being performed then the tackle deemed neutral.
• The referee will allow more time for a low defender to release the legs of the
ball carrier. This tackle is still classified as non dominant and the defender MUST
release on the referee’s call of Movement.
Referee’s vocabulary - “Movement” or “Move”
NOTE: When a referee calls on a defender/s to move the intent of this movement is to immediately
move away from the ball carrier. The defender cannot:
a) Spin on the ball carrier to an advantageous defensive position.
b) Multiple defenders “peeling” off the ball carrier.
c) Climb back over the ruck.
STANDING IN TACKLE
• Once the referee has called “HELD” The attacking player is to be released immediately
to play the ball.
• If the ball carrier is then pulled to ground or another defender joins in the tackle
after the tackle has been called a penalty is to be awarded.
• If the ball carrier offloads the ball after the tackle has been called a penalty is
to be awarded against the team in possession unless the referee deems it to be
simultaneous in which case he will form a scrum.
• If the ball carrier has one leg off the ground and is LIFTED AND CARRIED the
referee will call “HELD” immediately.
• The referee will take momentum into account when the tackle consists of HIT and
DRIVE as opposed to a LIFT and CARRY.
Referee’s Vocabulary – “Held” or “Release”
Page 6
RUCK DEFENCE
• A Penalty is required against a defender/s when:
a) Flops late onto a ball carrier on the ground
b) Works the ball carrier on the ground.
c) Leg pulls.
d) Places his hand on the ball once the tackle is complete.
e) Lever any part of the tackled players body
f) Crowds the play the ball by using his knee or if:
g) The markers are not square, float, go early or are too deep and become involved
from that position.
RUCK ATTACK
• It is the responsibility of the tackled player to play the ball when he can in the correct
manner where the tackle has been completed.
• The tackled player must stand up with balance and control, lift the ball clear of the
ground and make a genuine attempt to play the ball with the foot.
• The tackled player must play the ball when instructed by the referee.
SPEARING OUT OF OWN IN GOAL
• When a ball-carrier spears out of his in goal into the field of play the referee will:
1. Allow the defending team to place their hand on the ball-carrier constituting a
tackle has been made.
2. If the ball carrier spears in or succumbs to the tackle the referee will identify
the tackle as a SURRENDER tackle.
3. Call on the ball-carrier to get to his feet and continue his run. If the player fails
to do so the referee will adjudicate a voluntary tackle.
NOTE: The defending player/s cannot lift or force the ball-carrier back into the in goal.
Page 7
10 METRES
• All defenders must make it back to the marked 10 metres and remain there until
the ball clears the ruck.
• The defensive line may only move forward once the ball has cleared the ruck.
Referees Vocabulary - “Hold and Go”.
• The 10 metres is marked as the line between the referee and the sideline
official/s.
Definition: ‘Clear of the ruck is when the ball is positioned behind the foot of the player playing
the ball.’ (See example DVD)
OFFSIDE
• A player is offside when he has one foot (either on or off the ground) in front of one
of is own team who touches, is touched by, held or kicked the ball.
PLAYER SAFETY
In the interest of player safety the following will attract penalties.
• Any high contact with the head or neck.
• Grapple or Crusher tackles
• Chicken Wings
• A late hit on a kicker
• A hit on a kicker whilst he is in the air.
• Attacking the head of a player whilst he is on the ground.
• Late contact with a player when he is no longer in possession.
NOTE: 1. A penalty try, eight point try, sin bin or penalty can be awarded against a
player who slides in feet first attempting to prevent a try.
2. In cases of more serious or repeated grappling / wrestling offences, the
referee may consider use of the sin bin.
Page 8
RESTARTS OF PLAY
GOAL LINE DROP OUT
• From the time the referee signals goal line drop out the defending team will be
required to have recommenced play within 40 seconds.
• The defending team will receive a warning from the referee with 10 seconds
remaining.
• Failure to take the goal line drop out within the stipulated 40 seconds will result in
a penalty.
• A Goal line drop out may be taken quickly if:
1. The 4 Officials are in position
2. The referee has signalled to recommence play.
3. The kick is to be taken in the centre of the goal line.
• If in the opinion of the referee, he deems the kicking team is deliberately delaying
the restart due to the circumstances of the game, the referee may call time-off as
he can at any stage during the game if he believes time is being wasted to gain a
tactical advantage.
20M RESTART
• A 20m restart may be taken quickly if:
1. All 4 Officials are in position.
2. The referee has signalled for play to recommence.
3. The kick is taken on the centre of the 20m line.
4. All players from the team taking the restart are onside.
Penalty
• A player may not take the quick restart from a penalty kick until the referee has
indicated the mark by verbal instruction and has moved to a position to adjudicate
the game.
Kick Off
The referee shall not allow a restart of play until:
All 4 officials are in a position to adjudicate the game
Page 9
DISTRACTING GOAL KICKER
It is illegal to attempt to distract the attention of a player who is kicking for goal.
Players from the non-kicking side must position themselves as follows:
a) KICK AT GOAL FOLLOWING A TRY: Outside the field of play (ie. Must be behind their
own goal-line or outside the touch-line)
b) PENALTY KICK AT GOAL: To their goal-line or not less than 10 metres from the
mark.
OBSTRUCTION
• There is to be no advantage to the attacking team.
• It is the responsibility of the decoy runner/s not to interfere with the defending
team.
• The ball carrier cannot run behind a decoy runner and gain an advantage.
• A sweep player may receive the ball on the inside of a block runner as long as
there is depth on the pass to him. If there is no depth, he needs to receive the ball
on the outside of the block runner.
• Attacking players who loiter next to the play the ball can be interpreted as obstructing
the defending team.
• In the process of scoring a try an attacking player dives through or into the legs
of the player who has played the ball a penalty will be awarded to the defending
team. This action will be interpreted as obstruction.
• Defensive decisions that commit defenders to decoy runners will not be considered
obstruction.
BLOCKERS
• A defending player shielding a catcher from attacking chasers must position himself
early.
• It will be interpreted as obstruction if the defender:
1. Arrives at the same time as the attacking chasers and deliberately obstructs the
catching of the high ball.
2. Deliberately runs the attacking chasers off the football.
NOTE: See example DVD.
Page 10
DOWNTOWN CHASERS
Any player who is in front of the kicker in general play is not permitted to advance beyond the
point of the previous play the ball until the ball has gone past the offside players.
ATTACKING PLAYER HELD UP OVER TRY LINE
• When an attacking player is held up over the opponent’s goal line the referee will
rule the ball-carrier recommence the game with a play the ball 10 metres into the
field of play adjacent to where he was held up.
• The referee will continue the tackle count.
BALL STRIPPING INGOAL
• The ball may be stripped from the ball carrier if the ball carrier is attempting to
ground the ball for a try.
NOTE: Defenders cannot deliberately hold the ball carrier up simply to strip the ball
unless the ball carrier is clearly attempting to ground the ball.
SUPPORTING BALL CARRIER
• It is permissible for attacking player/s to lend weight to the ball-carrier with an
objective of not losing ground. The referee will call ‘Held’ when this occurs.
• It is NOT permissible for the attacking player/s to impede any defender from making
a tackle. The referee will penalise if this occurs.
Note: The referee will take into account any momentum the tackle has generated after
“Held” or “Release” has been called.
MUTUAL INFRINGEMENT
• In the case of a mutual infringement, play will restart with a scrum, loose head and
feed to the team with the territorial advantage.
• If in the opinion of the referee contact (player or ball) has been made deliberately
with him by the team in possession a penalty will be awarded against that team.
Page 11
SCRUMS
• The scrum is to be bound correctly with The OUTSIDE leg of BOTH open side props
forward and the scrum is not to break until called ‘out’ by the referee
• The ball is to be fed into the tunnel with the halfback standing SQUARE AND with
BOTH hands on the ball.
• To be in play, the ball must emerge from the scrum BETWEEN AND BEHIND the
inner feet of the second row forwards
• If a team is bound and ready to contest a scrum the referee will call time out. If the
6 bound players break from the scrum before it is contested, the referee will blow
time back on.
• If in the opinion of the referee the opposing team is taking an unreasonable
amount of time to contest the scrum the referee may allow the team to stand up
but players contesting the scrum must remain in their position.
• The referee will hold the game up to replace a bleeding player, but trainers must
first advise the referee that an interchange is going to take place.
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT
• The Benefit of the Doubt rule applies to the attacking team.
SIN BIN
There are four main areas for use of the sin bin:
• Repeated infringements;
• Deliberate break down of play, especially in try scoring positions;
• Cooling off; and
• Dissent
DISSENT
• A captain may approach the referee to clarify a ruling.
• Verbal abuse or casting aspersions on the referee’s ability or integrity will not be
tolerated.
• Referees are not to debate decisions with captains.
• Captains should not use the process to deliberately slow the opposing team’s
momentum. It will be at the discretion of the referee as to whether a clarification
of a decision is to be carried out immediately or at a later time in the match.
• Breaches may lead to advancing the mark or sin bin/dismissal
Page 12
VIDEO REFEREE
FOUL PLAY
• With the exception of high tackles (see below) the Video Referee’s power to intervene
on foul play replicates those of the sideline official.
• The Video Referee may advise the Referee of an incident of foul play of which he
was previously unaware. As a result of that advice the Referee may take any necessary
action except to the extent that play has extended beyond the 1st play the
ball of the next set, or in the event of a scrum having been formed and decided. In
this case the Referee may still put the incident on report
HIGH TACKLES
• In the case of high contact on the ball carrier the VR may only intervene if in his
opinion the incident is required to be placed on report, sin bin or dismissal.
BALL STRIPPING
• In 2009 the video referee will no longer be used to rule on incidents of ball stripping.
GROUNDING THE BALL
• Ball Stationary - Downward pressure.
• Ball Rolling – Downward pressure, grounding by hand, arm or torso.
Note: Ball rotation changes
• The front of the torso may bring the ball to ground.
GROUNDING THE BALL IN POSSESSION
• The ball must be placed on the ground with hand/s or arm
• If separation occurs during grounding of the ball for a try possession can be
regained by the hand or arm regaining contact with the ball prior to hit hitting the
ground
• If in the process of scoring a try the ball comes in contact with a defender the
Video Referee must consider wether the ball has moved forward in the hand of the
try scorer. If he concludes it did it will be a knock on and no try.
Page 13
DOUBLE MOVEMENT
• The attacking player must not promote the football from the position the ball or the
arm carrying the ball has been grounded, in the process of scoring a try.
• If momentum carries a player in possession into the in-goal area, it will not be a
double movement if the ball would have finished over the goal line regardless of
any subsequent movement of the ball or the arm carrying the ball
OBSTRUCTION
• There is to be no advantage to the attacking team.
• It is the responsibility of the decoy runner/s not to interfere with the defending
team.
• The ball carrier cannot run behind a decoy runner and gain an advantage.
• Attacking players who loiter next to the play the ball can be interpreted as obstructing
the defending team.
• In the process of scoring a try an attacking player dives through or into the legs
of the player who has played the ball a penalty will be awarded to the defending
team. This action will be interpreted as obstruction.
• A sweep player may receive the ball on the inside of a block runner as long as
there is depth on the pass to him. If there is no depth, he needs to receive the ball
on the outside of the block runner.
• Defensive decisions that commit defenders to decoy runners will not be considered
obstruction.
• A defending player shielding a catcher from attacking chasers must position himself
early. It will be interpreted as obstruction if the defender:
o Arrives at the same time as the attacking chasers and deliberately obstructs
the catching of the high ball.
o Deliberately runs the attacking chasers off the football.
When adjudicating Obstruction decisions the Video Referee will consider the following:
• Did the decoy runner/s interfere or defender commits?
• Did ball carrier run behind decoy and gain an advantage?
• Did the decoy runner interfere with the defence structure?
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