Wheelchair Tag Rugby League

1. Wheelchair Tag Rugby League

2. Field Markings

3. Referees There are 2 referees in charge of games - one on eachtouch line. Both Referees’ should have a whistle as both can blow the whistle in the case of infringements on the field of play - Referees normally remain on the touch line.

4. Offensive Referee This will be the main match referee. The referee will hold the cards and make the relevant infringement calls during the game, they will also take charge of the offensive play. The referee must be positioned on the same side of the pitch as the Officials’ table. The Offensive Referee is responsible for calling “held / hold” when a tackle is complete and also calling the number of tackles completed and is ultimately responsible for any penalties given and any player being given a red or yellow card.

5. Defensive Referee This Defensive Referee marks the defensive line and operates on the opposite touch line to the Offensive Referee, they control the defensive line looking for defensive infringements and offside situations. The Defensive Referee may blow the whistle for an infringement if they are in a better position than the Offensive Referee.

6. Referees Offensive Referee Defensive Referee

7. Scoring Name 2 ways a Try can be scored? • Grounding the ball • Penalty Try Name 3 ways a Goal can be scored? • Place kick after a Try – 2 points • Place kick or drop kick at a penalty – 2 points • Drop kick in general play – 1 point

8. Starts and Restarts Can you name the 4 main starts and restarts of play? • Kick off • 20 metre drop out • Goal line drop out • 20 metre optional kick

9. Starts and Restarts What are the obligations of the kicker at each kick restart? • Kick the ball in the prescribed manner (i.e. place kick or drop kick) • Kick the ball the ball at least 4 metres forward. Only has to travel 4 metres forward through the air. (except 8m optional kick). • Ball must land in the field of play or be caught in the field of play. What offences can occur at the start and restart of play? • Offside by both the kicking and non-kicking team. • Not kicked in the prescribed manner. • Ball doesn’t travel or is prevented from traveling 4 metres forward. • Ball doesn’t land in the field of play.

10. Starts and Restarts Where are the resultant penalties given for any offences that occur at the start and restart of play? Kick off – Centre of the halfway line. 8 metre Optional Kick – Centre of the 8m line. 8 metre Drop Out – Centre of the 8m line. Goal Line Drop Out – Centre of the 4m line.

11. Starts and Restarts When is the game started or restarted with a kick off? • To start the game • To start the game after half time • To restart the game after points have been scored • Penalty • Drop goal • Try (even if conversion missed)

12. Starts and Restarts When is the game restarted with a 8m drop out? • A penalty kick for goal is missed and the ball goes over the dead ball or touch in-goal lines. • A penalty kick for touch goes over the dead ball or touch in-goal lines.

13. Starts and Restarts When is the game restarted with a goal line drop out? • A defending player intentionally touches the ball before it goes over the dead ball or touch in-goal lines • A defending player accidentally infringes in the in-goal area. • A defending player touches the ball down or is tackled in the in-goal area. • A defending player kicks the ball into touch on the full from his own in-goal.

14. Starts and Restarts When is the game restarted with a goal line drop out? • The ball or defending player carrying the ball touches the referee, a touch judge or spectator in the in-goal area and play is affected. • The ball goes over the dead ball or touch in-goal other than on the full from a kick off from the centre of halfway • A the ball is made dead intentionally by a defending player straddling the dead ball line or touch in-goal line.

15. Starts and Restarts When is the game restarted with a 8m optional kick? • An attacking player last touches the ball before it goes over the dead ball or touch in-goal lines. • An attacking player knocks on or throws a forward pass in the in-goal area. • A defending player, in his own in-goal, takes a kick in general play on the full

16. Turnover There are no scrums in wheelchair tag rugby league • Any accidental infringement will result in a turnover no nearer than 4 metres from the touchline • If the ball enters touch a turnover will take place 4 metres in from touch where the ball first crossed the line

17. Touch When is the ball in touch ? • The ball is in touch when it, a player or wheelchair in contact with the ball, touches the touch line or the ground beyond the touch line or any object outside the touch line. When a player, tackled in the field of play, goes into touch the player regains their balance / position the player shall play the ball in the field of play.

18. Dead In Goal & Touch In Goal When is the ball dead in goal & touch in goal? The ball is dead in goal or touch in goal when the ball, or a player or wheelchair in contact with the ball, touches the dead in goal or the touch in goal line, or any object on or outside the dead in goal or the touch in goal line. Play is restarted with a 20m Optional Kick or Goal Line Drop Out

19. Knock on and Forward Passes Aknock on is to knock the ball towards the opponents dead ball line with hand or arm whilst intentionally playing at the ball. A forward pass is to throw the ball towards the opponents dead ball line. Remember, it is relative to the player passing the ball and not the ground. Deliberate = Penalty Accidental = Turnover

20. Penalties Common Sense is the key. Match Official must ensure that awarding a penalty does not disadvantage the team who don’t infringe.

21. Penalties What are the options available at a Penalty? • Kick for goal – drop or place kick • Kick for touch – followed by a free kick • Free kick on the mark or taken back parallel to the touch line. Breaches at a Penalty or Free Kick will result in a handover to the opposition except if not taken as elected. • ALL players must be behind the ball. • Must be taken on the correct mark. • Must be taken in the prescribed manner. • A penalty can only be awarded at a penalty if the kick is not taken as elected. i.e. elects to kick for goal and doesn’t. • The non-kicking team must be 4 metres from the mark or behind the goal line. • The non-kicking team must not distract the kicker.

22. Penalties - Obstruction Understanding Obstruction Apenalty is given if a player obstructs an opponent to gain an unfair advantage. Crossing does not exist in Rugby League. A player may go around the back of a team mate as many times as they wish, provided no player is obstructed

23. Penalties - Positioning All penalties are given where the incident took place unless the following. Where is the penalty given? Starts and Restarts – as per starts and restarts section Obstruction on kicker or kick chaser – where the ball lands or is caught. Offside Penalties i.e. general play, etc. – 4 metres from the play the ball. Where they should have been. Marker not square – 4 metres from the play the ball. If the marker was not square they are then offside

24. Penalties – Foul Play Foul Play • For deliberate fouls, such as deliberate offside, dangerous tackle, crashing into opponent’s wheelchair front on, unsporting attitudes, disputing the Referees decisions, etc., a penalty and possibly temporary sin binning (yellow card) or permanent sending off (red card) will result.

25. Offside When is a player offside? Team with the ball A player is offside if they are stood in front of a team mate who touches, is holding or has kicked the ball. Team not in possession At each play the ball, players must retire 4 metres from the point of the play the ball or be the marker, being directly and immediately front of the player playing the ball. Note: The marker needs to be in position before the ball is played. Once ball is played, no player is able to become a marker.

26. Offside When a player is offside they are deemed to be out of play and therefore: • Must not take any part in the game or attempt to influence the course of the game or attempt to distract a player. • Must not encroach within 4 metres of an opponent who is waiting for the ball • Must immediately retire 4 metres from an opponent who is waiting for the ball

27. Offside How can offside players be placed onside while not in possession? • A player from the team not in possession retires 4 metres from the play the ball. • Players who are attempting to become a marker but fail to do so because the ball is played must retire 4 metres from the play the ball. Exceptions • A player cannot be offside whilst sitting in their own in-goal area. This applies to players who are offside any touch the ball within the in-goal area only. Note: If a player is offside and sat in the in-goal area but move forward and collect the ball in the field of play will be penalised for offside as they are not in the in-goal area.

28. Offside How can offside players be placed onside while in possession? • The offside player retires behind the point that the ball was last touched by one of their team mates. • One of their own team mates who is holding or last touched the ball takes up a position in front of the player offside. • An opponent touches the ball without retaining it. • An opponent moves 4 metres or more with the ball in any direction. Note: If players are offside and encroach within 4 metres of an opponent waiting to receive the ball cannot be put onside in any manner. If a player is stood in front of the play the ball when it is played they are out of play and can take no part in that play. The must wait for the next tackle.

29. The Tackle • When is a tackle deemed to be complete? • When a tag is removed by a defending player and raised in the air. • If the player receives the ball while wearing 1 or no tags, then a subsequent tackle may be made by clearly touching, with an open hand, the arm area from the shoulder to the elbow.

30. Play the Ball Requirements at the Play the Ball • Once a tackle is completed, the player in possession must replace their tag / tags, directly face their opponents’ in-goal, touch the ball on the floor (or, where disability does not permit, the chair wheel) and pass the ball backwards to a teammate. • A marker must sit square on to the play-the-ball. The marker must be no less than ½ metre from the ball-carrier and no more than 1 metre from front wheels of chair. • The marker must not move until the ball is in play, i.e. released or in the act / motion of being released, e.g. when the ball is played (passed) backwards.

31. Play the Ball Each team is allowed six tackles Where an accidental breach (i.e. forward pass or knock on) occurs and possession changes hands the following tackle will be a zero tackle. After the fifth tackle a handover will occur if • Team in possession is tackled • Held up in opponent’s in-goal area • Kicked into touch on the full Held in-goal:A player tackled in the in-goal area on or before the fifth tackle will result in a play the ball - 4 metres in the field of play in line with where the tackle occurred, with the tackle count continuing.

32. Play the Ball Where must the team not in possession be? 1 marker is allowed • A marker must sit square on to the play-the-ball. The marker must be no less than ½ metre from the ball-carrier and no more than 1 metre from front wheels of chair. Where is the mark if the marker is not square? ALL other players are to retire 4 metres from the play the ball