Playing Rules
THE TOSS
Team Captains are to toss a coin in the presence of the Referee with the winning captain's team receiving possession for the commencement of the first half and the choice of direction for the first half.
DEFAULT
A team will be considered to be in default should they not field a team within the first ten (10) minute period of any match. For every two (2) minutes that a team is late, one (1) touchdown will be awarded against that team to a maximum of five (5) touchdowns. The score will be recorded as a 5-0 match result and the offending team awarded forfeit negative one (-1) competition point.
TAP METHOD
The tap is taken by placing the ball on the ground at the mark, releasing both hands from the ball, tapping the ball with either foot in any direction a distance of not more than one (1) metre, and retrieving the ball cleanly. Any player of the attacking team may take the tap. Any onside player of the attacking team may retrieve the ball once the tap has been taken.
ATTACKING TEAM TAP TO START THE MATCH
The attacking team is to start the match with a tap at the centre of the halfway line following the indication to commence play from the Referee. All players of the attacking team are to remain in an onside position until the ball has been tapped.
DEFENDING TEAM AT THE START OF THE MATCH
All players of the defending team are required to retire along a line which is not less than ten (10) metres from the mark for the tap. Defending players may move forward of their positions once the ball has been tapped with the foot.
RECOMMENCEMENT OF PLAY
For the recommencement of play following the halftime break, teams will change direction and the team losing the toss is to recommence the match with a tap, as described above, at the centre of the halfway line. For the recommencement of play following the scoring of a touchdown the team against which the score was made is to recommence play with a tap, as described above, at the centre of the halfway line.
KICKING
The ball can not be kicked or played with the foot except when taking a tap or at the rollball. The dummy half may use the foot to control the ball.
POSSESSION
Providing other Rules do not apply, the team with the ball is entitled to six (6) touches prior to changing possession with the opposing team. On the change of possession due to an intercept, the first touch will be zero (0) touch.
CHANGE OVER PROCEDURE
Following the sixth (6th) touch or the loss of possession due to any other means, players of the team losing possession are to hand or pass the ball to the nearest opposition player or place the ball on the ground at the mark without delay. Attacking players who request the ball are to be given the ball. Players are not to delay the change over procedure.
BALL TO GROUND
If the ball is dropped to the ground a change of possession results. The mark for the change of possession is where the ball first pitches or where the attacking player dropped or passed the ball, whichever is the greatest advantage to the team gaining possession.
MISHANDLED BALL
If a player mishandles the ball and providing the ball does not go to ground, play is to continue.
INTERCEPTS
Intercepts by onside defending players are allowed. Following an intercept, play continues until the first touch is effected, a touchdown is scored, or a stoppage occurs as a result of other actions. The first touch due to an intercept, will be zero (0) touch.
PASSING
A player in possession may pass, flick, knock, throw or otherwise deliver the ball to any onside player in the attacking team.
FORWARD PASS
A player in possession is not to pass, flick, knock, throw, or otherwise propel the ball in a forward direction.
PASSING INTO OPPOSITION
A player who passes the ball at or towards a defending player and thereby causes the ball to go to ground, shall lose possession. Play is restarted at the mark where the ball goes to ground or at the position of greatest advantage to the team gaining possession.
THE ROLLBALL
A player is to perform a rollball under the following circumstances:
a) when a touch has been effected
b) when possession changes due to the sixth (6th) touch
c) when possession changes due to the ball going to ground
d) when possession changes due to an infringement by an attacking player at a penalty or a tap
e) when possession changes due to the dummy half being touched (or effecting a touch) whilst in possession, or when the dummy half places / grounds the ball on or over the attacking scoreline
f) when possession changes due to a player in possession of the ball crossing the boundaries of the field of play
g) when possession changes due to an infringement by an attacking player performing a rollball
h) when so directed by the Referee.
ROLLBALL METHOD
The attacking player is to position on the mark, face the opponents (defending) scoreline, stand parallel to the sidelines, and roll the ball back along the ground, between the feet a distance of not more than one (1) metre. Once the ball is placed on the mark the attacking player may step forward over the ball.
ROLLBALL FOR ATTACKING TEAM
Any other player of the attacking team may receive the ball from the rollball and thus becomes the dummy half. The dummy half may run with or pass the ball but is not permitted to score touchdowns. However, if a touch is effected on or by the dummy half, a change of possession will result, and play shall restart with a rollball at the mark for the touch. The dummy half is not to delay picking up or gathering the ball. The player who performs the rollball is not permitted to obstruct or otherwise prevent the defending team from gaining possession or effecting a touch on the dummy half.
ROLLBALL FOR DEFENDING TEAM
All players of the defending team are to retire along a line which is not less than seven (7) metres from the mark. Players of the defending team are not permitted to move forward of their seven (7) metre positions until the dummy half has made contact with the ball.
ACTIONS WITHOUT DUMMY HALF IN POSITION
When the player in possession is required to rollball without a dummy half in position, players of the defending team may move forward of their seven (7) metre positions as soon as the ball leaves the hand/s of the player in possession. Should a defending player gain possession, the match is recommenced with a rollball at the same mark.
VOLUNTARY ROLLBALL
A player in possession is not to perform a rollball unless a touch has been effected.
THE TOUCH
Players of both defending and attacking teams are to use the minimum force necessary to effect touches. A touch can be made on any part of the person, including their clothing or the ball.
BALL KNOCKED FROM HANDS
If the ball is knocked from the hands of a player in possession during a touch, the touch counts (provided minimum force was used to affect the touch) and the player retains possession and is required to perform a rollball. The touch count continues, unless it is the sixth (6th) touch.
ACTIONS FOLLOWING TOUCH
After a touch has been effected, the player in possession is to stop, return to the mark where the touch occurred if the mark has been overrun, and perform a rollball without delay.
PASSING AFTER TOUCH
A player is not to pass or otherwise deliver the ball after a touch has been effected.
CLAIMED / DISCLAIMED TOUCH
A player must not claim or otherwise call for a touch unless a touch has actually been effected. Similarly, a player must not disclaim a touch when a touch has actually been effected.
THE MARK
The mark for the rollball is the position where the attacking player in possession of the ball is at the time of the touch.
INTERFERENCE AFTER TOUCH
Following a touch, the ball is deemed to be dead and is brought into play at the rollball when the dummy half touches the ball or, if there is no dummy half in position when the ball leaves the hand/s of the attacking player performing the rollball. Defending players are not to interfere with the player in possession or otherwise prevent an immediate rollball after a touch is made.
TOUCHED WHILE SCORING
On an occasion when a player places / grounds the ball on or over the scoreline at the same time a touch is effected, the touch counts, and no touchdown is awarded. The player in possession shall move directly behind the mark a distance of seven (7) metres from the scoreline to the seven (7) metre broken line and perform a rollball (unless it is the 6th touch).
TOUCH ON OFFSIDE DEFENDER
Should a player in possession effect a touch on an offside defender, who is making every effort to retire and remain out of play, the touch shall count. If the player in possession is the dummy half, then a change of possession shall result, and play shall restart with a rollball at the mark where the touch occurred.
OFFSIDE
A player in the attacking team is offside when the player is forward of the player who has possession or who last had possession. In general play, offside attacking players who interfere with play should be penalised. Attacking players are to remain onside at a tap until the ball has been tapped. A defending player is offside when that player has not retreated the required seven (7) metres (Rollball) or ten (10) metres (Penalty and restart of play after touchdowns) at the recommencement of play. For all offside incidents, the opposition will be awarded a penalty.
THE PENALTY
A penalty is to be awarded for an infringement by any player in accordance with the rules contained herein. The method of recommencing play at the penalty is with a tap.
LOCATION OF THE TAP FOR A PENALTY
The mark for a penalty is normally at the location of the infringement unless otherwise detailed in specific rules. For infringements which occur on the boundaries, within seven (7) metres of the defending scoreline or outside the field of play, the location of the penalty tap is to be seven (7) metres infield (or on the seven (7) metre broken line) from where the infringement occurred. Players of the defending team are to retreat ten (10) metres back from the location of the tap for a penalty.
