Wheelchair Tag Rugby League
Field Markings
Referees
There are 2 referees in charge of games - one on each
touch 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.
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.
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.
Referees
Offensive Referee
Defensive Referee
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
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
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.
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.
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
1. Penalty
2. Drop goal
3. Try (even if conversion missed)
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.
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 ingoal 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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
Knock on and Forward Passes
A knock 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
Penalties
Common Sense is the key. Match Official must
ensure that awarding a penalty does not
disadvantage the team who don’t infringe.
Penalties
What are the options available at a Penalty?
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•
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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.
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•
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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.
Penalties - Obstruction
Understanding Obstruction
A penalty 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
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Play the Ball
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•
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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 ballcarrier 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.
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.
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 ballcarrier 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