On or Over Sideline. The ball becomes dead when it or a player in possession touches or crosses the sideline and a change of possession results. However if a player in possession is touched prior to crossing the sideline, then the touch counts and play continues with a Rollball at the mark where the touch occurred.
RULING - The team NOT responsible for the ball touching or crossing the sideline restarts play with a Rollball five (5) metres infield from where the ball or the player in possession touched or crossed the sideline, or at the position of best advantage to the attacking team.
Touched over Attacking Scoreline. If a player in possession of the ball is touched after crossing the attacking scoreline and prior to the scoring of a touchdown, the touch counts. Play is restarted with a Rollball five (5) metres infield from where the player in possession crossed the scoreline.
Ball on or behind Defending Scoreline. If a player in possession of the ball is touched whilst on or behind their defending scoreline, the touch counts and play is restarted with a Rollball five (5) metres infield from where the player in possession was touched.
Actions Near Defending Scoreline. An attacking team is not required to Rollball within five (5) metres of the defending scoreline. After each touch the player in possession may move forward to the five (5) metre broken line to Rollball.
Actions near Attacking Scoreline. When a touch is effected within five (5) metres of the attacking scoreline, a player in possession may move directly behind the mark a distance of up to five (5) metres to the broken line to restart play with a Rollball.
Actions further than Five (5) Metres from Defending Scoreline. When defending players are required to defend further than five (5) metres from their defending scoreline, they must move forward beyond the five (5) metre broken line and continue to move forward in an attempt to effect a touch on the player in possession.
RULING - A penalty awarded to the attacking team at the position of the ball at the time the offence is identified.
When moving forward or backward from the mark in accordance with Rules 11.4 and/or 11.5, players should indicate to the referee that such options have been chosen and thus avoid confusion. Defending players must remain five (5) metres from the Rollball.
When moving forward or backward in accordance with Rules 11.4 and/or 11.5, the player in possession should avoid contact with defending players and should not move sideways from the mark.
When the player in possession is further than five (5) metres from the scoreline and the defending team is defending on or within five metres (5) of their defending scoreline, the defending team must move forward in an attempt to effect a touch. This means the whole team must move out to beyond the five (5) metre line and can only return to the scoreline once a touch is effected. They may however move back beyond the five metre broken line to realign for the next defensive move once a touch is about to be effected by either the attacking or defending player.
When a player in possession is on or within five (5) metres of their attacking scoreline, the defending team are permitted to remain on, and defend their scoreline.
Players who are onside at their defending scoreline may lean over the scoreline to touch an attacking player, and remain onside provided both feet remain on or behind the scoreline and contact with the ground is not made with the hands inside the field of play.
Before a penalty is awarded in accordance with Rule 11.6, the referee must warn the defending team to move forward in an attempt to effect a touch. If the defending team does not move forward in accordance with the referee's direction a penalty will result.
If the same situation arises again after a tap from a penalty has been taken, (that is, within the attacking team's following six possessions), and the defending team still refuses to move forward to effect a touch, another penalty is awarded to the attacking team. In addition the referee will instruct the captain of the defending team to remove one (1) player from the field. The player is to return to the interchange area.
That player (or a substitute) cannot be replaced until the defending team gains possession. On each occasion before awarding a penalty the referee must have warned the defending team to move forward of the five (5) metre broken line, to effect a touch.
A player in possession performs a Rollball near the scoreline. An onside defending player leans over and touches the half before the ball is cleared.
Half caught in possession. - Rules 9.3 and 11.5.
A player in possession puts a foot on the sideline whilst running downfield.
Player is in touch. Change of possession five (5) metres infield from where their foot touched the sideline. - Rule 11.1
A defender with one foot on the sideline effects a touch on an attacking player.
Touch Counts. No change of possession for the attacking player coming into contact with someone outside the field of play. - Rule 11.1.
In Rule 11 PN A it states, "When moving forward or backwards from the mark in accordance with Rules 11.4 or 11.5 players should indicate to the referee that such options have been chosen ..." Does the referee penalise the player if he is not notified?
No. The Player Note says that the player SHOULD indicate to the referee, there is no compulsion that he does this. So in fact, the referee cannot take any action, it is expected the referee knows the player is allowed to take this step.
A defender intercepts a pass, thrown by the half, behind their own scoreline and is touched before they can run it back into the field of play. Where is the mark for the Rollball?
The mark is on the five metre line from the scoreline, directly opposite where the touch was effected.
If a Rollball occurs more than 10 metres from the scoreline, and the defensive line is set more than 5 metres from the scoreline (say six metres), are the defenders are entitled to use freeze defence at this point in the game.
Yes the defenders are entitled to use freeze defence at this point in the game provided no defensive players has held a defensive position on the five metre line or between the five metre line and scoreline.
If Rollball occurs on the 10 metres or within 10 metres of the scoreline, and the defensive line is set on the 5 metres (or anywhere between the scoreline and the 5 metres broken line), must the whole team must move forward and attempt to effect a touch.
Yes the WHOLE team must move forward and attempt to effect a touch as the Rule comes into effect when any defender holds a position on the five metre line or between the five metre line and scoreline.
The Rollball occurs more than 10 metres from the scoreline, however a defender holds a position on the 5 metre broken line (or enters the area between the 5 metre line and the scoreline), is the whole team is deemed to be involved in the Mexican Standoff.
Yes the WHOLE team must then move forward in an attempt to effect a touch as any ONE defender can initiate the "no freeze" defence pattern.
If a penalty is awarded to the attacking team which forces the defensive line to be set on or within the 5 metres line and scoreline, and the attacking team moves the mark up to 10 metres directly behind the original mark does the defending team still have to move forward in an attempt to effect touch after the ball is tapped, even though the ball is bought into play more than 10 metres from the scoreline.
Yes the fact that the new mark is further than 10 metres from the scoreline is irrelevant as the original mark has set the point where the defending team must remain until the ball is bought into play.
When can a team employ "freeze defence" tactics and do not have to come out to attempt to effect a touch.
The defending team can freeze their defence on the scoreline ANY time the player in possession is within the area between, (not on), the 5 metres broken line, and the scoreline.
What happens when a defender, engaged in moving forward in an attempt to effect a touch, jumps backwards to "milk" a penalty when the attacking player dumps thus effecting a voluntary Rollball.
A defending player, once engaged in the "no freeze" situation, will be penalised if they back away from a touch whilst trying to "milk" a penalty for a voluntary Rollball.
At what speed must a defender move forward once the Mexican Standoff Rule comes into effect, and can the referee penalise a player for not moving forward fast enough, or direct a player to move out faster.
Speed is defined as moving forward (even at snails pace) and ONLY when the defender is standing stationary, and has been warned, can the referee award a penalty. Referees cannot determine a player is moving out too slow and direct them to move faster.