Rugby Southland Primary School Indoor Rippa Rugby Series 2018

What- An innovative fast paced version of Rippa Rugby played Indoors. With only FOUR players on the court at once, and a maximum of SIX players in a team everyone will have the perfect opportunity to have a go at playing rugby and showcase their ability while having fun with their friends at the same time. This exciting competition will be played out over a five-week period.

Who- Grades will be single gender only & available to all children in Year 3-6*. • Year 3&4 Girls • Year 3&4 Boys • Year 5&6 Girls • Year 5&6 Boys • *Year 7&8 Girls (GORE ONLY) • *Year 7&8 Boys (GORE ONLY)

Where & When- Games will take place for Invercargill & Winton based Schools will be held at ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill every Thursday on the following dates from 4-6pm. • July 26th • August 2nd • August 9th • August 16th • August 23rd

Games for players in Eastern Southland Schools will be held in Gore every Friday at the MLT Events Centre in Gore from 4-6pm on the following dates; • July 27th • August 3rd • August 10th • August 17th • August 24th

How- Games will be played using the standard rules of Rippa Rugby. Games will be played on one full sized indoor court and will run length ways. Matches will be played over two 12 minute halves, with one minute for halftime. No Diving is allowed. Players must wear footwear which must be non-marking.

Substitutions- Players can sub on and off the court anytime a stoppage in play takes place, this could be from a penalty, change of possession or a try being scored. With indoor Rippa being a high paced game it is highly encouraged players sub on and off regularly throughout the match. It is preferred that coaches and/or the referee help to make sure substitutions are made smoothly throughout the game.

Coaching sessions- Rugby Southland will be more than happy to accommodate any team/school wanting coaching sessions in preparation for the Indoor Rippa Series. These sessions are all free of charge. Sessions for coaches can also be arranged to help provide fresh ideas around how to run training sessions, skills and drills to teach and how to provide players with an enjoyable, exciting experience both in practise and game. These sessions will ideally take place over the last two weeks of Term two 2018. To book a coaching session please contact [email protected]

Cost involved- This competition will be free of charge.

Refereeing- Teams will need to provide a referee each for their game. This does not have to be just the coach of the team, it could be a parent, mutual friend, older sibling of a player. Teams can organise between themselves if one person referees a half each or one person referees a full match. At year 3&4 level a coach may be on the court to help assist with their team. In year 5&6 grades only the referee needs to be on court during the match. Rugby Southland can arrange refereeing sessions to cover off the basic rules and calls associated with Rippa Rugby. To book a coaching session please contact [email protected]

Equipment needed- Rugby Southland will provide belts and tags for all teams. These will be placed on each court in a tub for players to take out and put on before the match, and take off and return after their match for the next team to use. Match balls will be provided by Rugby Southland. It is expected all players will wear their appropriate school coloured playing top while taking part in games. These do not need to be numbered but all players must be wearing the same coloured school top.

How to enter a team- Please complete an attached entry form and send back to Rugby Southland by Wednesday 4th July 2018.

Player Registrations- Every individual participant is required to complete an online NZRU registration form. We do appreciate your support with registering players as this provides important information to both Southland and NZ Rugby. Every player will be allocated a unique registration number. Please note that even if a player has filled in a form for their Junior rugby club they still need to complete a form for their Primary School team. We realise in some cases it is very difficult to have the form filled out at home therefore if a permission slip has been received from the parent for the child to enter the competition, the registration form may be filled out at school and signed by a school representative. Link to register players is here; http://www.sporty.co.nz/southlandrugby/Representative-1/2018- School-Rippa-Registration?em=0&ts=0.768339125045439

Tournament and Draw information- Once final team entries have been received a draw will be completed and sent out to all schools each week. Draws will be emailed to school contacts provided each week and put on the Rugby Southland website. Scores will be recorded but will have NO significance toward the draw or any competition table/ points standings.

RIPPA RUGBY RULES A non-contact game designed to maintain the skills of rugby but without contact tackling. ‘Tackles’ are made by ripping a tag from the attackers Velcro belt requiring the ball carrier to pass to another teammate.

GAME TIME Two x 12 minute halves, one minute for halftime.

FIELD SIZE One full sized indoor court. (The game will be played length ways, the same as basketball or netball). The outside marked lines are the official side-lines and try lines. (Please note there is no diving permitted inside)

FOOTWEAR Footwear is compulsory, non-marking footwear is required, for example, gym shoes.

MOUTHGUARDS Mouthguards are compulsory and must be worn by all players taking part in this competition.

TRIES & POINTS Tries scored are worth five points.

STARTING/RESTARTING PLAY One team start/restarts the match from the centre of the field with a free pass. When a try is scored, the non-scoring team starts at the centre of the court with a free pass. Players need to start with the ball on the ground, take their hands off the ball, tap with their foot, pick the ball up and pass backward to a team mate.

GENERAL PLAY Refereeing process – yell “PLAY” then “RIP” and the number (1- 6) then “PASS” Teams get 6 “rips” and then the ball is given to the opposition

BELTS/TAGS The Belt must on the outside of the players clothing and tags attached running down the players sides (a good guideline is to put hands on hips – this is where tags attach).

RIPPING To complete a 'rip' one of the two flags from the ball carrier's belt must be removed. The only person who can be ripped is the ball carrier. The 'ripper' stops, holds the flag above their head and shouts "RIP!" The ball carrier must then pass the ball immediately (within 3 strides is a good guideline). They DO NOT have to stop, return to the mark or roll the ball between their legs. After the ball carrier has passed the ball the ripper must hand the flag back to the player who then reattaches it to their belt before they re-join play.

OFFSIDE LINE The defensive team must all be behind the attacking player who has had their tag ripped, the point where the rip has been made is the offside line. The defending team may then move forward once the attacker has completed their pass to a team mate.

SPINNING A player is able to “spin” while running once per carry, any more spins in a single run is deemed as a “helicopter” which will result in a turnover of possession.

FENDING/ BLOCKING Attacking players fending defenders is not allowed and will result in a turnover of possession. Attacking players are not able to prevent defenders ripping their tags by blocking with their arms or the ball.

FREE PASS To make a free pass, the player passes the ball backwards to members of their own team once the referee calls "Play". The opposition team must remain 5m back from the free pass. They cannot start moving forward until the ball leaves the hands of the player taking the free pass. Free passes cannot take place closer than five metres from the goal line. A free pass is awarded for: Knock on Taking the ball out Forward Pass Diving on ball on ground Penalty – Fending, Offside (must be behind the line of the rip), Kicking, throwing rips on ground.

KICKING There is NO kicking in Rippa Rugby

JEWELERY Players are not permitted to wear any jewellery e.g. earrings, necklaces, wrist bands, watches etc. Coaches & Referees are responsible for ensuring players remove any jewellery before they begin the match.

OTHER POINTS If a player accidentally loses a flag when they have the ball, stop the game, replace the ribbon and restart with a free pass. If a player is 'ripped' before the try line and they don't pass before they get over the line, they restart play 5 metres out from the goal line with a free pass.

Video of basic rules of Rippa Rugby- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA9ngtRFISE

Rugby Southland Primary School Indoor Rippa Series 2018 Competition Rules

Venues;

• ILT STADIUM SOUTHLAND • MLT EVENTS CENTRE

CONTENTS PAGE

1. OVERVIEW 2. WARM UP ZONES 3. COMPETITION RULES 4. COMPETITION RULES OVERVIEW 5. THE PLAYING AREA & PLAYERS ON THE AREA 6. PLAYERS NOMINATED AS SUBSTITUTES 7. DURATION OF MATCH 8. FOUL PLAY 9. RESTART OF PLAY 10. PENALTY & FREE PASS 11. COMPETITION AGE & GENDER POLICY 12. TEAM ENTRY NUMBERS 13. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY HALF GAME RULE

1. OVERVIEW • This new exciting competition’s main purpose is to provide an opportunity for both Boys and Girls to enjoy the sport of Rugby in a compact, exciting non-contact version of Rugby with the added element of playing indoors. The primary focus is to create participation and enjoyment opportunities for everyone who is wanting to play Rugby, regardless of ability or any other factor.

2. WARM UP ZONES • Players will have a five-minute window to Warm up after the previous game and the start of their game on the court they are playing on. A playing court may be available to warm up on prior to your game but this will be dependent on team entries and draw configuration.

3. COMPETITION RULES

4. COMPETITION RULES OVERVIEW • 4 Players on the court at once. • A maximum of 6 players in each team. • 12 Minute Halves. • 1 Minute Halftime. • NZR Half Game Rule Applies. • Year 3 & 4, 5 & 6 Students only *Year 7&8 grades will be offered in Gore only. • Single Gender teams only. • All scores will be recorded but will have NO significance toward a points table or competition ladder.

5. THE PLAYING AREA & PLAYERS ON THE AREA • All matches will be played on the size of one regular indoor Netball/Basketball court. Matches will be played length ways and the lines around the outside of one court will represent the playing area. • Maximum: Each team must have no more than FOUR players on the playing area.

6. PLAYERS NOMINATED AS SUBSTITUTES

• Substitutions can occur during any break in the play, e.g. a change in possession, try scored, break in play, players are encouraged to sub on and off in a rolling fashion throughout the game. Coaches will be required to oversee substitutions and make sure they are taking place in a clean manner.

7. DURATION OF MATCH

• A match lasts no longer than 24 minutes. A match is divided into two halves of 12 minutes playing time. • At half time teams change ends. There is an interval of not more than ONE minute.

8. FOUL PLAY

• Any foul play committed by a player during the game will be dealt with by the officiating referee and or the coaches of either team.

9.RESTART OF PLAY

• One team start/restarts the match from the centre of the field with a free pass. When a try is scored, the non-scoring team starts at the centre of the court with a free pass. To complete a free pass, players need to start with the ball on the ground, take their hands off the ball, tap with their foot, pick the ball up and pass backward to a team mate.

10. PENALTY AND FREE PASS

• A penalty or turnover of possession will result in the opposition making a free pass. A free pass is a player passing backwards on the spot of the mark the referee provides to restart the play. The player making a free pass must not run and must make the pass to a team mate immediately.

A penalty may be awarded for any of the following offences,

- Fending/Blocking tags - Helicoptering - Foul Play - Offside - Defenders throwing an attackers Tag on the ground - Poor sportsmanship as judged by the referee

A free pass may also take place when the opposition commits a turnover by doing one of the following;

- Knock on - Forward pass - Running outside the field of play while in possession of the ball

11. COMPETITION AGE & GENDER POLICY

• Players playing in this competition will need to be in either Year 3&4 or 5&6 to qualify, any players outside this year group will not be allowed to play in the competition. Players must play in the correct age group. Teams must only be of single gender (male or female). A team needs to consist of a minimum of FOUR players and a maximum of SIX.

12. TEAM ENTRY NUMBERS

Due to court & time availability each Module can have no more than the following numbers of teams;

-INVERCARGILL ILT STADIUM SOUTHLAND – 40 TEAMS

-GORE MLT EVENTS CENTRE- 24 TEAMS

If the number of team entries exceeds the above number then teams will be accepted on a first in first served basis. Once the maximum number of teams has been reached Rugby Southland will notify all schools this is the case. Rugby Southland will make all final decisions in regard to team entries.

13. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY HALF GAME RULE

• The New Zealand Rugby Half Game Rule will apply to this competition, that is that it is compulsory for all players to play a minimum half a game. National Rugby Policy Number 6 – Half Game Rule is attached below.

NATIONAL RUGBY POLICY HALF GAME RULE UPDATED 23 APRIL 2015 NEW ZEALAND RUGBY | PO BOX 2172 | WELLINGTON POLICY #06 HALF GAME RULE BACKGROUND Following two pieces of significant research it has been identified that lack of game time is a significant cause of players leaving the game and low retention rates. Having sought the players’ views, and looking to honour the ‘player first’ sentiments of the Community Rugby Strategy, a minimum half game for every player policy has been introduced following a trial and an introductory year. POLICY At all rugby below First XV and including all representative rugby below Under 18 grades, it is compulsory for all players to play a minimum half game. For players at the Small Blacks level this can consist of two quarters. As part of this policy it is re-stated that rolling subs are not allowed, although substitutions at quarter time, half time or three-quarter time will be permitted. RESPONSIBILITIES New Zealand Rugby: x Will ensure supporting rationale information is available in various forms and formats Provincial Unions: x Will actively implement the Half Game Rule in all required grades in competitions that fall under their control x Proactively educate adults on the rationale for the Rule x Sanction organisations and individuals who are failing to comply with the policy at the discretion of Provincial Unions SANCTION(S) Sanctions can be applied when breaches of this policy occur. It is noted that the sanction should apply to the adults involved rather than penalise the players. Sanctions are to be determined by each individual organising body/Provincial Union. New Zealand Rugby’s recommendation is as follows, on the next page.

NATIONAL RUGBY POLICY HALF GAME RULE UPDATED 23 APRIL 2015 NEW ZEALAND RUGBY | PO BOX 2172 | WELLINGTON 1. First Offence. Formal letter to individual/organisation informing that any future breach will result in disciplinary action 2. Second offence. Disciplinary hearing with starting point a one week stand down from coaching for offender