Rugby Football League Mini / Mod Course Steve Taylor Match Officials Development Officer Introduction TODAY • Clarification and understanding of laws • Important skills of officiating Mini Mod • Safe Play Code • Understanding Referee Signals – important in the development of a player. Why have a Modified Game? • Small sided activities are the key to teaching games to children • It is important the small sided game mimics the full blown game but has reduced numbers, reduced field size and simplified rules • In any 20 minute section of a modified game, involvement is 3 times more than in a fully blown game • More involvement • Leads to better technique. Why have a Modified Game? • Develops concentration levels because the action is never far away • Decision making skills are enhanced as individuals are involved in situations more often • Success becomes easier to achieve. MINI LEAGUE RULES • Age – Played by children under the 8 years of age as at midnight of the 31st of August • Number of Players – Maximum number of players is 9 – Unlimited substitutions – Each player MUST play at least half a game. MINI LEAGUE RULES • Length of Game – Single games should be played in two halves of 15 minutes – Festival games should be played in two halves of 7 minutes. No player should be allowed to play for more than a total of 40 minutes in any one day. MINI LEAGUE RULES • Size of Playing Field – The size of the playing area is to be a maximum of 60 x 40 metres and a minimum of 50 x 30 metres • Size of the Ball – A mini league ball or size 3 Rugby League Ball is to be used. MINI LEAGUE RULES • Tackle Count – The normal 6 tackle rule applies • Scoring – A try is scored by grounding the ball as per the international rules – No kicks are allowed except after a try has been scored and a place kick will be taken from in front of the posts. MINI LEAGUE RULES •Starts / Restarts – The game will commence with a play the ball on the centre of the half way line to the team winning the toss – After a try has been scored the non scoring team will restart with a play the ball on the centre of the half way line. MINI LEAGUE RULES •Play the Ball – All players must retire 5 metres prior to the play the ball – The ball must be played backwards – The defending side cannot move until the ball is passed by the acting half back or the acting half back clears the ruck –The minimum distance the ball is played from the Goal Line is 5 metres. MINI LEAGUE RULES • Play the Ball – The minimum distance the ball is played from the try line is 5 metres – If the acting half back is tackled with the ball, it will result in a handover. MINI LEAGUE RULES • Infringements – No ball stealing is allowed – All infringements will result in a hand over to the non- offending team at the place the infringement occurred except in the following situations – If the ball goes into touch the restart will take place 5 metres in from touch opposite the place that the ball crossed line – If in the goal area the restart will be 10 metres in the field of play. MINI LEAGUE RULES •Foul Play – Any act of foul play will result in 5 metre advancement up the field of play to the non offending side. The game restarted with a tap penalty 10 metres infield from the nearest touchline. MINI LEAGUE RULES • Other Rules Any other rule not covered will be as per international rules. MOD LEAGUE RULES • Age – Played by children under the 10 years of age as at midnight of the 31st of August • Number of Players – Maximum number of players is 11 – Unlimited substitutions – Each player MUST play at least half a game. MOD LEAGUE RULES •Length of Game – Single games should be played in two halves of 20 minutes with 5 minute interval • Size of Playing Field – The size of the playing area is to be a maximum of 80 x 50 metres. The goal posts should be padded and outside the field of play. MOD LEAGUE RULES •Size of the Ball – A mod league ball or size 4 Rugby League ball is to be used •Scoring – A try is scored in the normal way as per the international rule. MOD LEAGUE RULES • Commencing the Game/Half time – The game will commence with a place kick at the centre of half way at the beginning of each half by: a) the team who loses the toss of a coin, and then the alternate team for the second half – Play will restart with a 15m tap to the none kicking team if the ball bounces out of the field dead in goal from a kick off – After a try has been scored the non-scoring team will restart with a play the ball on the centre line. MOD LEAGUE RULES • Play the Ball – All players must retire 8 metres prior to the play the ball except for a single marker – The ball must be played backwards – The single marker cannot strike for the ball – The marker cannot move until the ball is passed by the acting half back or the acting half back clears the ruck – If the acting half back is tackled with the ball, it will result in a handover. MOD LEAGUE RULES • Kicking – Kicking is permissible after a try has been awarded. The kick should be taken no more than 10 metres from the posts. No player is allowed a second kick until all other players have attempted a kick – Kicking in open play from the hands i.e. bomb, punt, chip, grubber is allowed – Secondary kicking i.e.. fly kicking – dribbling is not allowed. MOD LEAGUE RULES • Infringements – No ball stealing is allowed – Any act of foul play will result in a 8 metre advance up the field to the non-offending side –The game will recommence with a tap restart 10 metres infield from the nearest touchline NB: A quick restart on the mark may be taken; if the player is tackled in possession and it does NOT result in a handover. MOD LEAGUE RULES • Infringements – Any infringements in the in goal area will result in play restarting 15 metres from the goal line in a central position – No ball stealing is allowed. MOD LEAGUE RULES • Scrums A Scrum will occur if the ball enters touch – A passive scrum shall be formed by no less than 5 players from each team – It shall be formed no nearer than 10 metres from the try lines or touch lines All other infringements (knock ons, forward passes etc.) will result in a hand over to the non-offending team. MOD LEAGUE RULES • Foul Play – Any act of foul play will result in 8 metre advancement up the field of play to the non offending side. The game restarted with a tap penalty 10 metres infield from the nearest touchline. MOD LEAGUE RULES • Other Rules Any other rule not covered will be as per international rules. MATCH OFFICIAL GUIDELINES 1. Sportsmanship 2. Gamesmanship 3. Common Sense 4. Consistent 5. Objective 6. Courteous (especially when dealing with foul play) 7. Complimentary – use communication skills (coach players and referee game) THE SAFE PLAY CODE 1. Tackles above the Armpits • Any tackle when a ball carrier is in an upright position and contact is made above the armpits is an infringement 2. Dangerous Tackles • It is an infringement to if the tackler trips or uses his legs in any way during a tackle. This also applies to the Cumberland Throw • Adopting a crotch hold is not permitted, placing either the hand or arm in the crotch region is an infringement. THE SAFE PLAY CODE 3. Lifting • Vertical lifting is an infringement. If the referee anticipates this is going to happen he/she should blow the whistle immediately to prevent it • The ball carrier cannot be lifted and driven. Not to be confused with a driving tackle when the ball carrier is knocked off their feet. THE SAFE PLAY CODE 4. Shoulder Charge • Defenders are not allowed to shoulder charge the ball carrier in order to effect a tackle 5. Flopping • A defender cannot drop or fall on a prone player. THE SAFE PLAY CODE 6. Slinging • The use of the ball carriers arm or jersey to sling a player to the ground is not permitted 7. Hand Off or Fend • An attacking player cannot thrust their arm and contact a defender above the shoulder. THE SAFE PLAY CODE 8. Scrums • No pushing or rotating the scrums is permitted. Referees should instruct team to crouch, engage and hold 9. Unacceptable language • The use of obscene, threatening, racist and abusive language is not permitted • Any form of verbal abuse, threatening language or sledging will be an infringement. MATCH OFFICIALS SIGNALS • The Match Official at mini / mod level needs to use the correct signals to assist in the development of the players • The majority of signals as a referee is mimicking the action of the players involved. QUESTIONS? Future Courses Foundation 13 a side Courses Saturday 19th June Shaw Cross Dewsbury Saturday 26th June York Acorn York Saturday 3rd July Craven Park Hull.