Team Sports Rules and Dimensions

Field Dimensions and Markings

• Field size: 70m x 50m
• Sidelines, try lines, and halfway lines are solid.
• Try lines have broken lines 7m inward.
• 10m broken lines on either side of halfway line.

Goal Area and 7 Metre Zone

• Goal area: beyond the try line.
• 7-metre zone: area between the 7m broken line and try line

Pre-Game Procedures

• Referees check for hazards on the field.
• Players are checked for jewelry and footwear.
• Running shoes and molds are allowed.
• Barefoot playing is not allowed.

Coin Toss

• Done before the match by referees and captains.
• Winner chooses: direction of play in first half, interchange area, and who starts first.

Team Composition

• 6 players per team.
• Mixed grades: Maximum 3 males per team on the field, at least 1 male at all times.

Substitutions

• Players can enter and leave the field at any time.
• Ensuring no more than 6 players on the field at once, maintaining the same gender balance.
• All substitutes stay in the interchange area

Duration and Objectives

• 15-20 minute halves.
• Match ends when full time expires or ball becomes dead.
• Objective: Scoring tries by placing the ball on or over the attacking tryline.
• A try is worth 1 point.

Match Start

• Match begins with a tap in the middle of the halfway line.
• After a try, the team that did not score restarts at the halfway line.
• After halftime, teams change directions.

Player Actions/Rules

• Players can run with the ball and pass to teammates.
• No forward passes are allowed.
• A team is entitled to 6 touches.
• Touching: made by a defender or player in possession, contact with ball, hair or clothing. Touch counts in juggling or grounding the ball for a try and when touched at the same time. Referee reviews and acknowledges the touched and if unsure there is a touch.
• Touching is based on honesty, if a touch is missed the player is sent to the sinbin for false claim. When a touch is affected there is a rollball and the player in possession must perform a rollball on the mark they were touched, they must be standing square, and place the ball on the ground between the legs in a controlled manner.
• Changes in possession: dropped ball, incorrect rollball, out of play, or interference from defending players.

Other Rules

• If the ball or a player is out of play, there is a change in possession.
• Play is restarted with a roll ball, at least 7 meters from the boundary.
• Defending players are penalized if they cause ruck interference or interfere with players performing the rollball.
• Touch and pass: players cannot pass the ball after a touch. If the ball is in the passing motion before a touch is affected the play can continue.
• Off the mark: penalty for non compliance, Rollball is required on the touch mark.
• Onside: defending players must stay 7 meters from the try line to be onside

Additional Rules and Procedures

• Offside and Onside rules regarding the marking and defending players regarding their distance from the try line in relation to the ball.
• Referees are responsible for play and rule enforcement.
• Referees use whistles and signals and/or verbal commands to regulate play.
• Referees are responsible for keeping score and signing the scorecard at the end of matches.
• Extra time is potentially available, such as drop-offs and golden point for drawing scores.