ELVs for Referees 13 January 2009

Introduction IRB Council approved global trial of 13 ELVs at ALL levels of the Game, effective from 1 st August 2008 Importance of applying current Law and Understand Application / Spirit of new ELVs Workshops will allow you to discuss all ELVs in more detail and apply contextual judgment 1 st Workshop Deals with ELVs 2-3 & 6-10 & 12

ELVs for Referees LAW 17 - MAUL 2. Remove reference to head and shoulders not being lower than hips. 3. Players are able to defend a maul by pulling it down. LAW 19 - TOUCH AND LINEOUT 6. There is no restriction on the number of players from either team who can participate in the lineout. 7. The receiver at the lineout must be 2 metres away from the lineout. 8. The player who is in opposition to the player throwing in the ball must stand in the area between the 5-metre line and the touch line but must be 2 metres away from the 5-metre line. 9. Lineout players may pre-grip a jumper before the ball is thrown in. 10. The lifting of lineout players is permitted. LAW 20 - SCRUM 12. Identification of scrum half offside lines.

ELV 2 Law 17 – Maul 17.2 JOINING A MAUL Clause (a) removed: (a) Players joining a maul must have their heads and shoulders no lower than their hips. Penalty: Free kick Remove reference to head and shoulders not being lower than hips Failure of players to keep their heads and shoulders above their hips throughout the maul will no longer constitute an offence. This Experimental Law Variation is necessary because of ELV 3

ELV 3 Law 17 – Maul Players are able to defend a maul by pulling it down to ground A defender MUST grasp an opposing player anywhere between shoulders & hips and then pull that player to the ground If a maul is brought down by any other action, it is regarded as a collapse and therefore illegal and this must be applied rigorously by referees Key words – pulled down, collapsed and unsuccessful Present Law must not be ignored, particularly side entry

ELV 3 Law 17 – Maul Maul Videos Here

ELV 3 Law 17 – Maul Maul Videos Here

ELV 3 Law 17 – Maul Maul Videos Here

ELV 3 Law 17 – Maul Q. Are pulling down and collapsing the same thing? A. No, pulling down (as described before) is legal whereas, collapsing (pulling legs or lying on the ground to collapse the maul) is illegal Q. Is it now OK to pull someone out of the maul? A. No, it was illegal last year and is still against the Law this season Q. Can I wrap my legs around the opponents legs to pull down the maul? A. No, this is illegal Q. What happens if a player appears to try to pull the maul down and intentionally goes to ground and the players in the maul fall over him? A. This is dangerous and should be penalised with a PK Q. What happens if the maul is pulled down and the ball is not immediately available? A. The referee will give the ball some time to emerge (current law – still a maul)

ELV 3 Law 17 – Maul Q. If a maul is pulled down but part of it is still up with players on their feet contesting the ball, then is there still a maul? A. Yes Q. If all the opponents voluntarily unbind and leave then does a maul still exists? A. No - Open Play Laws Apply (Law Ruling # ) Q. If a splinter group of 3 or 4 players of the same team breaks away with no opposition and the ball is at the back of the group, what does the referee do? A. Referee to call use it – If it turns into T&T then judge context Q. If a splinter group of 3 or 4 players of the same team breaks away with no opposition and the ball is at the front of the group what does the referee do? A. Nothing

ELV 3 Law 17 – Maul Q. What terminology will referees be using? A. Referee to use: Collapsed when there is a Penalty Kick. Pulled Down when there is no offence Unsuccessful when there is a Turnover Q. Can the scrum half help at a maul? A. Yes. Referees are being encouraged to communicate with him/her Q. Is the Sack at a lineout the same as a pull down? A. No, it can be done on the legs (current law) Q. You said not to forget current laws, anything specific we should remember? A. Yes, referees/players/coaches must not forget that players must enter the maul legally and if the maul is stopped - use it on 2 nd stoppage

ELV 6 Law 19 – Touch and Lineout There is no restriction on the number of players from either team who can participate in the lineout Minimum of 2 players from each team to form a lineout All lineout players to fit between the 5 and the 15 metre lines This Experimental Law Variation is designed to allow teams more flexibility in their tactics at the lineout.

ELV 6 Law 19 – Touch and Lineout

Q. Will referees call numbers like they did last year? A. Not needed - but it is worth the referee identifying if there is a receiver Q. If the ball throwing in side is slow to form or have a huddle, what will the referee do? A. S/he will allow time to adjust (current management)

ELV 7 & 8 Law 19 – Touch and Lineout Receiver at the lineout must be 2 metres away from the lineout Receiver cannot move until the ball leaves the throwers hands Team not throwing in must have a player standing between the 5 m line and on that teams side of touch when the lineout is formed That player must be at least 2 m from the 5 m line and not move towards the lineout until the ball leaves the throwers hands

ELV 7 & 8 Law 19 – Touch and Lineout

Q. Do both sides need a receiver? A. No Q. Can the Receiver enter before LO commences? A. No, s/he must remain 2m Q. When can the Receiver enter the lineout? A. Once the ball leaves the hookers hands Q. Can the Receiver go in and (a) lift and (b) be lifted? A. Yes to both Q. Can we send the Receiver in on a dummy? A. No, s/he must remain 2 m back until the ball leaves the hookers hands

ELV 7 & 8 Law 19 – Touch and Lineout Q. As the non throwing in side must we have a hooker A. Yes Q. What is penalty for not having a hooker? A. Free Kick – but referees should manage this initially by identifying the hooker and reminding teams of their obligations under law.

ELV 9 Law 19 – Touch and Lineout Lineout players may pre-grip a jumper before the ball is thrown in Players cannot pre-grip below shorts from behind and below thigh from front Responsibility of lifters/supporters to ensure their player are returned to ground safely as per existing law Existing law regarding padding applies

ELV 10 Law 19 – Touch and Lineout The lifting of lineout players is permitted Remain strict on: dummy jumping by attacking and defending side early lift by defenders and attackers jumping/stepping into the gap management of the throw in Sacking still legal (ball carrier)

ELV 12 Law 20 – Scrum Identification of scrum half offside lines Defending scrum half must be in direct opposition to his opponent at the commencement of the scrum (or back 5m with other backs) Non-ball-winning scrum half must not move away from scrum and then remain in front of offside line i.e. hindmost feet Recommended distance scrum half can move away from scrum is 1 metre Existing Law regarding back rows and attacking scrum half still applies

ELV 12 Law 20 – Scrum

Example a The non-ball-winning scrum half can follow the ball. The scrum half must stay behind the ball which is the offside line. Example b The non-ball-winning scrum half may also move to the offside line at the hindmost foot of the scrum but must not move away from the scrum and must not overstep that offside line. The non-ball-winning scrum half can move between the positions a and b.

ELV 12 Law 20 – Scrum Example c The non-ball-winning scrum half may decide to move to or beyond the offside line 5 metres behind the hindmost foot of that players team, but once there, must remain behind the offside line until the scrum is over.

ELV 12 Law 20 – Scrum Blue #9 can move away to receive pass from #8 Green #9 MUST stay close (<1m) even if Blue #9 moves away Equitable?

ELV 12 Law 20 – Scrum Q. Where does the defending SH have to stand at start of a scrum? A. S/he has to be onside, so (a) by the throw in and follow the ball round just like last year (b) within 1 m of the scrum but not in front of the back feet of his #8 (c) 5m back

ELV 12 Law 20 – Scrum Q. What can the defending SH do once the opposition have won the ball? A. S/he can retreat to within 1m of scrum or drop back to 5m Q. If SH goes back 5m can s/he re-advance? A. No, not until the ball leaves the scrum Q. If the SH drops back how far can s/he go around the other side of the scrum? A. Within 1m but cannot advance in front of back feet of his/her #8

Rejected ELVs 1. Tackle and Ruck 2. Scrum 3. Maul 4. Lineout and Quick Throw 5. Into Sanctions 7. Incorrect Kick offs and Restart 8. Assistant Referees 9. Corner Posts PLEASE NOTE ANY ELVS IN YELLOW ARE NOT REPEAT NOT IN OPERATION

Comparative Statistics - 1 MatchesS14ELV(75)3NELV(4)CCELV(2) S N 07 6N 07 RWC 07 6N 08 Scrums Lineouts Rucks/Mauls Penalties/FK PenaltiesAverage Penalties % 1243%1138%2388%--1688%1991%17 91 % 1794% Free Kicks Average Free kicks % 1657%1862%312%--212%29%29%16% Tries Yellow Cards

Comparative Statistics - 2 MatchesS14ELV(75)3NELV(4)CCELV(2) S N 07 3N 07 RWC076N08 Scrum Success % 95%95%88%90%94%87%89%92% Lineout 81%82%65%80%84%80%80%83% Ruck/Maul 91%89%91%92%95%93%92%94% R/M Unplayables (average) Pen option Tap%39%53%4%-22%16%23%14% Pen option Scrum% 14%8%4%-0%0%3%2% Ball in Play Time % 46%49%39%36%46%46%44%50%

Comparative Statistics - 3

Law of Unintended Consequences Even if the ball is marginally more in play, that's not much use when it's 50 metres up in the air. – ARU player The reason that laws are constantly changing is because theyre not refereed well in the first place – Clive Norling

Dont Forget the Old Laws! Tackle and Ruck must be refereed according to Law – –Sealing – –Handling in the Ruck – –Dangerous Charging

The Next Step Go To The Site and read the resource material before the season begins Go To The Site and read the resource material before the season begins Attend the next ERURS Training Night: Attend the next ERURS Training Night: February Training Night - ELVs for ARs & the 6Ps of Refereeing Tuesday, February 10th St Albert Clubhouse (Riel Drive) 7-9 PM Ball in Touch/Touch-in-Goal/Quick Throw-ins Ball in Touch/Touch-in-Goal/Quick Throw-ins Scrum Offside Lines Scrum Offside Lines Duties of ARs and TJs Duties of ARs and TJs Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performances (Pre-game protocols for 2009) Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performances (Pre-game protocols for 2009)

Questions?