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The ball may be passed, knocked or handed between onside players of the attacking team who may in turn run or otherwise move with the ball in an attempt to gain territorial advantage and score. Defending players prevent the attacking team from gaining a territorial advantage by touching the ball carrier (or the ball in the ball carrier's possession) with two hands, either defending or attacking players may initiate touches upon which, play stops and is restarted with a Rollball.
There is no kicking.
The match is twenty (20) minutes duration, consisting of two (2) ten (10) minute halves. There is a one (1) minute halftime break.
Any teams more than five minutes late for their scheduled start forfeit the match.
A try is awarded when a player in possession of the ball (without being touched) crosses or places the ball over the team's attacking scoreline. A try is worth one (1) point.
Points are awarded in competition matches as follows:
WIN - 3 POINTS
BYE - 3 POINTS
DRAW - 2 POINTS
LOSS - 1 POINT
FORFEIT - 0 POINTS
A Team consists of an unlimited number of players, with at least three (3) and no more than five (5) on the field at any time.
Should the number of players on the field from one team fall below three (3), the match is finished and the non-offending team is declared the winner by default (5-0).
Players may substitute at any time and as many times as they wish. Physical contact does not have to be made between interchanging players.
The attacking team is to start the match with a tap at the center of the halfway line following the indication to commence play from the referee. The tap is taken by placing the ball on the ground at or behind the mark, releasing both hands from the ball, tapping the ball with either foot and retrieving the ball cleanly. Any player of the attacking team may take the tap.
All players of the defending team are required to retire a distance of not less then five (5) metres from the mark for the tap. Defending players may move forward of their positions once the ball has been tapped with the foot.
For the recommencement of play following a half-time break, teams shall change directions and the team losing the toss is to start the match with a tap at half.
For the recommencement of play following the scoring of a try, the team against which the score was made is to recommence play with a tap at half.
Referees are to ensure that there is minimum delay between the scoring of a try and the recommencement of play.
The team with the ball is entitled to six (6) touches prior to changing possession with the opposing team. Possession changes due to the sixth touch; the ball going forward; the ball being kicked; the half is touched whilst in possession of the ball; the ball goes across the sideline and; a player in possession of the ball running across the sideline. If the ball goes to ground backwards, it is a free ball and possession is awarded to the team that picks it up. Should the attacking team regain possession, the touch count continues. The team gaining possession taps the ball from the mark where the last infraction was made.
The touch count restarts if the defending player intended to intercept and the ball touches the ground. If the ball rebounds from a defending player and the ball is regained by an attacking player without touching the ground, play on and the touch count continues.
Players of both defending and attacking teams are to use the minimum force necessary to effect touches. More than the minimum physical force to effect a touch will be dealt with severely. If the ball is knocked from the hands of a player in possession during a touch, the touch counts and the player retains possession, and they are required to perform the Rollball.
The touch count continues, unless it is the sixth (6th) touch. After a touch has been effected, the ball must be played from where the touch occured. If the mark has been over-run the player in possession returns to the mark where the touch occurred or if the over-run is minimal the player may roll it back so the half takes it from the mark.
RULING - The attacking team will be warned to return to the mark, if they do not comply the ball will be turned over.
Defending players are not to interfere with the player in possession orotherwise prevent the immediate rollball, after a touch is made.
When a touch has been effected or for a changeover, a player is to perform a Rollball.
Method: The attacking player is to position on the mark, face the opponent (defending) scoreline, stand parallel to the sidelines, and roll the ball backwards along the ground.
Attacking Team: Any other player of the attacking team may receive the ball from the Rollball and thus become the half. The half may pass, run or score with the ball. However, if the half is touched, the ball is turned over.
Defending Team: All Players of the defending team are to retire a distance of not fewer than three (3) metres from the mark for a Rollball. Players of the defending team are not permitted to move forward of the three (3) metre position until the half has picked up the ball. Touching the ball on the ground is permitted.
RULING - The defending team is to be warned once to get onside at the rollball, if they are intentionally offside at the next rollball the attacking team is rewarded by having the touches start at zero again.
The ball becomes dead when it or a player in possession touches or crosses the sideline and a change of possession results.
RULING - The team NOT responsible for the ball touching or crossing the sideline restarts play with a tap two (2) metres infield from where the ball or the player in possession touched or crossed the sideline.
If a player in possession of the ball is touched crossing the attacking scoreline the touch counts.
Play is restarted with a Rollball five (5) metres infield from where the player in possession crossed the scoreline. After each touch the player in possession must move back to the five (5) metre line to Rollball. The defending team must stand on their 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.
Any player may be dismissed for a period of time, the remainder of the match or the remainder of the season following any misconduct. The referee may choose to allow the offending team to replace the dismissed player or have the them play short.
The severity of the penalty is up to the discretion of the acting referee and may be re-assessed by the tournament officials.
When the match is tied at full time, the game goes to sudden death (that is, the first team to score a try wins), each team will reduce their playing strength by one on-field player.
At the conclusion of five (5) minutes of extra time, each team will then reduce their on field strength by another (1) player. Once the teams have been reduced to only three (3) players each, the match will continue until a try is scored (at 10 minute halves).
Should a player be sent off for the remainder of the match when teams have only three players each, the offending team will forfeit the match.