RUGBY 101
by coach briggs
POSITIONS
PROPS
[1 & 2]
- ‘Prop’ up the hooker
- Right is tight, Left is loose
- Strongest players
- Line breaks
- Lifters in a lineout
HOOK
[2]
- ‘Hook’ the ball back with their foot
- Most pressure on them in the scrum
- Control that scrum (cadence)
- Throw in for lineouts
LOCKS
[4 & 5]
- Completely bound in the scrum
- Power of the scrum
- Tallest girls
- Lifted in lineouts
FLANKERS
[6 & 7]
- 6 is strong side, 7 is weak side
- Aggressive
- Best tacklers
- Barely bound in the scrum, can do plays
- Can work with backs more
- Endurance and strength
8-MAN
[8]
- Engage the scrum
- Work with the scrum half
- Can do plays
- Also longer legs
- Get it done
SCRUM - HALF
[9]
- From breakdown to ball carrier
- Decision-making
- Endurance
- Communication
- Passing
- Kicking
FLY - HALF
[10]
- Decision making
- Experience
- Communication
- Directing
- Passing
- Kicking
- Strength
CENTERS
[12 & 13}
- Inside center 12, outside center 13
- Passing
- Catching
- Decision making
- Playmakers
- Speed
WINGS
[11 & 14]
- 11 is weak side, 14 is strong side
- Fastest players
- Steps
- Jukes
- Catching
- Crucial defense
FULL - BACK
[15]
- Last line of defense
- Constantly reacting
- Field vision
- Insert in the back line
- Receive kicks
- Kicking
REASONS FOR THE GAME TO STOP
GAME INFRACTION
SCRUM
OUT OF BOUND
LINEOUT
DANGER INFRACTION
PENALTY
REFEREE HAND SIGNALS
PENALTY
...
Arm in air at slight angle towards rewarded team
Offending team must retreat 10m to be on sides; rewarded team restarts with a ‘kick’ at the mark
ADVANTAGE
No whistle, Play does not stop
Arm perpendicular to the body
towards rewarded team
Ref allows game to continue as long as rewarding team is gaining an advantage. Ref may blow whistle if no advantage is gained and apply consequence. Ref will vocalize when advantage is on or off.
SCRUM
Arm perpendicular to the body towards rewarded team. Two teams scrum at the mark. Athletes not in the scrum are 5m behind the last foot of the scrum
TRY
...
Arm straight in the air. Scoring team kicks for conversion points; scored-on team retreats to behind the posts
LINEOUT
...
Flag up to indicate play has entered touch. Stands at mark. Arm perpendicular to indicate team throwing in. Teams must set up on either side of the mark, 5m-15m from the touchline. Players not in the lineout must be 10m from the lineout.
DROP 22 KICK
...
Arm points to the 22 meter line
FREE KICK
...
Arm at a 90 degree angle towards the awarded team
SECONDARY SIGNALS
FORWARD PASS
scrum
Arms ball length apart move from the body forward
KNOCK-ON
scrum
Arm moves in front on the body, indicating knocking forward
NOT RELEASING
penalty
OFFSIDE AT RUCK, MAUL, OR SCRUM
penalty
Shoulders parallel with touchline. Arm hanging straight down, swings in arc along offside line.
NOT ROLLING AWAY
penalty
A circular movement with the finger and arm moving away from the body.
COMING IN FROM THE SIDE
penalty
The hand and arm held horizontally, moving sideways.
DRIVING IN/LOSING FEET
penalty
Straight arm gesture, pointing downwards to imitate diving action.
HIGH TACKLE
penalty
Hand moves horizontally in front of neck.
HANDS IN THE RUCK
penalty
Hand at ground level, making sweeping action, as if handling the ball.
OBSTRUCTION
penalty
Arms crossed in front of chest at right angles to each other, like open scissors.
NOT 10M FROM PENALTY
penalty, slow
Both hands held open above head.
COLLAPSING THE SCRUM
free kick
Both arms at shoulder height as if bound around opponent. Upper body lowered and twisted as if pulling down opponent who is on top.
BALL HELD UP IN GOAL
no try, penalty
Space between hands indicates that ball was not grounded.
MAUL/RUCK NOT PLAYABLE
scrum
NOT IN STRAIGHT
lineout/scrum
...
time off/time on
Whistle blow arm up each time
BREAKDOWNS & BASICS
OPEN PLAY
...
What it looks like: Rugby occurring outside of set-piece with phases of passing, tackling, rucking, and kicking
Infractions: knock on, forward pass, offsides, foul play...
THE TRY
...
What it is: A score! Worth 5 points and a chance to get 2 more with a conversion kick
When it happens: When the ball has been grounded in possession of a player in their opponent’s try-zone
Infractions: knock-on, held-up
THE SCRUM
...
What it is: A contest for possession that includes 9 players from each team. The ball is put in the middle by #9 and the teams push and kick the ball back to get it to the end of their side, where the ball is passed out to the rest of the team.
...
...
When it happens: Knock on, forward pass, scrum option to penalties or re-kicks, grounding the ball, ball is unplayable in ruck or maul
Infractions: Offsides, collapsing the scrum, early engagement, hands in...
THE RUCK
...
What it is: A contest for possession in open play where the ball is on the ground (An unorganized scrum)
When it happens: After a tackle. When at least one player from each team is on their feet over the ball.
...
...
Infractions: Diving in, offsides, hands in the ruck, not rolling away, coming in from the side, not releasing
THE LINE OUT
...
What it is: A contest for possession where each teams creates a channel for the ball to be thrown into from the bound.
When it happens: After the ball has gone into touch (out of bounds)
...
...
Infractions: faking the throw, matching numbers, offsides, throw is not straight, throw is not 5 meters, jumping twice, contact in the air
THE PENALTY
...
What it is: A reset in play after an infraction. The offending team must be back 10 meters from the place of infraction, and the team awarded the penalty must kick the ball at the place of infraction to start play.
...
...
When it happens: After an infraction, or after a team with advantage has not gained their advantage
Infractions: offsides, incomplete kick, not at the mark, foul play
THE MAUL
...
What it is: A contest for meters where a player is carrying the ball. (A ruck with the ball being carried) (A super long tackle)
When it happens: the ball is carried and at least one player from each team on their feet.
...
...
Infractions: offsides, coming in from the side, collapsing a maul, not ‘using it’, ball not presented, obstruction
