Auckland Rugby League
Referees Association

APPENDIX (G)

Glossary

THE TERMS SET OUT BELOW SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS ASSIGNED TO THEM:-

ADVANTAGE

Allowing the advantage means allowing play to proceed if it is to the advantage of the team which has not committed an offence or infringement.

ATTACKING TEAM

Is the team which at the time has a territorial advantage. If a scrum is to be formed on the half-way line the team which last touched the ball before it went out of play is the attacking team.

BACK

As applied to a player means one who is not taking part in the scrum.

BALL BACK

Means to form a scrum where the ball was kicked from after it has entered touch on the full.

BEHIND

When applied to a player means, unless otherwise stated, that both feet are behind the position in question. Similarly ‘in front of’ means nearer to one’s opponents goal line.

BLINDSIDE

Means the side of the scrum or of the play the ball nearer to touch.

BREACH

Any accidental or deliberate non-compliance with the rules.

CHARGING DOWN

Is blocking the path of the ball with hands, arm or body as it rises from an opponent’s kick.

CONVERTING A TRY

Is the act of kicking a goal following the scoring of a tray.

CORNER POST

Is a post surmounted by a flag placed at the intersection of each touch line and goal line. The post shall be of non rigid material and shall be not less than 1.25m high. The corner posts are touch in goal.

DEAD BALL

Means that the ball is out of play.

DEFENDING TEAM

Is the team opposing the attacking team.

DIFFERENTIAL PENALTY

Differs in one respect for a Penalty Kick in that a goal cannot be scored from it.

DROP-GOAL

Sometimes referred to as a Field Goal, is a goal scored by propelling the ball over the cross bar by drop kicking it.

DROP-KICK

Is a kick whereby the ball is dropped from the hands (or hand) and is kicked immediately it rebounds from the ground.

DROP-OUT

Means a drop-kick from between the goal posts or from the centre of the 20m line when brining the ball back into play.

DUMMY

Is the pretence of passing or otherwise releasing the ball while still retaining possession of it.

FIELD-OF-PLAY

Is the area bounded by, but not including, the touch lines and goal lines

FORWARD

Means in a direction towards the opponents dead ball line. As applied to a player it means one who is at the time packing down in the scrum.

FORWARD PASS

Is a throw towards the opponent’s dead ball line.

FOUL PLAY

Refers to the types of Misconduct specified in Section 11.1.

FREE KICK

Is the kick awarded to the team which kicks into touch from a penalty kick. The kick is taken 10 metres in from touch opposite the point of entry into touch. The ball may be kicked in any manner in any direction but a goal cannot be scored from it, nor can ground be gained by kicking into touch on the full.

FULL TIME

Means the end of the game. Also referred to as No-side.

GENERAL PLAY

Refers to all aspects of play after a match has been started or re-started by a Place Kick, Drop-Out, Penalty Kick, Free Kick or Scrum.

GOAL

See Section 7.

GROUNDING THE BALL

Means:

(a) placing the ball on the ground with hand or hands, or

(b) exerting downward pressure on the ball with hand or arm, the ball itself being on the ground, or

(c) dropping on the ball and covering it with the part of the body above the waist and below the neck, the ball itself being on the ground.

HALF-TIME

Means the end of the first half of the game.

HANDOVER

Is the surrendering of the ball to the opposition after a team has been tackled the statutory number of successive times. (Section 2.2).

HEEL

Is when a player propels the ball behind him with the sole or heel of his foot.

HOOK

Is the act of the hooker when he strikes with a foot for the ball in the scrum.

IN-GOAL

The area bounded by the goal line, touch-in-goal lines and dead ball line. See plan (Appendix A).

IN POSSESSION

Means to be holding or carrying the ball.

KICK

Means imparting motion to the ball with any part of the leg (except the heel) from knee to toe inclusive.

KICK-OFF

The method of starting each half of the game (see Section 1).

KNOCK-ON

Means to knock the ball towards the opponent’s dead ball line with hand or arm.

LOOSE ARM

Is an offence by the hooker if he does not pack into the scrum with both arms around the neck of the prop and front row forward.

LOOSE BALL

Is when during play the ball is not held by a player and not being scrummaged.

LOOSE HEAD

Refers to the front row forward in the scrum who is nearest to the referee.

MARK

Is the point at which the penalty kick or free kick is awarded or a scrum formed.

MUTUAL INFRINGEMENT

Means the reason for the stoppage in play is not the fault of either team.

OBSTRUCTION

Is the illegal act of impeding an opponent who does not have the ball.

OFF-SIDE

As applied to a player means that he is temporarily out of play and may be penalised if he joins in the game (see Section 8).

ON-SIDE

Means that a player is not off-side.

OPEN-SIDE

Means the side of the scrum or the play the ball further from touch.

ON THE FULL

Means the ball is kicked over a given line or is caught by a player without first coming into contact with the ground or another player.

OUT OF PLAY

Refers to a player out of play at a restart of play.

PACK

Refers collectively to the forwards of any one team. To pack down means to form a scrum.

PASS

Is a throw of the ball from one player to another.

PENALISE

Is to award a penalty kick against an offending player.

PENALTY KICK

See Section 6.

PLACE KICK

Is to kick the ball after it has been placed on the ground for that purpose.

PLAYING AREA

Is the area enclosed by the fence, or other such line of demarcation, which prevents encroachment of spectators.

PLAYING FIELD

Is the area bounded by, but not including the touchlines and dead ball lines.

PLAY THE BALL

Is the act of bringing the ball into play after a tackle (see Section 3).

PROP

Is the front row forward nearest to the scrum half putting the ball into the scrum.

PUNT

Is a kick whereby the ball is dropped from the hand or hands and is kicked before it touches the ground.

PUT-IN

Also known as the FEEDING THE SCRUM - is the rolling of the ball into the scrum.

SCRUM

Or scrummage or scrimmage (see Section 5). Where a team loses the advantage of the ‘Loose Head’ and ‘Put-In’ the scrum is said to be awarded against that team.

STRIKE

As applied to the foot means to attempt to secure possession of the ball, usually by heeling it, in a scrum.

TACKLE

See Section 2.

TOUCH-DOWN

Is the grounding of the ball by a defending player in his own in goal.

TOUCH IN-GOAL

See Section 9.

TOUCHING THE BALL

In all aspects of play ‘touching the ball’ refers to deliberately playing at the ball.

TRY

See Section 7.

TWENTY METRE RESTART

A kick taken at the centre of the 20 metre line to restart play, the ball may be kicked in any manner and in any direction.

UPRIGHT TACKLE

Is where the player in possession is effectively tackled without being brought to the ground (see Section 2).

VOLUNTARY TACKLE

Is where the player in possession voluntarily stops play when not effectively tackled (see Section 2).

ZERO TACKLE

Means the tackle is not counted in that set of six tackles.