Playing O2 Touch – The Rules 1. Passing The ball must be passed backwards or directly sideways at all times. A forward pass results in a penalty to the other team. A ‘touch and pass’, when a touched player passes the ball after the touch, results in a penalty. 2. The touch A touch can be made on any part of the body, ball, clothing or hair with one hand or two. Minimum force is to be used at all times. The team in possession is entitled to six touches. 3. Rollball This restarts the game after a touch. The player in possession stands on the mark facing the opponents defending line and rolls the ball backwards between his feet a distance of not more than 1 metre. This player may not pick up the ball. The player picking up the ball is known as the dummy half. 4. The dummy half The dummy half is the player who picks up the ball from a rollball. They are not allowed to score and if caught with the ball will lose possession. 5. Offside An attacking player is offside when forward of another player who either has possession or who last had possession of the ball. A defending player is offside when not retreating 5 metres for a rollball or 10 metres for a penalty or restart of play. Defending players cannot move forward until the dummy half has touched the ball. 6. Scoring A try is awarded when a player places the ball on or over the score line before being touched. 7. The tap/free or penalty kick The tap restarts play from a penalty. The ball is placed on the ground at the mark. The attacking player releases it from both hands and taps it with either foot a distance of not more than 1 metre before picking it up cleanly. Any player from the attacking team may take the tap or pick the tapped ball up. 8. Possession A change of possession will occur when • The ball is dropped to ground • The dummy half is touched while in possession • The sixth touch occurs • The dummy half places the ball on or over the score line • The rollball is performed incorrectly • A tap is performed incorrectly • The player in possession steps on or over the touchline. At a change of possession, play is restarted with a roll ball. 9. Penalty When a player/team is penalised the opposition restarts play with a tap taken at the mark. Play restarts with a tap when the following infringements occur:- • Forward pass • Touch and pass • Performing a rollball prior to a touch being made • Not performing a rollball on the mark • Using more than the minimum force to effect a touch • Defenders offside at the roll ball (5 metres) • Defenders offside at the tap (10 metres) • Incorrect substitution • Falsely claiming a touch • Misconduct • Playing more than the allowable number of players • Deliberately delaying play • Obstruction – defending players must not obstruct or interfere with attacking players supporting the ball carrier. 10. Substitution Teams may interchange players at any time but substitutes may not enter the pitch until the replaced player comes off and must start in an onside position. The only exception is following a try when players may change over without having to wait for the substituted player to leave the pitch. 11. Defence dropping 10 metres The defending team must retreat 10 metres, in a straight line, from the team with the ball at the start of the game and after a penalty. If the defending team concedes a penalty the referee should insist they are back the full 10 metres and push the layers back until satisfied. 12. Defence dropping 5 metres The defending team will frequently have to retreat 5 metres, in a straight line, from the team with the ball. This occurs after each touch and subsequent roll ball. When defending players don’t have time to retreat the full 5 metres they must allow the attackers to run unimpeded for 5 metres before affecting the touch. The referee should let the defenders know where the 5 metre mark is.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 17:35:19 +0000
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