Refereeing The MaulAARQ - QSRR

Refereeing the Maul:What is a Maul?

• A maul consists of:– at least three players• the ball carrier AND• one player from each team

– all on their feet• Can only take place in the field of play

Refereeing the Maul:Ways a Maul can End

• Successful End To A Maul– A maul successfully ends when the ball or a player

carrying the ball leaves the maul.• Unsuccessful End To A Maul– If it remains stationary or has stopped moving

forward for longer than 5 seconds.– If the ball becomes unplayable or the maul

collapses (not as a result of foul play) and a scrum is ordered.

• Maul moves into the in-goal area

Unplayable – Whose Ball?

• No foul play or illegal acts, scrum awarded to– 17.6 (c): Team not in possession when maul began

• If ball is caught DIRECTLY from a kick and the receiver is immediately held by an opponent and a maul forms around them– Receiving player’s team gets scrum

Unplayable – Examples

• Clip 1 - Unplayable Maul Whose ball• Clip 2 - Scrum after maul after catch• Clip 3 - Scrum_after_a_maul_moving_forward• Clip 4 - Collapsed Maul nobody has to roll

away

Maul - Illegal Acts In Maul

• Offside at Maul– Hosie - Collapse 1

• Deliberate collapsing – Law 17.2(e)– Hosie - Collapse 2

• Not jump on top of a maul – Law 17.2 (f)– Clip 5 - Jumping on maul.mp4

• Not engage in dangerous play– Clip 6 - Maul - Neck Hold.mp4

Refereeing the Maul:Examples of shape of maul - 1

Refereeing the Maul:Examples of shape of maul - 2

Refereeing The Maul:Understanding the Laws - 1

• The defender can tackle the ball carrier or if he decides to only drive into the maul to stop the drive then by definition he is forming a new maul.

• However, the ball needs to be at the front or it is obstruction.

Clip 7 - Illegal Maul Formation.mp4

Refereeing The Maul:Understanding the Laws - 2

(a) A maul is created

(b) Defending players leave the maul apart from one defender who is still involved in the maul.

(c) If the defender collapses the maul a penalty should be awarded

(a) (b) (c)

Refereeing The Maul:Understanding the Laws - 3

(a) A maul is formed

(b) All defending players leave the maul.

(c) The iRB have decreed as the defenders engaged their opponents in forming the maul should they decide to leave by definition the maul is in fact still active (no end as per Law 17.5) and the offside lines continue to apply – Law 17.4 (f) .

(a) (b) (c)

Refereeing The Maul:Understanding the Laws - 4

A player at a Line Out wins possession of the ball, his team mates bind onto one another and move forward with the ball held in the middle of the group, their opponents back away making no attempt to tackle the ball carrier or form a maul. In this scenario play continues, however, should a defender be prevented from making a tackle due to the ball being held in the middle or at the rear of the attacking group the referee should penalise the side in possession of the ball.

Refereeing The Maul:Understanding the Laws - 5

• A player at a Line Out wins possession of the ball and his team mates bind onto him without moving forward through the line of touch, the opposition do not engage their opponents and a defending player moves to a position at the rear of the opponents group. As the players have not moved through the line of touch the defending player is deemed off side and should be penalised.

• If the side in possession of the ball move forward through the line of touch and the opposition do not engage their opponents and the defending player moves to a position at the rear of the group in possession of the ball the referee should play on.

Refereeing The Maul:Understanding the Laws - 6

• Provided side X are deemed to spin and break off intentionally, the maul is ended.

• Only if it is absolutely clear that side broke off and left the maul intentionally is the maul still active.

Examples: Clip 8 - Same Maul.mp4Hosie – Truck and Trailer.mp4

Refereeing the Maul:Positioning

Positioning Example

Clip 9 - Maul-Ref-Positioning.mp4Tranchemontagne – Lineout Maul.mp4

Davies – Collapse.mp4

Discussion

Clip 10 Discuss - Lions maul penalty against Cheetah

• What do you think about this scenario?– Was the referee right?– What would you do now you’ve been here today?

Refereeing the Maul:Communication

• Who are we communicating for?

• What are we communicating?

• How much?

• 2 Minute Group Work – Thoughts on above

Refereeing the Maul:To whom are we communicating?

• Players– Being proactive to reduce infractions– Aiding continuity and provide certainty

• Spectators– Why play stopped

• Observers– Verification of our interpretations

Refereeing the Maul:What are we communicating?

• Short phrases work best: Keep it simple– Maul formed– Keep it up– Join from the back

• Movement– Offside– Through the middle

• Use it– Move it (5 second rule)

Refereeing the Maul:How Much Communication?

• Safety– Lots and lots!!!

• Generally– Enough to make a difference– Only when there is an issue to address• Proactive communication• Excess becomes white noise in background for players

Questions?

Refereeing the MaulSummary

• Know when a maul is formed• Communicate• Know when a maul ends either successfully or

unsuccessfully• Always remember SAFETY

Next Meeting:

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013 @ 19h00Concordia Perform Centre (same place)

The Scrum

What You Need To Know