Fellas,

 

An interesting article on releasing the ball.  Also note the comment by a reader at the bottom about who is and who isn't a tackler.  You are not considered the tackler if you bring the ball carrier to the ground and you yourself do not go to the ground.  So that means you have no rights to the ball unless you come through the gate.

 

August 14, 2008 - Hey Ref: Last week, a referee penalized me for holding onto the ball - aren't I allowed to place the ball after I'm tackled?

As the tackled player, you are allowed to dictate how you put the ball immediately back into play after being tackled so long as your actions while on the ground do not inhibit an opposing player who is on his or her feet and has gained possession of the ball.

Law 15.5 basically allows a tackled player to place, push, or pass the ball back towards his team, with section 15.5(c) identifying that the player may place the ball in any direction, thus allowing individuals to reach out for a try if done in one, immediate motion.  However, Law section 15.5(e) also requires that, "if opposition players who are on their feet attempt to play the ball, the tackled player must release the ball."  

Being consistent in our assessment of whether a tackled player is legally placing the ball requires us to examine our standards and the context:

Standard. As a referee, we must be clear that (i) a player on the ground may immediately place the ball such that it prevents the player on his feet from securing possession of the ball, but (ii) a player on the ground cannot attempt to remove the ball from the controlled grasp of a player on his or her feet.

Law section 15.5(e) does not advocate a game of touch rugby.  A tackled player is not required to hand the ball over to the nearest player who taps him or her on the shoulder and asks politely. Until further notice, that is his ball, and he has a right to put it into play in a manner that benefits his team if allowed by the Laws. However, these rights end when a player on his feet attempts "to play the ball."  If a player is on his feet has a controlled grasp of the ball and is trying to pull it away so he can use it, the tackled player on the ground must not impede these actions.  

Context.  It is very difficult to achieve consistency among referees at all levels regarding the events at and surrounding the tackle because of the many dynamic yet subtle influences present.  However, the issue of identifying when a tackled player is holding onto the ball in an impermissible manner is a small cog in a big wheel; and in many situations, the issue of whether the tackler is holding onto the ball may mask the initiating event (e.g. defensive player not releasing the tackled player, etc).  If we as the referee are seeing multiple "holding on" offenses in a game, unless the player is clearly isolated in each case, we should be mindful that this may be a symptom and not the primary offense.

At the same time, the referee may have just seen it differently.  We are all human with different vantage points so our perceptions of reality are rarely identical.  The referee may have gotten it wrong or you may have been holding on.  On any given day, there will likely be a difference of opinion regarding the validity of any given call.  Without video, we'll never know who was right.

As part of facilitating the fastest, hardest game the players are willing and able to play, we must ensure there is a contest at the tackle.  And much of this contest involves fair - not necessarily equal - access to the ball.

After all, you aren't required to hand the ball to the opposition: they have to take it.


- Chris Draper

 

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The Gate

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Chris 
 
One thing I think you failed to make clear is just because a player may be on his feet does not necessarily mean he is allowed to play the ball from a tackled player.  
 
Although the law was changed a few years ago, many players are still confused about what constitutes a tackler, and the ramifications if one is not a tackler.  
 
The law states A tackle occurs when the ball carrier is held by one or more opponents and is brought to ground. A ball carrier who is not held is not a tackled player and a tackle has 
not taken place. Opposition players who hold the ball carrier and bring that player to 
ground, and who also go to ground, are known as tacklers. 
Opposition players who hold the ball carrier and do not go to ground are not tacklers.  
 
The confusion is with this latter portion. If the opposition player brings someone to ground and does not go to ground himself, HE IS NOT A TACKLER, and is not necessarily given rights to the ball. Like any other opposition player, according to Law 15.6 (c) At a tackle or near to a tackle, other players who play the ball must do so from behind the ball and from directly behind the tackled player or the tackler closest to those players’ goal line. 
 
If a player is not by law a tackler, and is still on their feet when they bring the ball carrier to ground, they MUST go through the gate in order to play the ball, and have no rights to the ball until he/she goes through the gate.

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August 14, 2008 - Hey Ref: Last week, a referee penalized me for holding onto the ball - aren't I allowed to place the ball after I'm tackled?

As the tackled player, you are allowed to dictate how you put the ball immediately back into play after being tackled so long as your actions while on the ground do not inhibit an opposing player who is on his or her feet and has gained possession of the ball.

Law 15.5 basically allows a tackled player to place, push, or pass the ball back towards his team, with section 15.5(c) identifying that the player may place the ball in any direction, thus allowing individuals to reach out for a try if done in one, immediate motion.  However, Law section 15.5(e) also requires that, "if opposition players who are on their feet attempt to play the ball, the tackled player must release the ball." 

Being consistent in our assessment of whether a tackled player is legally placing the ball requires us to examine our standards and the context:

Standard. As a referee, we must be clear that (i) a player on the ground may immediately place the ball such that it prevents the player on his feet from securing possession of the ball, but (ii) a player on the ground cannot attempt to remove the ball from the controlled grasp of a player on his or her feet.

Law section 15.5(e) does not advocate a game of touch rugby.  A tackled player is not required to hand the ball over to the nearest player who taps him or her on the shoulder and asks politely. Until further notice, that is his ball, and he has a right to put it into play in a manner that benefits his team if allowed by the Laws. However, these rights end when a player on his feet attempts "to play the ball."  If a player is on his feet has a controlled grasp of the ball and is trying to pull it away so he can use it, the tackled player on the ground must not impede these actions. 

Context.  It is very difficult to achieve consistency among referees at all levels regarding the events at and surrounding the tackle because of the many dynamic yet subtle influences present.  However, the issue of identifying when a tackled player is holding onto the ball in an impermissible manner is a small cog in a big wheel; and in many situations, the issue of whether the tackler is holding onto the ball may mask the initiating event (e.g. defensive player not releasing the tackled player, etc).  If we as the referee are seeing multiple "holding on" offenses in a game, unless the player is clearly isolated in each case, we should be mindful that this may be a symptom and not the primary offense.

At the same time, the referee may have just seen it differently.  We are all human with different vantage points so our perceptions of reality are rarely identical.  The referee may have gotten it wrong or you may have been holding on.  On any given day, there will likely be a difference of opinion regarding the validity of any given call.  Without video, we'll never know who was right.

As part of facilitating the fastest, hardest game the players are willing and able to play, we must ensure there is a contest at the tackle.  And much of this contest involves fair - not necessarily equal - access to the ball.

After all, you aren't required to hand the ball to the opposition: they have to take it.


- Chris Draper

 

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The Gate

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Chris 
 
One thing I think you failed to make clear is just because a player may be on his feet does not necessarily mean he is allowed to play the ball from a tackled player.  
 
Although the law was changed a few years ago, many players are still confused about what constitutes a tackler, and the ramifications if one is not a tackler.  
 
The law states A tackle occurs when the ball carrier is held by one or more opponents and is brought to ground. A ball carrier who is not held is not a tackled player and a tackle has 
not taken place. Opposition players who hold the ball carrier and bring that player to 
ground, and who also go to ground, are known as tacklers. 
Opposition players who hold the ball carrier and do not go to ground are not tacklers.  
 
The confusion is with this latter portion. If the opposition player brings someone to ground and does not go to ground himself, HE IS NOT A TACKLER, and is not necessarily given rights to the ball. Like any other opposition player, according to Law 15.6 (c) At a tackle or near to a tackle, other players who play the ball must do so from behind the ball and from directly behind the tackled player or the tackler closest to those players¢ goal line. 
 
If a player is not by law a tackler, and is still on their feet when they bring the ball carrier to ground, they MUST go through the gate in order to play the ball, and have no rights to the ball until he/she goes through the gate.

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