POSITIONING
KEY POSITIONS
- No more then 10 metres from ball at any time
- Between BC or outside C
- Tight ruck
- Kick-off - For the referee the standard position is 20 metres in from touch on the opposite side to where the ball is being kicked. At kickoffs, the sideline official standing on the side to which the ball is being kicked stands at the corner post. The other SO stands approximately 10x10 in the field of play. (See animation)
- Goal Line Drop Out - The referee stands approximately 5 metres in the field of play to the side of the posts facing towards the goal line. The sideline officials stand approximately 40 to 50 metres from the goal line, moving to best position as the ball is kicked. (See animation)
- 20m Optional Restart - For the referee the standard position is at the 30 metre line. The sideline officials stand at the 30 metre line, moving to best position as play is restarted. (See diagram)
- Blitz - When a kick during general play is taken within the defending 40 metres (yardage), the short-side SO should position themself in line with kicker. The long-side SO anticipates the kick and heads down-field, using the vocab "blitzing". It the responsibility of the referee to clear the kicker and then show urgency to get into best position. (See animation)
- Scrum Short Cut - At a scrum in yardage, the referee may decide to take the short cut from the scrum instead of following the ball in traditional fashion. Taking the short cut enables the referee to more quickly get to a position where he can effectively mark the ten metres. The referee informs the Sideline Officials that he will be taking the "shortcut" and the near side SO adopts a position to ensure that anything happening out of the referee's line of sight is observed. (See animation)
- Tight Ruck - The "Tight Ruck" position is where the referee stands on the open side but faces into the ruck with their back effectively to the open side. (See diagram)
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