NRL Officials Positioning Guide

PRACTICAL SIDELINE OFFICIALING


RUCKS

PHASE OF PLAY: RUCKS SHORT-SIDE OFFICIAL LONG-SIDE OFFICIAL INDICATORS
BEST POSITION In Line with Ruck 10 Metres
KEY INDICATOR
  • Key Performance Indicators - Hands on, leg pull etc
  • Ball-player holding marker. Walking forward off the mark and interfering with markers.
  • Sleeper in Ruck
    		•  Assist Short Side SO
    ACTION Move in line with ball Move forward with urgency Correct positioning

    SCRUMS

    PHASE OF PLAY: SCRUMS SHORT-SIDE OFFICIAL LONG-SIDE OFFICIAL INDICATORS
    BEST POSITION 5 metres from last row of forwards 5 metres from last row of forwards
    KEY INDICATORS
  • Backs offside
  • Forwards breaking
  • Back play (scrum)
    		•
  • Backs offside
  • Forwards breaking
  • Back play (scrum)
  • Forward passes
    		•
    ACTION Move/hold Move forward to ball with urgency

    KICKS

    PHASE OF PLAY: KICKS SHORT-SIDE OFFICIAL LONG-SIDE OFFICIAL INDICATORS
    BEST POSITION In Line with Kicker In Line with Kicker
    KEY INDICATORS
  • Kick Chasers onside
  • Particular attention to blind side chasers.
  • Clear and follow kicker
  • Kickers putting chasers onside.
  • Interference of kicker or chasers.
  • Offside players entering the 10m.
  • 40/20
  • Ball
    		•
  • Defensive line onside
  • Obstruction of markers & defenders pressuring kicker
  • Ball
    		•
  • Very rarely will a player kick for himself
  • How the 1st or 2nd receivers are generally the kickers
  • How close to the line is the kick performed?
  • Is the defensive line set?
  • Does the ball travel quickly to the receiving team?
  • What is the reaction of the kicker?
    		•
    BLITZING (within defending 40M) In line with kicker Anticipate kick and head down-field 'Blitzing' is vocab Fourth tackle and be aware of playmaker position
    FIELD GOALS
    VR TO BE AWARE ALSO    		 Kicker taken late Offside chasers

    GENERAL PLAY

    PHASE OF PLAY: GENERAL PLAY SHORT-SIDE OFFICIAL LONG-SIDE OFFICIAL INDICATORS
    BEST POSITION As per Rucks set out above As per Rucks set out above
    KEY INDICATORS
  • Key Performance Indicators - Hands on, leg pull etc
  • Ball-player holding marker
  • Sleeper in Ruck
  • Dummy half pass - 1st receiver
  • Back play
  • Ball
  • Touch line
    		•
  • Defenders onside
  • Forward passes
  • Be aware of back play
    		•
  • Inside balls need upper body to rotate a long way
  • Understanding all D/H's is critical
    		•
    ACTION In line with ball & moving back
  • Moving forward to link in with play
  • Continue in line with play
    		•