The "father" of American football
The sport of Rugby is often referred to as the
"father" of American football. Rugby started at least
70 years before American football and evolved with many
of the same principles, strategies and tactics.
However, there are several obvious differences.
Key differences are continuity and, crucially, the
contest for possession - largely eliminated from
American football by the "down".
Rugby is played at a fast pace, with few stoppages
and frequent possession changes. A rugby "side" (team)
consists of a minimum of fifteen players, plus from one
to seven substitutes. All fifteen players on the field
regardless of position, must be able to run, pass, kick
and catch the ball. Likewise, all players must be able
to tackle and defend, making each position both
offensive and defensive in nature.
There is no blocking of opponents as in American
football, and there are only seven substitutions per
game allowed for each side. A High School rugby match
consists of two 35-minute halves (two 40 minute halves
at the adult level.)
Rugby is considered to be a gender equity sport as
approximately 25% - 35% of all players in the United
States are female.
Most athletes new to rugby quickly learn the basics
of the game, such as NO forward passing and how the game
is restarted when the ball goes into touch (out of
bounds). However, there is no substitute for a
comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the Laws of
Rugby. A player who understands the Laws will
undoubtedly be a better player. All players are
therefore encouraged to make the effort to study the
Laws.
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Rugby is played on a field, called a pitch, that is
longer and wider than an American football field, more
like a soccer field. A typical rugby pitch is 100
meters (109.36 yards) long and 70 meters (76.55 yards) wide
whereas an American football field is 100 yards long and
only 53 yards wide. Additionally, there are
end zones (10 to 22 meters deep), called the in-goal
area, behind the goalposts. The goalposts are
'H'-shaped cross bars located on the goal line and are
roughly the same size as American football goalposts.
See illustration:
The Rugby
Pitch
The rugby ball is made of leather or other similar
synthetic material that is easy to grip. Rugby balls
are made in varying sizes (3, 4 or 5) for both youth and
adult players. Like American footballs, rugby balls are
oval in shape, however they do not have laces and are
rounder and less pointed than footballs to minimize the
erratic bounces seen in American football.
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A rugby side (team) may have as many as 22 players on
a team; however, only 15 players from each team are
permitted on the field of
play. American football and soccer have 11 players
from each team on the field of play.
In rugby, the players on each side are
numbered the exact same way. The number each player
wears signifies that player's position. See
Player
Positions. The majority of clubs have team sets of
numbered rugby jerseys.
Players numbered 1 - 8 are known as "forwards" and
are typically the larger, stronger players of the side
whose main job is to win possession of the ball. These
players are similar in size and abilities to American
football linebackers and lineman.
Players numbered 9 - 15 are referred to as "backs" and
tend to be the smaller, faster and more agile players.
Their main role is to exploit possession of the ball
that is won by the forwards, similar to the roles of
American football's running backs, wide receivers and
quarterbacks.
Just as in American football, rugby is started with a
kickoff to the opposing team from mid-field. Provided
that the ball travels beyond the 10 meter line
(calculated from the halfway line), any player of either
side may gain possession of the ball after the kickoff
occurs.
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There is absolutely no blocking in rugby. Players on
the same team as the ball carrier are not permitted to
set "picks" as in basketball, or to obstruct access to
the ball carrier in anyway. Only the ball carrier may
be tackled.
Rugby does not have downs. Tackling a player with
the ball does not stop play. Play is instead
continuous, much like soccer with possession going back
and forth between the teams. Attacking and defending
strategies are devised and implemented as the game flows
along.
The person with the ball leads the attack. In rugby
there are several ways to move the ball. Any player may
carry, pass or kick the ball. Play is not stopped but
continues when the ball hits the ground or when a player
is tackled. The ball carrier must release the ball when
tackled and roll out of the way so that other players of
either team (who must be on their feet) can play the
ball.
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Running: When running with the ball, players may
continue to run until they are tackled, step into
touch (out of bounds) or run beyond the goal line
(see
scoring a try). Players run
the ball to advance toward the opponent's goal line.
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Passing: The ball may be passed to any other
player. However, it may only be passed laterally or
backward, never forward! As in basketball and
lacrosse, rugby players pass the ball to an open
teammate to keep it in play and further advance it.
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Kicking: Any player may kick the ball forward at
any time. Once the ball is kicked, players of
either team, regardless of whether or not the ball
hits the ground, may gain possession. Players who
jump to catch a ball in the air may not be contacted
by a defender until they return to the ground.
Players typically kick the ball in an effort to
advance the attack or to obtain relief from poor
field position.
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Stoppages occur when the ball goes into touch (out of
bounds) or when infringements of the laws occur.
Typical infringements stopping play include the knock-on
or forward pass and violation of the offside rule. (See
below:
Restarting Play )
Rugby has a unique law: the Advantage Law. The
purpose of the Advantage Law is to encourage continuous
play, thus reducing the number of stoppages due to some
infringement.
When despite an infringement by one team the opposing
team may gain an advantage, the referee does not whistle
immediately for the infringement. Rather, the referee
waits to see whether the team "playing advantage" can in
fact gain some real tactical or territorial advantage.
If they can, play continues. If no advantage is gained,
then the referee blows the whistle and brings the teams
back to where the original infringement took place. The
referee then applies the law appropriate to that
infringement.
There are four ways for a team to score points:
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Conversion: Following a try, TWO points are
awarded for a successful kick over the cross bar
between the goal posts. The conversion attempt is
taken on a line, at least 10 meters straight out
from the point where the ball was touched down.
This is like an extra point in American football,
except the point where the kick is taken will vary
depending on where the ball was touched down when
the try was scored.
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Penalty Kick: Following a major law violation,
the kicking team has the option to "kick for
points." THREE points are awarded for a successful
penalty kick over the cross bar between the goal
posts. The kick must be from the point of the foul
or anywhere on a line straight behind that point.
The ball is alive and can be played if the kick
fails.
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Drop Goal: THREE points are awarded for a
successful drop kick over the cross bar between the
goal posts. A drop kick may be taken from anywhere
on the field at any time during play, by any
player. A drop goal is similar to a field goal in
football, however, in rugby the kick is made during
the course of normal play. The ball is alive and
can be played if the kick fails.
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There are two methods of restarting play following a
stoppage caused either by the ball going into touch (out
of bounds) or because of an infraction of the laws.
click on thumbnails for
enlarged images
The Lineout
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If the ball goes "into touch" (out of
bounds), play is restarted with a Line-Out.
Certain players from both teams form two
lines perpendicular to the touchline and
1-meter (3 feet) apart from one another. A
player of the team not responsible for the
ball going out of bounds calls a play and
throws the ball in the air in a straight
line between the two lines. Players of
each team may be supported in the air by
their teammates as they jump to gain
possession of the ball. |
The Scrum
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The Scrum: Rugby's unique formation,
the scrum, is the forerunner of the
American football line of scrimmage, and
is the method used to restart the game
after the referee has whistled a minor
law violation. A bound group of
players from each team form a "tunnel"
with the opposition. The non-offending
team puts the ball into the tunnel by
rolling it into the middle and each team
pushes forward until one player is able
to hook the ball with the feet and push
it to the back row players of his/ her
team. The scrum half then retrieves the
ball and puts it into play. |
Probably one of the more challenging aspects of rugby
for the first time observer is the offside law. Like
soccer, the offside line is continually moving up and
down the pitch in rugby and varies according to the
aspect of play.
In general play the ball creates the offside line
and players are not permitted to participate in play if
they are on the opposing team's side of the ball.
Simply being offside is not a penalty, but attempting to
participate in the game from an offside position will
result in a penalty.
In line-outs, for players not in the lineout, the
offside lines are 10 meters back on either side from a
line drawn across the field from where the ball is
thrown in.
At a scrum, the offside lines are drawn across the
field 5 meters back from the feet of the last person in each team's
scrum.
Line-outs and scrums are often referred to as "set
pieces", and these are the two situations in rugby where
the offside line is relatively static.
Offside lines at rucks and mauls (see below) are, by
contrast, quite dynamic and can change from moment to
moment depending on the situation.
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Players in possession of and carrying the ball may be
stopped by being tackled by the opposing team. Players
are tackled around the waist and legs and, in general,
may not be tackled higher. Once a player is tackled,
however, play does not stop. The player must release
the ball and roll away from it to allow other players on
their feet to play the ball.
A player who is tackled to the ground must try to
make the ball available immediately so that play can
continue. Supporting players from both teams (one from
each team) converge over the ball on the ground, binding
with each other and attempt to push the opposing players
backwards in a manner similar to a scrum. This
situation is known as a ruck. The ball may not be
picked up by any player until the ball emerges out of
the ruck. The ruck ends and play continues.
A team that can retain possession after the tackle
and the ensuing ruck has a huge advantage because a ruck
forms offside lines. These offside lines are
drawn through the feet of the last player on
either side of the ruck and everyone else must get back
onside in order to rejoin play. This opens up space into
which the attacking team can move the ball forward.
A maul is formed with a similar gathering of players,
except the player in possession of the ball is not
brought to the ground (not tackled) but is held up by an
opponent and one of his/her own players converging on
him/her. This creates offside lines through the feet
of the last players on each side of the maul. Players
from each team (that is, not in the maul) must retreat
behind these offside lines if they are to take part in
any subsequent play. The maul ends when the ball
emerges, or when the maul can no longer be driven
forward by the team in possession of the ball. When a
maul comes to a stop, the ball must be produced and
recycled immediately, or else a scrum is awarded to the
defending team.
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Penalties: Penalties occur regularly in rugby.
Unlike other sports, there typically are no yardage
penalties and only occasionally do teams have to
play short handed. Instead, the non-offending team
is usually awarded a choice to kick the ball to gain
field advantage. Some of the more important
penalties are listed below:
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Penalty Kick: Awarded after a serious
infringement of the law. Offenders are
required to retreat 10 yards while the opposing
team is given the opportunity to restart play
unopposed. Teams will often kick the ball up
field and out of bounds to gain field
advantage. When they do this, play is
restarted as a lineout where the ball goes out
of bounds. If in range, they may attempt a
kick at the goal posts, worth three points.
Finally, they may simply tap the ball with their
foot and run with it.
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Free Kick: This is awarded after a less
serious infringement of the law. The free kick
is similar to the penalty kick except a player
cannot attempt a kick at goal to try to score
three points. A player must restart with a tap
kick or attempt to kick the ball out of
bounds. If the kick is made from in front of
the 22 meters (25 yards) line and goes directly
out of bounds, the lineout occurs back where the
kick was first kicked. If the ball bounces out
of bounds, or if the kick was taken from behind
the 22 meter (25 yards) line the resulting
lineout is where the ball crossed the touch
line.
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Sin Bin: On occasion, the referee will send a
player to the Sin Bin (behind one of the in-goal
areas) for a specified period of time, for
serious and/or repeated infringements. The
team is required to play short-handed until the
referee permits the player to return. This
penalty is fairly rare, but used by the referees
to maintain control of the game.
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Put in: Rolling the ball down the center of the
scrum tunnel by the Scrum Half.
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Sevens: An abbreviated game of rugby that follows
the same laws except a 7's team consists of only
seven players and each half is seven minutes long.
Much like a game of three-on-three full court
basketball, it's a wide-open contest. Because of
its wide-open style of play, the Seven's version of
rugby is a very entertaining game to watch.
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22-Meter line: Is a line 22 meters (25 yards)
from the try line. If a kick is made from behind
the "22", the opposing team gets a lineout where the
ball went out of bounds. If the kick was made in
front of the "22", the resulting lineout is from the
point of the kick if the ball goes directly out of
bounds.
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