All,
The following is an explanation of USA Rugby's adoption of the ELVs for U19 play. This is consistent with most of the rugby playing world, except Wales, who as of now is still considering adopting the defensive pulling down of mauls.
Please read carefully and distribute to your membership.
Jeremiah
Experimental Law Variations and Youth Rugby
Summary
Experimental Law Variations and Youth Rugby Summary
Effective September 1, 2008, and with two major and some other very minor exceptions, the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) recently promulgated by the International Rugby Board (IRB) will apply at all levels of youth and high school rugby in the USA. The two major exceptions, which will apply at the Under 19 level and below in the USA, are that: players are not allowed to have their heads below their hips at mauls, and, players are not allowed not pull down mauls.
A detailed guide to the ELVs in general is shown in Attachment 1. It is probably more than you need to know about them in connection with youth rugby, but it contains the definitive text, which may be an important reference source in some circumstances.
The detailed rules, updated and amended as necessary for the ELVs, will be posted as soon as possible on the USA Rugby website. In the meantime the specifics of the ELV application are described briefly below to allow immediate implementation.
Application of ELVs to Youth Rugby
USA Rugby has two parallel pathways to introduce rugby to youth. The primary path is the Player Development Pathway, which provides rules for a set of progressive games that lead most directly to preparation for involvement in the adult contact game. The progression is Micro Rugby Sevens to Mini Rugby Sevens to Midi Rugby Tens to Under-19s Rugby Fifteens to participation in the full game. Those sets rules can be found on the USA Rugby website under the Rules of Play sub-menu on the Youth and High School tab.
The lead-in to each set of rules has the phrase:
"Players and match officials must endeavor to ensure the IRB Laws of the Game, modified by the following playing rules, are observed when playing Micro (or Mini etc.) Rugby."
Thus the ELVs, which are an integral part of the Laws of the Game throughout the World, automatically apply, without any action necessary, to the Pathway unless otherwise provided. However, concerns about the safety of allowing young players to have their heads below their hips and allowing young players to pull down mauls has lead USA Rugby to prohibit these practices for youth rugby at the Under-19 level and below. This action is consistent with actions of essentially all of the other major rugby countries.
Although no action is required to implement the ELVs the following is a brief description of the effect of the ELVs on the various sets of rules.
Assistant referees. Assistant referees can assist referees in any manner required when appointed by a match organizer.
Applies at all levels, but is unlikely to have much effect below Under-19 matches at the Territorial or national level.
Maul. The ELVs remove reference in Law to heads and shoulders not to be lower than hips, and would allow players are able to defend a maul by pulling it down.
For safety reasons neither of these will apply at the Under-19 level and below.
Mauls do not exist in Micro rugby, so there is no effect. The rules for mauls Mini and Midi Rugby already contain language that stresses the safety concerns of having the heads below hips. The language will be retained and modified slightly to read:
Any player at any stage in a maul who has or causes an opponent to have the shoulders lower than the hip joint must immediately be penalized. The object of this rule is to prevent the pulling down or collapse of a maul. Any player who has the shoulders lower than the hip joint can only move downwards unless the player has very great strength. The force through the shoulders should be directed forwards and upwards. All players should remain on their feet, thus preventing a pile-up and possible injury.
Similar language will be incorporated into the Under-19 variations.
An equivalent ELV was NOT introduced for the ruck, and at all levels, for both youth and adult rugby, heads below hips and the pulling down of rucks continues to be prohibited. However, to ensure that the safety issues are addressed in youth rugby, equivalent language to the maul, will continue to be included in the rules for the ruck at the Mini, Midi and Under-19 levels.
Line-outs and 22meter line. If a team puts the ball back into their own 22, and the ball is subsequently kicked directly into touch there is no gain of ground.
Line-outs do not exist in Micro Rugby, so there is no effect. There is no kicking of the ball, even from hand, in the Mini Rugby, so there is no effect. The ELV will be applied for Midi and Under-19 Rugby.
Line-out numbers. There is no restriction on the number of players who can participate in the lineout from either side (minimum of two.)
Line-outs in Micro Rugby do not exist, so there is no effect. Line-outs in Mini Rugby are restricted to no more and no less than two players per team. This will be retained. Line-outs in Midi Rugby are restricted to no more and no less than four players per team. This will be retained. The ELV will be applied Under-19 Rugby.
Quick Throw-in. A quick throw may be thrown in straight or towards the throwing team's own goal line.
Line-outs in Micro Rugby are replaced by a free pass at the point where the ball went into touch, so there is no effect. Quick throws are not permitted in either Mini or Midi Rugby. This will be retained. The ELV will be applied for Under-19 Rugby.
Line-outs Positions. The receiver in a lineout must stand 2 meters back from the line-out. The player who is in opposition to the player throwing in the ball may stand in the area between the 5 meter line and touch line but must be 2 meters away from the lineout
Line-outs do not exist in Micro Rugby, so there is no effect. The ELV will be applied for Mini, Midi and Under-19 Rugby.
Line-outs and Lifting. Lineout players may pre-grip a jumper before the ball is thrown in. The lifting of lineout jumpers is permitted.
Line-outs do not exist in Micro Rugby, so there is no effect. In the interests of safety lifting will not be allowed in Mini and Midi Rugby. The ELV will be applied for Under-19 Rugby.
Posts and flags around the field. The corner posts are no longer considered to be in touch in-goal except when a ball is grounded against the post
The ELV will be applied at Micro, Mini, Midi and Under 19 Rugby.
Scrum offside. Introduction of an offside line five meters behind the hindmost feet of the scrum. Scrum half offside lines (must be in close proximity to the scrum as present Law or must retreat five meters)
There are no scrums in Micro Rugby, so there is no effect. The ELV will be applied for Mini, Midi and Under 19 Rugby.
The Player Development Pathway covered above, is the primary path for youth rugby in the USA. However, where appropriate a Non-contact Alternative is available. Currently the leads-in to the non-contact rules do not contain the phrase that automatically applies the ELVs unless otherwise stated. It should be assumed that the ELVs will be introduced on the same basis as the equivalent circumstance for the Player Development Pathway. This will be clarified when the USA Rugby Website is updated.