Mini League Rules

Introduction

Mini League Rules

Who plays Mini League

Number of players

Periods of Play

Size of Pitch

Size of Ball

Six Tackle Rule

Try Scoring

Play-the-Ball

Ball Stealing NOT allowed

Restarting the game

Kicking

Restarting each half & after a try

International Rugby League Rules

Introduction

We take a look at the modified rules which apply to Mini/Mod Rugby League. All rules applying to International Rugby League apply to Mini/Mod Rugby League except where they are modified below. All care has been taken in compiling these Modified Rules, but you should refer to the latest issue of the official rules should a dispute arise.

Remember, rugby league is a game of advantage. The advantage rule applies to all decisions made by the referee, so a referee may elect to play-on if an infringement has occurred, especially if the attacking side has momentum. (e.g. There may be no advantage if a quick play-the-ball in Under 9s up allows the attacking side to make a clean break and no marker was present. A penalty could allow the defence to regroup and end the momentum of the attack).

Our Mini/Mod referees are unpaid volunteers/coaches. Please respect their amateur status and direct any complaints about referees through the correct channels. Don't direct personal abuse at the referee, as it gives the wrong impression to our young players. Remember, Club Coaches give up their time to referee for no monetary reward and the rules are not simple, as you can see from these summaries. Back to top

Mini League Rules

1. The game is to be called Mini League and is a modified version of Rugby League Back to top

Who plays Mini League

2. The game is to be played by all children up to Year 4 primary school, which is under the age of nine years at midnight of 31st August (at the start of each season), thereafter players up to and including year 6 of primary school, which is under the age of eleven at midnight of the 31st August (at the start of each season) will play Mod League as prescribed by the Youth Commission.

In other words Under 7's, Under 8's and Under 9's play Mini League Rugby Back to top

Number of players

3. The maximum number of players per team shall be nine and there is no limit to the amount of substitutions, but each player MUST play at least half a whole game.

NWC 8-12 rule 5 states that all coaches must endeavour to field sides of equal strength to the opposition. Rule 7 states that at Under 8's and Under 9's any team who can field six or more players will endeavour to make up their shortfall with opposition substitutes, no game should be called off if twelve or more pooled players are available.

There is no limitation on the number of players who can register with teams at Under 8's and Under 9's (NWC 8-12 rule 11) Back to top

Periods of Play

4(a) All single games should be played in two halves of fifteen minutes

4(b) All festival games should be played in two halves of seven-and-a-half minutes maximum with a two minute interval.

No player should be allowed to play for more than a total of forty minutes in any one day. Back to top

Size of Pitch

5. The size of the playing area should be a maximum of 60 x 40 metres and a minimum of 50 x 30 metres. The game can be played on any grassed area.

If two games are to be played on each half of a full pitch, consideration should be given to the following:

(a) Safety: The goal posts should be outside the playing area
(b) Width: Too narrow an area should be avoided Back to top

Size of Ball

6. Size of the ball:
The game will be played with a Mini League ball or Size 3 standard Rugby League ball Back to top

Six Tackle Rule

7. The normal 6 tackle rule applies. Back to top

Try Scoring

8. A try is scored in the normal way by placing or touching the ball down on or over the opponents? try line Back to top

Play-the-Ball

9. After each tackle all players must retire five metres prior to the play-the-ball restart. In other words - no square markers. The tackled player should restart the game by way of a play-the-ball. The ball must be played backwards in the correct manner and from where the tackle occurred.

(a) The defending side cannot move until the ball is passed by the acting half back or the acting half back clears the ruck (runs with the ball)

(b) The minimum distance the ball is played from the try line is 5 metres

(c) If the acting half back is tackled in possession of the ball, it will result in a handover of possession to the opposition Back to top

Ball Stealing NOT allowed

10 No ball stealing Back to top

Restarting the game

11 All infringements will result in a hand-over to the non-offending team at the place the infringement occurred except in the following situations:

(a) If the ball goes into touch, the restart will take place will take five metres in from the touchline opposite the place that the ball crossed the line
(b) If in the goal area the restart will be ten metres in the field of play in a central position

The restart by the non-offending team Back to top

Kicking

12. There will be no kicks allowed except after a try has been awarded, when the scoring team will take a place kick conversion in front of the goal posts. No player is allowed to take more than one attempt at goal until after every other player has had an attempt. Back to top

Restarting each half & after a try

13. The game will commence with a play-the-ball on the centre line at the beginning of each half by:

(a) the team who wins the toss of a coin, and
(b) thereafter aternatively

After a try has been scored the non-scoring team will restart with a play-the-ball on the centre line.

All starts and restarts will be with a play-the-ball as described at rule 9 Back to top

International Rugby League Rules

14. Any rule not covered will be as per International Rules

These rules should be read in conjunction with the Safe Play Code which can be found elsewhere in this subsection Back to top