American Rugby Penalties:
General Infringements:
- Dissent - contesting or dissenting from a referee's decision, or using abusive language or conduct towards any match official.
- Forward Pass - Passing the ball forward by means of throwing it to another player is not allowed in rugby.However, it is not considered a forward pass if the ball has been thrown backwards, bounces on the ground and goes forward. A forward pass results in a scrum for the non-offending team.
- Knock On - A knock on occurs when a player loses possession of the ball, which drops in front of him/her.This usually happens when a player attempts to catch a pass or fields a high kick under pressure. In both instances, it is only considered a knock-on if the player fails to catch cleanly resulting in the ball hitting the ground in front of him. A knock-on results in the referee calling for a scrum for the non-offending team.
- In Touch - Throwing or kicking the ball out of play in any direction. This results in the referee calling for a lineout for the non-offending team.
- Any other action the referee considers to be "contrary to good sportsmanship" (such as throwing the ball away while play is stopped in order to prevent a prompt restart, especially if time is close to expiring).
- These are penalty offenses that result in a free-kick or a tap penalty. However, the team awarded the penalty may also opt for a kick at goal if they are within the opposition's 50m line.
- Being closer to the play-the-ball than the try line if the play-the-ball/ruck is inside his 10yd line.
- Being less than 5yds away from the base of the scrum.
- Failing to retreat 10yds from an opposition play-the-ball
- If marker at the play-the-ball, failing to stand opposite it
- Not retreating 10yds (or to their goal line if closer) at a penalty.
- The other team must come straight on toward the ball carrier or at least from a forward direction. The opposing players are not allowed to tackle the ball carrier from the side or behind. Again, should a player be offside, they only have to get back onside before they make a play on the ball.
- These are penalty offenses that result in a free-kick or a tap penalty. However, the team awarded the penalty may also opt for a kick at goal if they are within the opposition's 20yd line.
- When a player is tackled to the ground, he/she has to release the ball.
- Failure to do so prevents the opposition from winning possession or retrieving the ball and constitutes foul play.
- For a tackled player to play the ball, they first need to get on their feet again and then proceed to re-gather the ball.
- This is a penalty offense that results in a free-kick or a tap penalty. However, the team awarded the penalty may also opt for a kick at goal if they are within the opposition's 20yd line.
- Deliberately collapsing the Scrum - Sometimes during a scrum-down, a player in the front row of one pack will attempt to pull down an opposing player who is directly across from him/her in order to create a weak part in the other team’s scrum and make it easier to push that pack off the ball. Because all the forwards in a pack are connected during a scrum, if one player falls several more usually will, as well. This is a penalty offense that results in a kick at goal.
- Foot up - When the hooker puts his/her foot out before the ball is put in to the scrum, it’s called a ‘foot up’ (or Leg Up). It’s not legal, but if observed by the referee, it usually results in only a warning and another scrum-down for the first offense, and a free-kick or a tap penalty for all later offenses.
- Not binding properly on an opponent (for prop forwards) or a team-mate (for other players).
- Leaving the scrum before the ball has emerged from it; not pushing straight against the opposing pack.
- Being offside and not making an effort to move to an onside position.
- Not pushing straight against the opposing pack.
- Not Straight - This happens when a lineout is not thrown straight through the middle or when a scrum half feeds the ball unfairly to his team in a scrum.
- These are penalty offenses that results in a free-kick or a tap penalty unless otherwise specified. However, the team awarded the penalty may also opt for a kick at goal if they are within the opposition's 20yd line.
- Not releasing the tackled player - Tacklers have the responsibility to let go of the player in possession in order for the ball to be recycled. Preventing the attacking team from quickly launching the next phase of play constitutes an infringement and is penalty offense that results in a free-kick or a tap penalty.
- Violent or Foul Play - eye gouge, low blow, elbowing, tripping and so forth. This results in a red card and the offender is sent off from the game.
- Late hits (such as hitting a ballcarrier already taken to ground). This results in a red card and the offender is sent off from the game.
- Tackling or holding an opponent who is not in possession of the ball. This results in a yellow card and 10 minutes in the sin bin.
- Obstruction - blocking an opponent from tackling the ball-carrier.
- Tackling a player in the air - While competing for the ball in the air is allowed, players are not allowed to tackle or disrupt an opponent who is jumping and is in a better position to catch the ball. This infringement is a penalty offense that results in a yellow card and 10 minutes in the sin bin. or a red card if a referee views it was an act of serious foul play.
- The referee signals that he has awarded a penalty to a side by raising his arm at 45 degrees between vertical and horizontal and blowing a blast on his whistle. The arm is raised on the side that won the penalty.
- Referees may not penalize some of these infringements if in their judgement the offending player had no intent to break the rules (e.g. a marginally late tackle on a player who has just kicked or passed the ball) or if the offending player was not participating in or affecting the game (e.g. a player who is in an offside position but not interfering with play).
- Equally, a referee may warn teams about technical infringements (especially at the scrum and ruck) before penalizing them. Many consider a referee's willingness and ability to do so as a mark of good officiating in that it reduces stoppages in the game and allows it to "flow".