Field: Recommended minimum 50×30 yards, field configuration marked with cones.
Time: 10-15 minute halves, 5 minutes half time
Gender: Mixed
Ball Size: 4
Kicking: No conversion kicks or penalty shots unless the home team can provide goal posts Kicking is
allowed, but the 22 meter line will be played at 10 yards from the try line
Players: 10 per side (3 forwards/7 backs)
Weight: Refer to Junior Youth Age-Weight Chart
Apparel: U10 players may wear leggings or tights as a safety precaution against abrasions ONLY during a game that is being played on artificial turf.
Tackle: All tackles must be below the armpit
Scrums: Uncontested scrums will be 3-man. Opposition backlines back 4 yards. No forward pick-ups from the scrum. All forwards must be tightly bound into the scrum and props bound against the opposing props. Discourage early disengagement from the scrum.
Lineouts: No lineouts. When the ball or ball carrier goes into touch. A free pass is awarded 5 yardsfrom touch, level with where the ball or ball carrier went into touch. At a free pass, the opposition must be 8 yards back from the mark. The passer must start with the ball in both hands and, when the referee calls “Play”, pass the ball backwards through the air to a member of their team. For safety reasons, no player may run until the pass is made
Kick-Offs: Drop kick by scoring side to be rotated through multiple players. Opposition 8 yards back. If not a drop kick, receiving team chooses between a re-kick or a scrum at the center of the field with possession of the ball
Offside: Offside lines 8 yards from lineout and 4 yards from back of scrum
Penalties: If tap and pass option is chosen over kick or scrum, opposition must be 8 yards backFoul Play: Players may fend to the body but not to the face, head or neck region. Emphasis on safe and proper contact. Among other things, the following shall apply (infractions must be penalized). At a minimum infractions related to IRB Law 10: Foul Play must be penalized.
- No ‘Scragg’ or “Horse Collar” tackling (pulling by shirt collar)
- No jersey slingingtackles
- No spearing player to ground consistent with IRB Law 10.4(j)
- No falling on or otherwise playing a player on theground
- Players must use arms to wrap in tackle in all instances, including tackling into touch
- Tackle must be belowarmpits
- “Fends” are legal but must be with an open palm and below the neck consistent with IRB Law 10.4 (a). A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s).
Sin-bin 5 minutes, to be served on the sidelines so that the coach may explain the related infraction.
X-Players: Must wear red socks and cannot lead rushes from free kicks, penalties or from the back of scrums (this includes a tap kick and then pass to a X-Player).
