Field: Recommended minimum 60×40 yards – field configuration marked with cones
Time: 15-20 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 the 10 yards from the tryline
Players: 12 per side (5 forwards/7 backs)
Weight: Refer Junior Age-Weight Chart
Apparel: U12 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 arm pit
Scrums: Uncontested scrums 5-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.
Defensive scrum-half must remain behind scrum center line until ball comes out of the scrum – penalty.
After the ball is thrown in the defending scrum-half may move to behind the last feet of the defending
scrum, consistent with IRB Law 20.12(d).
Lineouts: Contested lineout throw, no lifting, ball must be thrown straight.
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 back
Referees: Trained Junior Youth Referee preferred
Foul Play: Players mayfend 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. See
http://www.irblaws.com/downloads/EN/Law_10_EN.pdf
- 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 an X-Player) or lineouts. X-Players in a lineout must pass
the ball out and not charge through
