Greetings family and friends of Rockford Rugby.  Over the course of the past couple of years it has come to the attention of the coaching staff, through various discussions and meetings, that something needed to be done to help educate our parents and spectators on the nuances of the game of Rugby.  It is our belief that a lack of knowledge leads to a lack of understanding which in turn leads to a lack of interest.  We as a coaching staff spend hours educating our players (your sons) but have done little beyond a general parent meeting once a year to help our fan base (parents / family) to better understand what is going on when their team steps onto the field.  

Well the time has come to change that,  through Rockford Rugby A Parent's Guide to the Game, we will attempt to fill you (the parent / spectator) in on the game of rugby in somewhat of a crash course manner.  It is important to remember that the game of rugby has many subtle nuances which take even players of the game multiple years to fully grasp.  However, this will not stop us from providing you a great foundation from which to build upon.  This manual is designed to give you  general understanding of rugby, and  by way of this better understanding a more enjoyable experience.  The sport of Rugby has done much to enhance each of our lives and we hope that it can do the same for you.

The Game In a Nutshell:
The game of Rugby typically consists of two 40 minute halves (High School = two 30 min halves) and a 10 minute half time.  It is played on a field no longer than 100 meters from goal line to goal line and no greater than 70 meters wide.  The ball may be advanced up and down this field by way of passing the ball to a teammate (either laterally or backwards) running, or kicking.  Each team may play with a maximum of 15 players per side.  There is no blocking allowed and any player that is part of the offensive attacking team, who is ahead of the ball carrier is deemed offside and ineligible to play the ball.  The ultimate goal of the game is to have outscored your opponent at the end of the games allotted time.

Game Start: The game begins with one team kicking off to the other. The ball is kicked from the 50-meter line & must travel at least 10 meters & land in bounds. From that point, the game is continuous & will restart as soon as possible after any stoppage of play. There are no timeouts in rugby.

Halftime: at the end of the first half, the referee stops the game for a 10-minute break. The teams switch sides and the team that received the ball to start the game kicks off to start the second half.

After a score, the scored-upon team kicks the ball off to the scoring team (except in Sevens matches).

If you have been around the sport of Rugby for any amount of time you may find the players speaking in what might sound like a foreign tongue .  If it happens to be a men's club that your are listening to, there is a good chance that it may actually be foreign. After all, Rugby is played in over 120 countries around the world.  However, in most instances what you are hearing are terms used by all Rugby players in place of words we have become accustomed to with the more mainstream American sports.  Below we have listed a few of the more common mutterings you might hear and have taken the time to translate them from "Rugby speak" to something more recognizable.  Learning these will help you to communicate with your young rugger (see translation below) in his native tongue.

 
Rugby Translations (Speaking Rugby 101):

Rugger - Rugby for someone who plays the sport of rugby - "Some talented ruggers have come out of Rockford High School"

Sir - Rugby for referee, this is how a player always addresses the referee in a rugby game - " A minute please sir"

Touch Judge - Rugby for sideline referee, the touch judge indicates to the referee when and where a ball has gone out of bounds by raising a flag. He/she also indicates when a kick is good by raising a flag.  "The touch judge says he stepped out"

Pitch -  Rugby for field - "It looks like a field, and it is a field, but we call it a pitch"

Match - Rugby for game - "Rockford will surely win the match against Grandville"

Minute - Rugby for time out of play, a minute is given to injured players (not a minute or 60 sec in the literal scene) " A minute please sir"

Kit - Rugby for uniform - "Rockford's new kit looks spectacular"

Boots - Rugby for cleats - "It's tough to get traction on a muddy field without a good pair of boots"

Social - Rugby for after game gathering - "Rockford always has great food at the after game social"

Pace - Rugby for speed - "Rockford's Winger has great pace on the edge"

Step - Rugby for juke or cut - "That defender just got stepped by Rockford's outside centre"

Nil - Rugby for zero or nothing - "The score is Rockford 21 Grandville nil"

Meter - Rugby's choice of measurment,1 meter = 1.094 yards - "Rockford has just moved past the oppositions 22 meter line"

Touch - Rugby for out of bounds (this includes the line itself) - " He stepped into touch"

In-Goal - Rugby for end zone (this includes the goal line itself and the base of each goal post-pad) - "He ran in-goal and scored a try between the posts

Now that you can decipher what your rugger is talking about when he asks if his kit can be washed for next Wednesday, it is time to move on to the meat and potatoes of rugby terminology.  Yes, it is time to talk about those crazy words that describe the positions as well as what is going on during the game itself.  These words are where most people get lost and from time to time you may even hear a seasoned vet mix things up.  Don't loose faith, with a little practice you will be spotting these happenings and explaining what is going on to the parent next to you in no time.


Point Scoring Terminology (Speaking Rugby 201):

Scoring Points:
Try - Think touchdown but only worth five points.  The trick to scoring in Rugby, unlike American Football, is to literally touch the ball to the ground under control. Breaking the plane of the goal line means absolutely nothing in Rugby. For example one could break the goal line and run around all they want and no points will be awarded until the ball is placed in contact with the ground under control. The placement of the try, or the location where the ball has been dotted down also creates the placement of the following conversion, this is why you may see a player run in-goal and attempt to make it to a point close to the posts before dotting the ball down.

Conversion - Think extra point following a touchdown, similarly in Rugby after a try a conversion kick is given and is worth two points if made.  If a try is awarded and the conversion is made then seven total points will have been earned.  As stated above, the try placement dictates the location of the conversion kick.  The kicker may kick from any point in a straight line out into the field of play from where the try had been awarded.  This makes it advantages to score as close to the goal posts as possible to allow the kicker an easier conversion. Example: if the ball was scored directly under the post the kicker may walk as far out into the field as he feels comfortable and kick a straight on conversion.  The kick may either be off a tee or of the drop kick variety.

Drop Goal - Think field goal.  A drop goal can be taken from any point on the field at any time during the game and is worth three points if made.  The catch is that the ball must first make contact with the ground or playing surface before it is struck by the foot.

Penalty Kick - Think field goal again. When a penalty is called, the team being awarded the penalty has a decision to make.  In most cases, positioning on the field dictates what the team will decide to do.  If the penalty is awarded close enough to the posts a team may opt to take a penalty kick for three points.  In this instance the teams kicker may use a tee or perform a drop kick from the point of the infraction in an attempt to earn the team three points.  If he fails to convert, the ball is considered live and open play restarts, usually by way of the apposing team gaining possession of the ball.


Positional Terminology (Speaking Rugby 301):

Rugby positions are best divided and thought of in terms of two different distinct groupings, backs and forwards.   Due to the nature of the sport, and the fact that every individual is allowed to carry the ball the best way to rap your mind around the two groupings is to think of them as them running backs and fullbacks.  The backs are typically your shifty runners who are making defenders miss and breaking out on long runs.  The forwards on the other hand are typically more of a short yardage tool, who in most cases aren't going to breaking off 70 meter trys.  We use the word "typically" because these traits are by no means a requirement to play one position or the other.  In most cases a team will and should shift its game plan to take advantage of its players skills and abilities.  The following is a list of the positions by name and a brief description of the typical makeup of these individuals.

Scrumhalf - Wears #9 (Quick, intelligent, fit with excellent passing abilities)  Offers a link between the forwards and the backs, this is the player who will distribute the ball to the other players on the field

Flyhalf - Wears #10 (Intelligent, quick thinker, sure handed)  Makes many of the calls and dictates what the team does offensively

Inside Centre - Wears  #12 (Tough, hard downhill runner)  Starts the offensive attack by braking the defensive line

Outside Centre - Wears #13 (Shifty runner, great pace)  strong support runner for his counterpart and looks to finish trys

Wing - Wears #'s 11 or 14 (Fastest players on the field)  Finishes trys and tracks down opposition breakaways

Fullback - Wears #15 (Good hands, able to catch a kick, strong tackler) performs much of the teams tactical kicking and interjects himself into back line play as an extra attacker

Prop - Wears #'s 1 or 3 (Big, strong, and physical)  Key piece in scrums and lineouts

Hooker - Wears # 2 (Quick and mobile)  Does the hooking in the scrums (hence the name) and typically throws the ball in during lineouts

Lock - Wears #'s 4 or 5 (Tall, strong, and sure handed) Main driving force in the scrums and are typically the jumpers within the lineouts

Flanker - Wears #'s 6 or 7 (fast, physical and fit)  should be a tackling mad-man and a strong runner

Number 8 - Wears # you guessed it 8 (strong runner, and decision maker)  Ability to run down hill and make defenders miss


Formations and Ball Movement Terminology (Speaking Rugby 401):

Scrum - Used to restart play after an minor infraction (i.e. forward pass), this is where each teams eight forwards combine in an effort to win the ball as it is rolled between the two group by a teams scrumhalf. Once the ball is fed into the tunnel between the two teams, the opposing hookers attempt to win the ball to their side with their foot.  Once the ball has been secured by one side or the other it is typically funneled back to the #8's feet where the scrumhalf has access to it and can distribute it accordingly.

Ruck -  A ruck occurs after a tackle has taken place and the ball is again up for grabs.  A ruck is formed when at least one player from either team is in contact with each other over the ball following a tackle.  During a ruck the ball can not be played with the hands of a player who is part of said ruck.

Maul - A mual occurs when a ball carrier is in the grasp of a tackler but does not go to the ground.  Multiple players from either side will typically join the maul in an attempt to either drive the maul down the field to advance field position, or in a defensive effort to stop the maul from moving.

Lineout - A lineout is used to restart play after the ball has gone into touch (out of bounds).  The team who did not cause the ball to go into touch (unless kicked out on a penalty) will earn the throw-in.  The teams thrower will stand outside the field of play where he will then make audible calls to his jumpers.  Once the jumpers are in place the ball is thrown in and play restarts.

Hand signals, "not just for the rush hour commute".  If you have ever watched a match in person you may have noticed the referee performing various hand gestures after the whistle has blown.  These signals were designed to indicate the happenings on the field to the coaches and spectators.  Due to the fact that we typically don't have a P.A. announcer to relay these signals to us at most high school level rugby matches, it is important to take the time to learn what each of them mean.  Developing an understanding of what the referee is telling us through his signals can be the difference between being utterly confused on a particular play or knowing what the next happening in the game will likely be.  All of these signals can be found at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/bsp/hi/rugby_union/rules/referees_signals/html/default.stm

Try / Penalty Try - The referee will clearly raise one arm straight above his head.  His back will be towards the dead ball line. Points have now been awarded.

Free Kick - The referee will raise his arm, bending it square at the elbow.  The arm will be pointing towards the team who have been given the free-kick.

Penalty - The referee will clearly raise his arm in the air, pointing towards the side who have been given the penalty.  This will likely be followed or proceeded by another signal indicating what the infraction was.

Obstruction - The referee will cross both his arms across his chest, like a pair of open scissors.  This shows to all the players that one player has been stopped another illegally.

Forward Pass - The referee will move his hands in front of his body.
Then he will pretend to pass an imaginary ball forwards.  He will give the scrum put in to the team that did not make the mistake.

Knock On - The referee will raise his arm at head level, with the palm of the hand open.  Then, he will tap the palm of that hand with the other, to show to all the players that the ball has been knocked forward.

High Tackle - The referee will hold is arm straight over his neck.
This shows to all the players that someone has made an illegal high tackle.

Killing the Ball / Diving Over - The referee will point his arm downwards and move it up and down.  This shows to all the players on the pitch that a player did not stay on their feet as they joined a ruck.

Ball Not Released - The referee will bring both arms close into his chest as if he is holding an imaginary ball. This is to show that the ball has not been released when the player in possession was tackled and did not release the ball.  He will then award a penalty to the non-offending side at the place where the offence took place.

Handling in a Ruck or Scrum - The referee will bend forwards and lower his arm towards the ground.  He will then move his arm back and forwards, as if he has handled an imaginary ball on the ground.

Line Out Throw Not Straight - The referee will raise one hand above his head with his shoulders in line with the touch line.  He will then move that arm backwards and forwards to show the ball was not thrown straight by the hooker.  The non-offending team will then be given the option to have a lineout of their own or a scrum with thier put-in.

Stamping - The referee will raise one leg, bending it at the knee.
He will then move it up and down, pretending to stamp on an imaginary ball.  A penalty will then be awarded to the non-offending team at the point on the field where the infraction occurred.

Much like anything else in life, it is difficult to develop an understanding and appreciation for a topic without learning a little about its past.  Rugby is a game entrenched in traditions on and off the pitch. Rugby for most, is more than just a game they play or played, it is a lifestyle they eat, sleep, breathe and live. Rugby is more than a sport. It a culture, and the best way to understand a culture is to get to it's roots and Rugby's history is just that. The following information and much more can be found at www.rugbyfootballhistory.com

Rugby Origins:
Many believe that rugby was born in 1823 when William Webb Ellis "with fine disregard for the rules of football (i.e. soccer) (remember football was yet to split into the various codes) as played in his time at Rugby school, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it, thus originating the distinctive feature of the Rugby game". Although it is worth pointing out that this is apocryphal as there is little in the way of evidence to substantiate this view, it is however, the popular view. So much so in fact that the international committee named the Rugby world cup the "William Webb Ellis Trophy".

Rugby From Then to Now:

1816 - William Webb Ellis Enrolls at Rugby School under the headmastership of Dr Wooll and was at town house.

1823 - William Webb Ellis runs with the ball in his hands. By this time he is a 'praeposter' (monitor) at the school.

1839 - In 1839 at Cambridge University, an old Rugbeian, Mr Arthur Pell (a Cambridge under graduate who later
became a member of Parliament) got a rugby team together. The Old Rugbeians challenged the Old Etonians
to a game of football (soccer) and controversy at the Rugbeians' use of hands led to representatives of the major public
schools meeting to draw up the 'Cambridge Rules'.

1841 - Running with the ball officially allowed in Rugby school rules provided that a) the ball was caught on the bound (from a bouncing ball), b) the catcher was not"off his side", c) that the catcher did not pass the ball but
ran on himself.

1843 - Rugby club formed at Guy's Hospital, London. The foundation date of Guy's Hospital Rugby Club is accepted
by both the Rugby Football Union and the Guinness Book of Records, making Guy's the oldest rugby club in
the world. The club merged with St Thomas' Hospital Rugby Club in the early 90's.

1845 - The first rules of Rugby football are created.

1850 - German Rugby started in 1850 at the Neuenheim College in Heidelberg, South Germany

1858 - Edinburgh Academicals F.C. formed (first club in Scotland)

1864 - Sydney University was the first Australian club formed

1868 - Brighton, England, North of Ireland Cricket Club with name "North" ( NIFC), Ireland founded.
First Canadian club formed, Montreal, by students of McGill University along with soldiers stationed in the city.
Nelson Football Club in New Zealand founded by Mr R.C. Tennent, but did not adopt Rugby rules until 1870.

1870 - The first rugby game in New Zealand between Nelson College and Nelson football club, played on 14 May
1870 (Auckland, Canterbury and Otago clubs develop the game there over the next several years).

1871 - The first ever international game: Scotland v England played at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh, March 27th, in front of a crowd of 4000 (Scotland won by one goal and one try to one goal, the teams were 20-a-side and halves were 50 minutes each).

1872 - The first rugby club formed in France by British residents, Le Havre.

1883 - 28th April, 1883 the first sevens tournament held at Melrose Football Club, Scotland.

1884 - Rugby was first played in Fiji by European and Fijian soldiers of the Native Constabulary at Ba, on Viti Levu
Island.

1885 - The referee was given a whistle!

1900 - Rugby played in the Olympic Games in Paris - France win the title.

1905 - In the USA publication of photographs of a harsh American Football (basically still rugby at this time) game between Swarthmore and Pennsylvania created a stir.
President Theodore Roosevelt insisted on reform of the game to lower the brutality with threat of abolishing the game by edict.

1906 - In the USA the forward pass was introduced to the 'American game''. The laws of rugby died and the game of American football evolved further.

1920 - United States (8) beat France (0) in Olympic Games to take gold (only two teams compete).

1961 - USA Army Rugby Club Founded. The Army Rugby Football Club is one of the most highly respected teams at the United States Military Academy and its members are drawn from the United States Corps of Cadets.

1976 - USA Rugby fields several national teams, nicknamed the Eagles. The National Men's Team, first took the field in 1976, and is becoming a prominent part of the International scene

1987 - The first Rugby World Cup - Australia and New Zealand.
The USA National Women's Team was founded

1997 - The last surviving member of the USA 1924 gold medal winning team Norman Cleaveland passes away aged 96.

1998 - The Rockford High School Rugby Football Club is formed (a little local history)

2005 - The Grand Rapids Gazelles become the Midwest 7's Champions (a little more local history for you)

2008- Rockford Rugby wins Division I State Championship.

2011 - The 2011 Rugby World cup will be held in New Zealand. The interest in this event will be huge - 60,000 visitors are expected to visit New Zealand for this tournament.

So you have reached the end and are ready to catch a game with a new found vigor for the sport of rugby, or at least we hope so.  By no means is this a be all, end all of the sport of rugby but rather a small glimpse into the game and its inner workings. The best way to learn rugby remains to either play the sport yourself, or have a seasoned player along side while you watch.  At the very least we hope that this will help aid in your learning /understanding of the game and enhance your ability to share in rugby as a family.  Best regards in your future rugby endeavors.

Cheers,
Ram Rugby Coaching Staff