WHEELCHAIRRUGBYSEQUENCEOFEVENTS ThefollowingisanoutlineofthegeneralsequenceofeventsinWheelchairRugbyfromthestartofa gametotheend. Beforethegame Beforethegamebegins,thetwoteamsenterthefieldofplay.Benchpersonnelbegintosetupwhile theteamswarmup,eachontheirhalfofthecourt.Teambenchesaredeterminedbymutualagreement ofthetwocoaches.Ifthecoachescannotagreethehighestseededteamshallbegiventheirchoice. Whiletheteamsarewarmingup,therefereeswillbriefthetableofficialsandensurethateverythingis inorderforthestartofthegame.Thecoacheswillbeprovidedwiththescoresheet;theymustreview theirteamrostersaslistedonthesheet,makeanycorrectionstoplayersnames,numbers,or classifications;andthensignthescoresheettoindicatethatitiscorrect. Nolaterthantenminutesbeforethegame,coachesmustindicatetheirstartinglineupsforthegame andprovidetheclassificationcardsfortheirstartingplayerstothescorekeeper. Approximatelyfourminutesbeforethegame,teamsshouldreturntotheirbenches.Therefereesmay callfortheteamcaptainsandholdabriefpregamemeeting.

eeting.Thepurposeofthismeetingistopasson anypertinentinformationaboutthegameorthefieldofplay,andtoanswerquestionsfromtheteam captains. Followingthemeeting,thecaptainswillreturntotheirbenches.Therefereeswillconfirmthatthetable officialsareready,andwillcheckthepositionoftheconesonthegoallines. Startingthegame Approximatelyoneminutebeforethegamebegins;thestartingplayersforeachteamwillenterthe court.Oneplayerfromeachteamwillenterthecentrecircle,takingpositionsonthesamesideastheir respectiveteambenches.Referee1willindicatethedirectionofplayforeachteam.Inthefirsthalfof thegame,teamsdefendonsamesideofthecourttheirbench,andscoreonthegoallineoppositetheir opponentsbench. Whenallplayersareinposition,Referee1willblowhiswhistle.Atthispoint,playersmaymakelegal contactwitheachother.Referee1willthenenterthecentrecircleandtosstheballverticallybetween thetwoplayers.Aftertheballhasreacheditshighestpointandbeguntofall,theywilleachtrytotipthe ballwiththeirhandsanddirectittoateammate. Often,bothplayerswillattempttocontrolthetipoff.Sometimes,teamswillsendaweakerplayerin andchoosetosetupastrongdefencetoreactafterthetipoff.

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Assoonastheballistouchedbyoneofthetwoplayersinthecentrecircle,Referee1willlowerhis handandthetimekeeperwillstartthegameclock. Ifoneoftheotherplayerstakespossessionoftheball,thegamewillcontinue.Referee1willsignalto thescorekeeperstablethatthefirstalternatingpossessionwillgototheotherteam;thescorekeeper willpositionthealternatingpossessionarrowtoindicatethis. Iftheballgoesoutofboundsbeforeanotherplayertakespossession,therefereewillblowhiswhistle andsignalaviolation.Thegameclockwillstop.Possessionoftheballwillbegiventotheteamthatdid notcausetheballtogooutofbounds.Theotherteamwillbegiventhefirstalternatingpossession. Ifoneofthetwocentrestakespossessionoftheballbeforeithasbeentouchedbyanotherplayeror beforeithastouchedthefloor,therefereewillblowhiswhistleandsignalaviolation.Possessionofthe ballwillbegiventotheteamwhosecentredidnottakepossessionoftheball.Theotherteamwillbe giventhefirstalternatingpossession. Iftheballtouchesthefloorbeforeithasbeentouchedbyoneofthetwoplayersinthecentrecircle, Referee1willretrievetheballandthetipoffwillbetakenagain. Onceaplayerhastakenpossessionoftheball,heandhisteamwillbegintheirattempttoscorewhile theiropponentspreparetodefend.Thegamehasbegun. Playingthegame Therearenumerousstrategiesemployedinwheelchairrugby.Typically,coachesfieldateamofplayers withdifferentpointvaluesassignedtodifferentroles.Ateamcouldplayone3.5playerastheprimary ballcarrier,a2.5playertoassisttheballcarrierinpassingandscoring,anda1.5and0.5playertoblock andholdopposingplayerswhoaretryingtodefend. Thetwomaindefensivestrategiesarethepressandthezone.Inapressdefence,defendingplayersgo mantomanagainsttheoffence,tryingtotakepossessionoftheballorforceanerror.Inazone defence,defenderstakeupassignedpositionsinoraroundtheirkeyarea;typicallythreeplayerssetup inthekeywhilethefourthplayerpositionshimselfoutsidetopursueandpressuretheopposingball carrier. Inapresssituation,theattackingteamtriestobreakthepressbygettingtheballcarrierfreeorby freeinganotherplayertoreceiveapass.Ifthepresshasbeenbroken,theattackingteamhasavery goodchancetoscoreunlessthedefendingteamisabletopursueandstoptheballcarrier.However,a presscanbeveryeffectiveinpreventingateamfrominboundingtheball,orinforcingatwelvesecond violationintheattackingteamsbackcourt. Inazonesituation,theattackingteamnormallytriestodrawoneofthedefendersoutofpositionand thentraphim,creatinganopeningonthegoallinefortheballcarriertoscore.Itcanbeverydifficultto scoreonawellrunzonedefence;however,iftheattackingteamisinthelead,theycantakeadvantage ofazonedefencetorunouttimeontheclock. Theactualcombinationsofpointvaluesandstrategiesusedvarywidelyfromteamtoteamandfrom gametogame.Wheelchairrugbyisafastmovingandfluidgame;teamswilladapttheirstrategiesas thegamesituationdevelops.Possessioncangobackandforthbetweenteamsseveraltimesbeforea

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goalisscored.Someteamswillplaywithanaggressivestylethatscoresalotofgoalsbutthatalso leavesthemopentobescoredon.Otherswillplaymoreconservatively,leavingfewopeningsbutnot scoringasmanygoals.Everygameisdifferent. Scoringagoal Theaimofwheelchairrugbyistoscoregoalsbycarryingtheballacrosstheopposingteamsgoalline.In ordertoscoreagoal,aplayermustcrossthegoallinewithatleasttwoofthefourwheelsonhis wheelchair,whilehehaspossessionoftheball. Mostoften,theballiscarriedontheplayerslap.However,agoalcanbescorediftheplayerisholding theballbetweenhishandsorhisarms,ifheisholdingtheballagainstanypartofhiswheelchairwithan armorahand,oreveniftheballissittingonhisfootrest.Whenagoalisscored,therefereewillsignal byblowinghiswhistleandraisingonehandintheairwiththeindexfingerpointingstraightup.The gameclockwillstopandonepointwillbeawardedtothescoringteam. Aplayermustestablishcontroloftheballbeforescoring.Aplayercannotscoreagoaliftheballis touchingthefloorwhiletheplayercrossesthegoalline,iftheplayerisstilltryingtogaincontrolofthe ballafterreceivingapass,oriftheplayerreceivestheballafteroneormoreofhiswheelscrossesthe goalline. Ifaplayerleavesthecourtonthegoallinebutdoesnotscore,therefereewillsignalaviolationby blowinghiswhistleandraisingonehandintheairwithallfingersextendedandthepalmflat.Hewill thenwavebotharmsoutwardtoindicatethattherewasnogoal.Thegameclockwillstopand possessionoftheballwillbeawardedtotheotherteam.Thisusuallyoccurswhenaplayercrossesthe goallinewithonewheelandisthenstoppedandforcedbackontothecourtbeforeasecondwheel crossestheline,orwhenaplayerstrikesoneoftheconesmarkingtheendsofthegoallinebefore crossingwithtwowheels. Inboundingafteragoal Afteragoalhasbeenscored,theballwillbegiventotheotherteamtoinbound.Oneplayerfromthe inboundingteamwilltakeupapositionoutsidethecourt,anywherealongtheendline.Therefereewill placetheballontheplayerslap,raisehishandintheair,andblowhiswhistle.Theballisnowliveand contactbetweenplayersispermitted.Theinboundingplayerhastensecondstothrowtheballinso thatitistouchedbyaplayeronthecourt. Theinboundermaytossorthrowtheball,orbounceitandthenbatitontothecourt.Hemaynottake possessionoftheballafterreleasingituntilithasbeentouchedbyaplayeronthecourt,andhemay notreenterthecourtuntilafterhehasreleasedtheball.Heispermittedtomovealongthegoalline. Whentheballhasbeentouchedbyaplayeronthecourt,therefereewilllowerhishandandthegame clockwillstart.Theinboundingplayerwillreenterthecourt.Opposingplayersarenotpermittedto preventhimfromenteringthecourt,ortomakecontactwithhimuntilafterhehascompletelyentered thecourt.

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Ifmorethantensecondspassbeforetheballistouched,oriftheinboundingplayercommitsa violation,therefereewillblowhiswhistletosignaltheviolation.Possessionoftheballwillbeawarded totheotherteam. Violations Thereareanumberofviolationsthatmaybecommittedbytheteamthathascontroloftheball,as detailedintheRulesSummary. Whenaviolationoccurs,therefereewillblowhiswhistleandraiseonehandintheairwithallfingers extendedandthepalmflat.Thegameclockwillstopandtherefereewillthengiveahandsignal indicatingthetypeofviolation.Therefereewillthenpointtoindicatethedirectionofplayforthenext possession;i.e.,hewillpointtowardsthegoallinethattheteamreceivingtheballwillbeattemptingto scoreon. Themostcommonviolationsandtheirhandsignalsare: TenSecondsNoDribbleDribblingmotionwithbothhandsinfrontofthereferee TenSecondsintheKeyBothhandsheldovertheheadwithallfingersextended TwelveSecondsBothhandsheldoverthehead,onewiththefirstclenchedandtheotherwith allfingersextended FortySecondsOnehandtappingtheshoulderseveraltimes. BackCourtOnehandpointingatthecentrelineandmovingbackandforth OutofBoundsNosignal;indicatethedirectionofthenextpossession Inboundingafteraviolation Afteraviolation,theballwillbegiventotheotherteamtoinbound.Oneplayerfromtheinbounding teamwilltakeupapositionoutsidethecourtalongthesidelinenearesttowheretheballwaswhenthe violationoccurred. Therulesforinboundingafteraviolationarethesameasforafteragoal,exceptthattheinbounding playerisnotpermittedtomovealongthesideline. Contactbeforethewhistle Playersarenotpermittedtomakecontactduringastoppageinplay.Anydeliberateoradvantageous contactwhichoccursaftertherefereeblowshiswhistletoindicateastoppageinplayandbeforehe blowshiswhistleaftergivingtheballtotheinboundermayresultinafoul. Teamsaregivenonecontactwarningineachhalfofthegame.Thefirsttimeateamcommitscontact beforethewhistleinahalf,therefereewillblowhiswhistleandsignalthefoul.Hewilltheninformthe

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penaltytimekeeperthattheteamhasreceivedacontactwarning.Iftheteamcommitsanothercontact beforethewhistleduringthathalfofthegame,therefereewillawardacommonfoul. Commonfouls Thereareanumberofcommonfoulsthatmaybecommittedbyeitherteam,asdetailedintheRules Summary. Whenafouliscommitted,therefereewillblowhiswhistleandraiseonehandintheairwiththefist clenched.Withhisotherhandhewillpointtotheplayerwhocommittedthefoul.Thegameclockwill stopandtherefereewillthengiveahandsignalindicatingthetypeoffoul.Hewillthenindicatethe sanctionforthefoul. ContactbeforethewhistleBotharmsextendedinfrontofthebody,onehandstrikingthe palmoftheotherhand OutandInPalmsfacingeachothermovearmsforwardandbackwardsinanarc FourinthekeyOnehandheldovertheheadwithfourfingersextended HoldingOnearmextendedinfrontofthebodywiththeotherhandgrippingitbetweenelbow andwrist PushingBothhandsmovingforwardandbackinfrontofthebody,palmsflatanduprightina pushingmotion IllegalUseofHandsOnearmextendedinfrontofthebodywiththeotherhandstrikingitina choppingmotionbetweenelbowandwrist SpinningBotharmsheldbythesidesandbentattheelbowswithclenchedhandsheldoutin frontofthebody,andthenrotatingtheupperbodysidetoside Thesanctionforanoffensivefoul,committedbytheteamthathaspossessionoftheball,isalossof possession.Therefereewillindicatethenewdirectionofplayandgivetheballtothedefendingteamto inbound. Thesanctionforadefensivefoul,committedbytheteamthatdoesnothavepossessionoftheball,isa oneminutepenalty.Therefereewillleadtheplayerwhocommittedthefoultothepenaltyboxand informthepenaltytimekeeperoftheplayersteam,theirnumber,andthefoulthatwascommitted.The refereewillthenreturntheballtotheoffensiveteamtoinbound. Servingapenalty Aplayerthathasbeengivenapenaltymustremaininthepenaltybox,oppositehisteamsbencharea, untiloneminutehaselapsedonthegameclockoruntiltheotherteamscoresagoal.Whenthetime expiresonhispenalty,thepenaltytimekeeperwillreleasehimfromthebox.Ifagoalisscored,the refereewillindicatetotheplayerthathemayreturntothecourt.

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Penaltygoal Ifadefensivefouliscommittedwhentheoffensiveteamisinanimminentscoringposition,thereferee mayawardapenaltygoalinlieuofaoneminutepenalty.Toindicatethis,hewillblowhiswhistleand signalthefoul.Thegameclockwillstop.Therefereewillthensignalagoalandclearlystatepenalty goal.Theoffensiveteamwillbeawardedonepointandtheballwillbegiventothedefensiveteamto inboundonthegoalline. Ifaplayerisservingapenaltywhenapenaltygoalisawardedtotheopposingteam,heisnotreleased fromthepenaltybox. Substitutions Teamsarepermittedtomakesubstitutionsafterallstoppagesinplay.Teamsarenotpermittedto substituteafteragoalunlessanotherstoppageinplaytakesplacesubsequenttothegoal(e.g.atime out)orduringanequipmenttimeout,unlesstheplayerrequestingtheequipmenttimeoutisunableto continue. Playerswishingtosubstituteinmustreporttothescorekeeperstablebeforethestoppageinplay.They givethescorekeepertheirclassificationcardsandindicatewhichplayerstheywillbereplacing.Atthe nextstoppageinplay,thetimekeeperwillsignaltherefereeswithabuzzer.Therefereewill acknowledgetherequestforsubstitutionsbyholdingbotharmscrossedoverinfrontoftheirchest.He willtheninstructthesubstitutestoenterthecourt.Oncethesubstitutesareonthecourtandthe playerstheyarereplacinghaveleft,therefereewillcontinuewiththeinbound. Playersleavingthecourtafterasubstitutionwillreporttothescorekeeperstableandcollecttheir classificationcardsbeforereturningtothebench. Chargedtimeout Eachteamhasfourplayertimeoutsduringregulationplay.Whentheballisinplay,onlyaplayeronthe courtwhoseteamhaspossessionoftheballmaycallatimeout.Aplayerontheteammusthave possessionoftheballatthetime.Atimeoutmaynotbecalledifthepossessionoftheballisunclear. Timeoutsarefrequentlycalledwhenateamisindangerofcommittingaten,twelveorfortysecond violationorabackcourtviolation.Sometimesaplayerwithpossessionoftheballwhoisindangerof leavingthecourtduetocontactwillcallatimeouttostoptheplaybeforeheisoutofbounds.Ateam thatisforcedtouseupallfourtimeoutsearlyinthegamewillbeatadisadvantagelater. Whenaplayercallsforatimeout,therefereewillblowhiswhistleandthegameclockwillstop.The refereewillsignalthetimeoutbyholdingonearmwiththepalmflatandwiththeindexfingerofthe otherhandextendedtotouchthemiddleofthepalm. Theteamthatcalledthetimeoutmaychoosetocontinueplayimmediately.Inthatcase,thereferee willreturntheballtothemfortheinbound.Iftheychoosetotakethetimeout,bothteamswillreturn totheirbenchareas.Onerefereewillgotothescorekeeperstabletoreportthetimeoutandtheother willtaketheballtothesidelinetopreparefortheinbound.Whentwentysecondshavepassed,the timekeeperwillsignalwithabuzzerandtherefereewillinstructtheteamstoreturntothecourt.

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 Acoachhastwooneminutetimeoutsthattheycanuseatanytimeduringthegame.Thetimeoutwill beawardedwhentheballbecomesdead. Refereestimeout Arefereemaycallatimeoutatanytimetodealwithanysituation.Refereetimeoutsareusuallycalled whenaplayerhasfallenorisinjured,whenaplayerswheelchairorotherpersonalequipmentis damagedsothattheplayercannotcontinue,ortohandleproblemswithtimingandscoringequipment. Therefereesignalsthetimeoutbyblowinghiswhistleandtappingeachofhisshoulderswiththehands onthatarm. Iftherefereestimeoutiscalledtoaddressasituationthatistheresponsibilityofateam,suchasan equipmentmalfunction,theteamisgivenoneminutetoresolvetheproblem.Iftheycannotresolvethe problem,theymusteithercallatimeoutortheymustmakeasubstitutionfortheaffectedplayerso thatplaymaycontinue. Ifthetimeoutiscalledtoaddressasituationthatisnottheresponsibilityofateam,suchasa malfunctioninggameclock,thetimeoutwillcontinueaslongasisnecessaryfortherefereetoresolve theproblem. Whereasituationcreatesasafetyrisk,suchasafallenplayerwhoisdirectlyinthepathoftheplay,the refereewillstopplayimmediately.Ifthereisnosafetyrisktherefereewillusehisjudgementtostopthe playatanappropriatetime.Iftheteamthathaspossessionoftheballisinapositiontoscore,andthere isnosafetyconcern,therefereewillnotnormallystoptheplayuntilthegoalhasbeenscoredorthe scoringopportunityhaspassed.Forexample,ifadefendingplayerwhoispositionedbehindtheplay getsaflattire,therefereewillnotstoptheplayuntiltheoffensiveteamscoresoruntiltheystop movingtowardsthegoal. Heldball Teamcontroloftheballisdeterminedbytheplayerwhohascontroloftheball.Insomesituations, playersfromopposingteamsmaycontroltheballatthesametime.Thisresultsinaheldball.Heldballs frequentlyoccurwhenoneplayeriscarryingtheball,usuallyonthelap,andanopposingplayerisable toplaceahandfirmlyontheball,preventingthefirstplayerfrombeingabletomoveit. Aheldballisalsocallediftheballbecomestrappedunderawheelchairorbetweentwowheelchairs. Whenaheldballoccurs,therefereewillblowhiswhistleandindicatetheheldballbyraisingbotharms intheair,fistsclenchedandthumbsextendedupwards.Possessionafteraheldballisdetermined accordingtothealternatingprocess.Therefereewillconsultthescorekeeperstabletodetermine whichdirectionthealternatingpossessionarrowispointing.Hewillthenindicatethedirectionofplay forthenextpossessionandgivetheballtotheappropriateteamtoinbound. Oncetheballhasbecomeliveafteraheldball,thescorekeeperwillchangethedirectionofthe alternatingpossessionarrow.

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Endingthequarter Wheneightminuteshaveelapsedonthegameclock,thebuzzerwillsoundtosignaltheendofthe quarter.Playstopsimmediatelywhenthebuzzersounds.Bothteamsreturntotheirbenchforatwo minutebreak. Anyplayerinthepenaltyboxattheendofthefirstorthirdquartermustremainintheboxduringthe break.Teamstaffmayattendtotheplayerinthepenaltyboxifrequired. Startingthequarter Attheendofthetwominutebreakabuzzerwillsoundtoindicatethestartofthenextquarter.Teams maymakesubstitutionsatthistime.Therefereeswillinstructtheteamstoreturntothecourt. Possessionatthestartofaquarterisdeterminedaccordingtothealternatingprocess.Therefereewill consultthescorekeeperstabletodeterminewhichdirectionthealternatingpossessionarrowis pointing.Hewillthenindicatethedirectionofplayforthefirstpossessionandgivetheballtothe appropriateteamtoinbound. Endingthehalf Attheendofthesecondquarterofplay,thebuzzerwillsoundtosignaltheendofthehalf.Playstops immediatelyandbothteamsreturntotheirbenchforafiveminutebreak. Anyplayerinthepenaltyboxattheendofthehalfmayreturntohisbenchareaduringthebreak. Startingthehalf Attheendofthefiveminutebreakabuzzerwillsoundtoindicatethestartofthenexthalf.Teamsmay makesubstitutionsatthistime.Therefereeswillinstructtheteamstoreturntothecourt.Anyplayers whowereservingpenaltiesattheendofthehalfmustreturntothepenaltybox. Possessionatthestartofthehalfisdeterminedaccordingtothealternatingprocess.Therefereewill consultthescorekeeperstabletodeterminewhichdirectionthealternatingpossessionarrowis pointing.Hewillthenindicatethedirectionofplayforthefirstpossessionandgivetheballtothe appropriateteamtoinbound. Atthestartofthesecondhalf,teamschangetheirdirectionofplay;theynowdefendoppositetheir opponentsbenchandscoreonthegoallineonthesamesideofthecourtastheirbench. Teamsarepermittedonecontactbeforethewhistlewarninginthesecondhalf.Thefirsttimeateamis calledforcontactbeforethewhistleinthehalf,therefereewillblowhiswhistleandsignalthefoul.He willtheninformthepenaltytimekeeperthattheteamhasreceivedacontactwarning.Iftheteam commitsanothercontactbeforethewhistleduringthathalfofthegame,therefereewillawarda commonfoul.

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Endingthegame Playcontinuesthroughthethirdquarter.Thereisanothertwominutebreak,followedbythefourth quarter. Attheendofthefourthquarter,thebuzzerwillsoundtosignaltheendofthegame.Ifoneteamis aheadinpoints,theyaredeclaredthewinner.Ifteamsaretiedattheendofthefourthquarter,an overtimeperiodwillbeplayed. Overtime Ifovertimeisrequired,atwominutebreakwillfollowtheendofthefourthquarter.Overtimeperiods arethreeminutesinlength.Eachperiodofovertimewillbeginwithatipoffinthecentrecircle.During thefirstperiodofovertime,teamscontinueinthesamedirectionofplaythattheyfollowedinthe secondhalf.Inanysubsequentovertimeperiodsthedirectionofplaywillalternate. Teamsaregivenoneadditionaltimeoutatthestartofanovertimeperiod.Thisisinadditiontoany timeoutsthattheymayhaveremainingfromregulationtime. Ifoneteamisaheadinpointsattheendofanovertimeperiod,theyaredeclaredthewinner.Ifteams aretiedattheendofanovertime,anadditionalovertimeperiodwillbeplayed.Thegamewillcontinue, withasmanyperiodsofovertimeasrequired,untiloneteamisaheadinpointsattheendoftheperiod.

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