Modified Games Laws
IMPLEMENTATION FOR
2015
NRL Education, Training and Research
modgames@nrl.com.au
Law Changes for 2015: Mini FOOTY & MOD LEAGUE
Law Change 1
Rationale
An
error/infringement
is counted as a The consequence of
tackle rather than committing
a
a turnover
handling error is too
Under 6 age group
ONLY
harsh
for
players
who are mostly in
their
first
playing
the
year
of
game,
and in a very early
Law Change - UNDER 6 ONLY
FAQ
Mini Footy (Pg. 10) Law 14
“SCRUM”
Q. If a player runs into touch, is
a “chance” awarded?
For Under 6 years, when a player
knocks-on or passes the ball to a
teammate in a forward direction,
the Referee shall call “Chance” and
the number of the tackle advanced
by one, so that the team in
possession
retains
possession,
th
other than after the 4 (and last)
tackle, at which time a handover
will occur.
A. No. Chances are only for Knockon and forward pass infringements.
Should a player lose possession
stage of physical forward and an opposing player
development
and gain possession, it should be play
on, and zero tackle. Should a
skill development.
player knock-on and the ball is regathered by an on-side teammate,
then the “Chance Rule” shall apply.
Q. How many chances can be
awarded to a team in a set of 4
tackles?
A. Up to 4 chances can be awarded
in any set of 4 tackles.
Q. What happens if a player
from one team knocks-on and
an opposing player gains
possession?
A. Play on, and zero tackle to the
team who gained possession.
Aim
is
to
build
confidence
by
rewarding effort; it
also
provides
the
opportunity for the
majority of players
to touch the ball in
each set of tackles.
Law Change 2
Rationale
No
conversion To increase skill
attempts after a
development and
try
has
been
scored in Under 6 enjoyment by:
& 7 years
 Eliminating the
amount of time
spent on an
isolated,
Law Change – UNDER 6 &
UNDER 7 ONLY
FAQ
Mini Footy (Page 11) Law 16
“GOALS/CONVERTING A TRY –
8 YEARS AND ABOVE”
Q. What if players want
attempt a kick for goal?
Kicks for goal will not apply to
games played by players at Under
6 and 7 years.
Following a try being scored,
to
A. After full-time, coaches can
organize for all players to line-up
and simultaneously take an
attempt at goal, if posts have been
erected.
Q. What is the process for
individual, closed
skill
 Average time
spent is 1 min
per kick; total
average of 8
mins per game
 Increasing the
volume of
opportunities for
most appropriate
skills; pass,
catch, carry,
tackle;
 Success rate for
conversions at
this age group is
extremely low –
10%.
players in the 6 and 7 year age
groups will not attempt
conversions. Play immediately restarts with a tap kick to the nonscoring team at the centre of the
halfway mark.
possible 8 point tries in Under
6’s and 7’s if there are no
conversion attempts?
A. Misconduct (including those
covered under the Safeplay Code
and Section 15 of the International
Laws) against an opponent in the
act of scoring a try in the Under 6
and Under 7 age groups (in the
absence of conversions, and
subsequent penalty kick for goal)
must still be dealt with, and may
result in the offending player being
cautioned, being asked to be
replaced for the remainder of the
period or, in more serious
instances, for the duration of the
match. This also applies when a try
has been scored in the same play
in which the act of misconduct
occurred or in the immediate play
thereafter (the imminent factor),
as per the Safeplay Code.
Law Change 3
Rationale
Law Change – Mini Footy and
Mod League.
FAQ
Re-start Law – tap
kick (to the team
conceding a try);
First tackle in all
Modified
Games
age groups.
To promote an equal
spread of
attacking/defensive
opportunities for
both teams:
Mini Footy (Page 11) – Law 17
& Mod League (Page 22) Law
17
Q. Is the tap kick re-start only
after points have been scored?
The application of
the first tackle from
the restart will
standardise the law
from junior to senior
game.
A. The tap kick re-start to the
Following a try (and subsequent
non-scoring team will occur only
conversion attempt – 8 years and after a team has scored a try. At
above), the non-scoring team will Under 6 and 7 years, this will
re-start play with a place kick (i.e. occur immediately after a try (as
a tap kick re-start – the ball must there will be no attempts at
be placed on the ground) from
conversion). From Under 8 to
the centre of the halfway line.
Under 12, this occurs after a try
The ball need not travel any
and subsequent conversion
prescribed distance. The place
attempt.
kick re-starts are to be taken, in
rotation, by all members of the
team, as in Law 16 re attempts at Q. What is the tackle count
following the tap kick re-start?
conversion after a try has been
scored. The initial tackle after the
tap kick re-start, shall be tackle 1.
A. The initial tackle is Tackle 1.
Law Change 4
Rationale
Law Change – Mini Footy and
Mod League
FAQ
No scrums are to
be formed in the
Modified Games.
To allow players
more opportunities
to concentrate on
fundamental
movement and
Rugby League
specific skills that:
Mini Footy (Page 10) – Law 14
and Mod League (Page 21) –
Law 14
Q. What do we do in place of a
scrum being packed?

Are
developmental
ly appropriate;

Require
Scrums will not be formed in Mini
Footy and Mod League. Where an
infringement or an error has
occurred and a scrum normally be
formed, the non-offending team
shall play the ball to recommence
play, but no closer than 5 metres
from the touch line and 5 metres
from the goal line (10m by 10m
respectively in Mod League).
practice and
mastery;

Are inherently
NOTE:
motivating
In the Under 6’s, the “Chance” rule
applies, with players permitted to
accidentally knock-on or pass the
ball forward in the field of play and,
as long as that team retains
possession (and from an onside
position), the Referee will call
“Chance” and advance the tackle
and enjoyable.
A. A handover of possession will
occur, with the non-offending team
to re-start play with a play-theball.
Q. If there is an infringement by
BOTH sides, what happens?
A. The team who committed the
first infringement will forfeit
possession.
Q. Where there has been an
infringement
involving
the
Referee, a Touch Judge or a
spectator
(a
mutual
infringement),
the
Referee
accidentally blows the whistle,
or the ball bursts, what is the
process to re-start play?
The team which would have had
the scrum feed (in the
International Laws of the Game)
will be awarded a play-the-ball. For
a mutual infringement, this will be
count, as if they had been tackled.
(International Laws apply to
breaches in the in-goal areas).
the attacking team (team with the
territorial advantage). The initial
play-the-ball will not be counted
for the purposes of the tackle
count (i.e.: A new set of 4/6
tackles will begin).
Law Change – Mini Footy & Mod
League
FAQ
Law Change 5
Rationale
Zero Tackle Law to
be applied as per
the
International
Laws across all age
groups.
To achieve
International Laws, Section 11 consistency in the
The Tackle and the Play the Ball
zero tackle law
- Page 25 Law 7 (c)
across all age groups
Where an accidental breach occurs
(i.e. knock-on, forward pass) and
possession changes hands, the
To simplify the law
following tackle will be a zero
for all participants.
tackle, notwithstanding that the
team gaining possession may have
gained a territorial advantage.
Section 8 – Kick Off and Drop-Out
– Page 18 Law 2 (c)
The initial tackle affected on the
team taking the 20 metre Optional
Kick re-start shall be a zero tackle.
Q. Is the zero tackle awarded at
the tap kick re-start?
A. No. The initial tackle will be
Tackle 1.
Q. When my team gains
possession from a kick off to
start the match, or following the
half-time break, is the initial
tackle a zero tackle?
A. No. The initial tackle will be
Tackle 1, as per the International
Laws.
Q. Is a zero tackle awarded from
the initial tackle after a 20
metre re-start?
Yes, as per the International Laws
of the Game.
Q. What if the ball is passed
from a 20 metre re-start?
A zero tackle will still be awarded,
as per the International Laws of
the Game.
Law Change 6
Rationale
Law Change - Mod League
Variation to Two-Pass To enhance the
Mod League (Pages 20, 21) – Law 13
Law in Mod League
development of tactical and
The Two-Pass Law applies, Refer Mini Footy, Law 13 (b), pg. 9,
technical skills:
with the
 Create a more dynamic
Note:
following exemption that applies to ALL parts of the Mod
& open environment;
This
Law
change
League field:
applies to all Mod  Develop gameLeague
ages,
awareness and decisionincluding Under 9’s,
The player at First Receiver (FR) will be identified with a vest or
where
areas
are
making skills;
playing under Mod
armband of one colour, and a player at Acting Halfback (i.e.
 Focus on development
League Laws
dummy half [DH]) will be identified with a vest/armband of
of skills:
another colour.
- Draw and Pass
- Dummy and Run
(‘show’ and ‘go’)
- Catch and Pass
- Development of
MODIFIED GAMES LAWS 2015 21
Players identified with vests / armbands are permitted to run
from their nominated position, and be tackled before a
minimum of two passes is performed, without their team
turning over possession (unless it is after the 5th play-the-ball).
marker defence
tactics & skills

Increase motivation and
confidence;
If any player without the DH vest (including the player
nominated as

Increase competence &
First Receiver) runs from Dummy Half, is tackled in possession
task mastery;
without a minimum of two passes being performed, then
Align with relevant stage of
growth and development:
 Less structured/closed
play;
 Allow for more ‘free’ or
uninhibited play;
 Allow for freedom of
his/her team will forfeit possession.
If any player without the FR vest (including the player
nominated as
Dummy Half) runs from First Receiver, is tackled in possession
without a
minimum of two passes being performed, then
his/her team will forfeit possession.
expression and problem
solving skill
At all ages, players will be required to rotate vests or armband.
development.
For FAQ on Two Pass Law Variation, go to next page
FAQ - TWO PASS LAW VARIATION
Q. At what point can the defensive team move off their line to defend?
A. At the play-the-ball, no member of the team NOT IN POSSESSION is to move forward until the ball is in the hands
of the FIRST RECEIVER or the Acting Halfback elects to run, kick or mishandles the ball.
Q. Under the Two Pass Variation Law, can the Dummy Half and/or First Receiver run from their designated
position, not pass and be tackled, more than once in a set of six tackles?
A. Yes. The nominated Dummy Half and nominated First Receiver can run and be tackled before passing, without
conceding a turnover, more than once from their nominated position in a set of six.
Q. Can the vests be swapped during the half?
Yes; however, once a player takes their vest off and another player wears it, that player cannot wear either vest again
during the match. If a player wearing the vest comes off the field for any reason (this may include for an injury), and
does not give the vest to a team mate, the player may return to the field and continue playing in the vest (except for
after the half time period, where the vests must be rotated).
Q. Does the 20 metre one pass zone still apply in the Mod League game?
No. This Law only applies to Mini Footy.
Q. Are vests able to be grabbed or slung to affect a tackle?
A. No. The Safeplay Code applies, as it would with any form of dangerous tackle affected on a jersey.
Q. Who will supply vests for the “Two Pass Variation” Law?
A. The NRL has purchased:
•
One vest for the DH
•
One vest for the FR
for each Junior League team playing under Mod League rules, at Junior League clubs.
School Competitions will be supplied when participating in regular Competitions and State/ National Carnivals. For
other events and activities, Schools/School bodies may supply clearly identifiable coloured vests or armbands in order
to comply with this Law.
Q. What happens if a team forgets to bring their vests/armbands to the match, or they are ripped / broken?
If a player(s) cannot wear a vest/armband for any reason, the Two Pass Law will be applied. The Two Pass Law
exemption can only be applied to persons wearing the vest/armband. This could mean that one team is playing with
vests, and the other team is not.
Q. If I want to buy additional vests:
a. Where can I purchase them?
b. What is the cost per vest?
A. The NRL will make a supply of vests available for purchase on the NRL Online shop. (nrlshop.com)
The unit cost will be approximately $7 per vest.
Q. What will happen at State and National Carnivals when players are selected in specialist roles across a
number of days?
A. Where events are played under unique conditions, the Two Pass Variation will apply, however consideration may be
given for the rotation policy to be waived upon application to the League/ State Governing body
For more information – contact the National Rugby League Education, Research and Training Team at
modgames@nrl.com.au