Rule clarification

[Sauce Head]

Hey I have heard commentators use the phrase "optional restart" when a team kicks the ball dead or opposition catches ball on the full in goal. I thought it was 20m tap with 7 tackles. What is the "option" part?

 

[FreshSoulL]

Hey I have heard commentators use the phrase "optional restart" when a team kicks the ball dead or opposition catches ball on the full in goal. I thought it was 20m tap with 7 tackles. What is the "option" part?

They can kick for touch.

 

[Mr Invisible]

Why wouldn't teams kick for touch all the time?

Chances are it will go out and you'd pick up 40-50m on an average kick.

A fast player might be lucky to make 10-20m from the 20m restart quick tap.

............

Sherwin used to be the king of that play, as well as the "scrum within our 40, get ball out back of scrum and punt a 40/20 without any contention".

 

[El_Magic]

They can kick for touch but it as to bounce and be past the 40 I believe.

 

[DoggiesUtd]

it has always been the rule...I wish teams would use it more often as well...but its not just kicking for touch...you cant just kick it out on the full...it must bounce out...not too sure if it has to be past the 40? on their side of the halfway? never heard that...but it sounds more legit and maybe why we don't see it that often?

 

[Moe]

Only has to go more than 10m I believe. Can't go out on the full.

Shifty was the king at this. Although half the time he didn't pull it off haha

 

[Fruitty Pebbles]

Why wouldn't teams kick for touch all the time?

Chances are it will go out and you'd pick up 40-50m on an average kick.

A fast player might be lucky to make 10-20m from the 20m restart quick tap.

............

Sherwin used to be the king of that play, as well as the "scrum within our 40, get ball out back of scrum and punt a 40/20 without any contention".

I was just thinking that the other day, Sherwin was definitely the King of the 40/20. Halfbacks these days don't back themselves

 

[Slippery]

I was just thinking that the other day, Sherwin was definitely the King of the 40/20. Halfbacks these days don't back themselves

True - they only half back themselves.

 

[FreshSoulL]

JOsh Reynolds has done it for us in the past. when we were desperate of coming back.. but yea it has to bounce atleast once before going out.

 

[marsh43]

True - they only half back themselves.

I see what you did there

 

[marsh43]

Only has to go more than 10m I believe. Can't go out on the full.

Shifty was the king at this. Although half the time he didn't pull it off haha

Lol yea he definitely had a few that didnt go out

 

[Hacky McAxe]

Yep. Has to bounce before it goes out but doesn't need to go any certain length. The "tap" from the 20m line was actually called a "free kick". This meant that you could kick it 90m or kick it straight into your own hands. Originally in Union and League players would actually kick it then catch it then they figured out that it's easier to just tap it to your foot and that counts as a kick, that's how the tap started (originally called a tap kick).

Players don't kick it long 'cause they think they'll stuff it up and when you do stuff it up you look like a complete idiot. I remember when Kimmorley did it for us and everyone looked confused 'cause no one has seen it since Shifty. The next week Canberra did it but they tapped it before they kicked it which meant it became the oppositions ball.

 

[marsh43]

Benji tried it for the Draqueens in his first or second game. Didnt work lol

 

[Rodzilla]

doesnt it also have to be a drop kick?

they should do it in the situation where the fullback/wing sprints back and the defence is scrambling

 

[Bakes]

Only has to go more than 10m I believe. Can't go out on the full.

Shifty was the king at this. Although half the time he didn't pull it off haha

Was gonna say the same, I havent seen anyone better at this than Sherwin

 

[Bakes]

And no, it doesnt have to be a drop kick, you can just kick it normally.
Teams will be less likely to go for it these days as you now get 7 tackles from the tap.

 

[Sauce Head]

So the rule is as follows:

- must take kick from underneath your posts
- it can go any distance but must roll into touch

Is there a timeframe on how quickly you can take the dropout?

I find it odd that only after the 7 tackle rule gets introduced they commentators start mentioning it. I guess it is for people like me.

I can see why teams do not do it THIS year cause it is amazing how much closer you get to the other end with 7 tackles but prior to this year it kind of seems to be underused.

 

[Rodzilla]

And no, it doesnt have to be a drop kick, you can just kick it normally.
Teams will be less likely to go for it these days as you now get 7 tackles from the tap.

i highly think that it needs to be a drop kick to retain possession, otherwise you would see alot more of it

 

[Moe]

speaking of shifty - he's on fox sports 1 now...

 

[marsh43]

i highly think that it needs to be a drop kick to retain possession, otherwise you would see alot more of it

Maybe a drop kick can go out on the full?