Nice picture, I gotcha now. Thanks!That's the terminology - generally the ball carrier drops their height just before contact with the opposition. But a picture being worth many thousands of my words, here you go:View attachment 4709
This is covered. This comes under the term "late and low". Basically, and this is what I gleaned from my societies' training, there is a responsibility on the ball carrier not to dip just before contact, head in line with hips removing the safe tackle zones. If the ball carrier is low further out and continues to run this way, the reasoning this is not sanctioned is the thought that there is enough time for the tackler to adjust their position to make a side on tackle into the permitted contact zones. Hence "LATE and low"Would it be fair to say that if the tackler is already low, the ball carrier cannot then put his head in the tackler's head space?
What happens if the ball carrier has his head in that low space before the tackler? What do we as officials need to see to be able to play on?
If they both drop their heads at the same time, is the ball carrier automatically late and low?
Is any of this in the RFU tackle height document? I have to admit I only skimmed through it.
Any official feedback on handling the pick and go? I’m assuming there is an onus on the BC to get upright (and stay upright) as soon as is practical, but I’m picturing the tackler coming in as the BC is transitioning from low to upright and both players have their heads in the same space. Worse still, tackler’s head moving down rapidly as they try to get low meeting the BC’s head coming up as they try to get upright.This is covered. This comes under the term "late and low". Basically, and this is what I gleaned from my societies' training, there is a responsibility on the ball carrier not to dip just before contact, head in line with hips removing the safe tackle zones. If the ball carrier is low further out and continues to run this way, the reasoning this is not sanctioned is the thought that there is enough time for the tackler to adjust their position to make a side on tackle into the permitted contact zones. Hence "LATE and low"
There are some videos on the RFU tackle height hub that cover this. In practice, it is quite easy to spot, the hardest part is recalling it from your subconcious as foul play to actually sanction.
This is covered. This comes under the term "late and low". Basically, and this is what I gleaned from my societies' training, there is a responsibility on the ball carrier not to dip just before contact, head in line with hips removing the safe tackle zones. If the ball carrier is low further out and continues to run this way, the reasoning this is not sanctioned is the thought that there is enough time for the tackler to adjust their position to make a side on tackle into the permitted contact zones. Hence "LATE and low"
There are some videos on the RFU tackle height hub that cover this. In practice, it is quite easy to spot, the hardest part is recalling it from your subconcious as foul play to actually sanction.
Any official feedback on handling the pick and go? I’m assuming there is an onus on the BC to get upright (and stay upright) as soon as is practical, but I’m picturing the tackler coming in as the BC is transitioning from low to upright and both players have their heads in the same space. Worse still, tackler’s head moving down rapidly as they try to get low meeting the BC’s head coming up as they try to get upright.
Except in the NT...@Dickie E
Here we go, it's official for Australia next season:
Tackle Height Trial 2024 | Rugby Australia
Rugby AU GLT Tackle Height Information pageaustralia.rugby
What's the thinking there?Except in the NT...
Our calendar is odd. We play in the summer, so Darwin are already halfway through the seasons. Alice begins in JanuaryWhat's the thinking there?
This is for the US? I haven’t seen that. Where did you learn this?At the national level, the tackle height changes will be in effect starting 9/1/24 (the competition year runs Sep-Aug).
At the regional/local level, they are in effect immediately (excepting Super Regionals/Nationals events for the 2023/4 competition year and U19).
At the time I posted, there was an effort within my GU (Midwest) to implement the tackle height and late/low trials, but once USAR got wind that both trials would be implemented, the national office threatened to yank insurance coverage.This is for the US? I haven’t seen that. Where did you learn this?
It’s difficult for me to understand lowering the tackle height while still allowing ball carriers to run into contact with their head down. How can anyone feasibly make a legal tackle?At the time I posted, there was an effort within my GU (Midwest) to implement the tackle height and late/low trials, but once USAR got wind that both trials would be implemented, the national office threatened to yank insurance coverage.
Paired with said threat was an indication that an announcement from USAR would be made either this month or next that USAR will be trialling the tackle height variation in the fall, but *not* the late/low BC variation.
I was confused with our Australian implementation, and maybe the same thing is happening in the US.It’s difficult for me to understand lowering the tackle height while still allowing ball carriers to run into contact with their head down. How can anyone feasibly make a legal tackle?
so - to clarify - the ball carrier can instigate head contact with force with impunity, and any tackler being struck in this manner might get away without a card but still "concede" a PK?Where I got confused was that in my understanding of the RFU version there is the possibility of a sanction again the ball carrier for 'late and low' but in Australia there is not.
HOWEVER, in Australia can use 'late and low' as a way to mitigate an above sternum tackle.
So in the RFU version you might award a penalty for a 'late and low' against the ball carrier where in our Australian version you instead mitigate the high tackle and play on.
No, no PK. It's play on.so - to clarify - the ball carrier can instigate head contact with force with impunity, and any tackler being struck in this manner might get away without a card but still "concede" a PK?