Added: 02/28/2006 |
Rugby League Rules Will Enable You to Play the Game BetterRugby league is a kind of sport that is supposed to be a team one with two teams participating. The team participating consists of 13 players. It is played on a right-angled field. The width of the field is twice as small as its length. The game is aimed at carrying an oval ball to the rival's goal area. When the ball is grounded to the goal area the so-called "try" is scored. The main task of the rival team consists in preventing the attacking team from scoring a try.
It is performed by means of "tackling" the ball-carrying player. Each team has its own goal area. Also there are H-shaped goalposts (shaped similar to the capital letter H) situated between the goal areas on the field. They are intended for scoring points from a field goal, penalty goal or conversion (when scored try allows to attempt to score a goal).
Rugby league rules presuppose a division into attacking team, which has ball possession, and defending team, that tackles the attacking one thereby preventing it from scoring tries or points. The attacking team can attempt to score six times. In case of failing the sixth attempt a so-called "change over" is made, i.e. the attacking and defending teams change their places. As you see rugby league rules are not as complicated as it seems at first sight.
As rugby league rules contain the division into attacking and defending sides it is naturally that there should be some skills, tactics of both attacking and defending sides. As well as teams rugby league tactics is divided into attacking tactics and defensive tactics. We can tell about the following general attacking tactics:
1. The strongest and the most massive players usually carry the ball forward towards the defensive line of the rival in order to press it back and obtain field position
2. Performing of the so-called offload. It occurs when the attacking forward tackled by the defense gives passes to other players of his team.
3. Passes and kicks used in combination. This tactic allows abashing the defense and dashing the defensive line.
4. To gain a field position and break the defensive line by kicking.
Defensive tactics:
1. Slide defense, when the defensive line disperses and stands several meters from the rival's line, decoying the rivals to make an attempt to easily rush their way to the goal area. Then the defensive line moves sideward ("slides") and began tackling the attacking team players.
2. Defense players often leave the defensive line and shield the back areas of the field. It is performed in order to prevent the defense from line breaking, kicking combinations and maneuvers.
3. Defenders usually do everything for the attackers' attempts of scoring to be failed, because in this case they will become attackers and gain possession of the ball.
And finally, a few words about rugby league players. According to rugby league rules we can distinguish between forwards and backs. Backs are generally not so big as for example, forwards and can be characterized as excellent runners, sprinters, skillful and deft players. They use their skills, high speed or tactic tricks to break a defensive line.
They can be divided into the full-backs (the last line of defense; good tacklers), the wings (the fastest players in a team; their main task is to receive passes and score tries), the centers (create attacking opportunities), the half-backs (leadership role). Forwards are usually very massive and strong players. They look extremely impressive in scrimmage. The chief tasks of theirs are the scrimmage, running with the ball, gaining a field positions, forcing their way through the defensive line and of course, passing (divided into props - ball-running, scrimmage; hookers - passing; second row forwards; locks - the last line defense, ball-running).
You see that rugby league is a sport with specific rules which require special skills and excellent physical condition and reflexes.
Article comments:
No comments for this article yet. Post your comment now!
