Holding The Ball - Added Interpretations

Added Interpretations

If there is not a reasonable time to dispose of the ball prior to being tackled, then the player(s) with the ball receive a reasonable time to attempt to dispose of the ball correctly after the tackle has been laid. Either way, the player with the ball must be given a reasonable time to dispose of the ball, whether before or during the tackle. (Technically, any time the player had before the tackle is not included in the reasonable time after the tackle is laid, if there is no prior opportunity.) Only after a reasonable time has been given to the player(s) with the ball, will a free kick be paid if there is no legal disposal. A player is penalised immediately if he makes an illegal disposal while being tackled, as long as the complete tackle has been executed correctly. Umpires will usually wait a couple of seconds before deciding to pay holding the ball, to prevent premature decisions that may end up being incorrect.

A player who takes possession of the ball on the full at a bounce or boundary throw-in (except if the bounce or throw-in is offline and the umpire calls "play on") assumes the same responsibilities as a player who has had a prior opportunity. If he is tackled, he must correctly dispose of the ball immediately, otherwise he will be penalised.

A player that is tackled while he is bouncing the ball is deemed to be in possession of the ball and will be penalised if there is no legal disposal. A bounce is not a correct disposal of the ball. If a player bounces the ball upon, or immediately prior to being tackled (in instances where the ball does not bounce back to the player - the player is still deemed to be in possession), a free kick for holding the ball will result.

Bouncing the ball is one of the guidelines for an umpire to deem prior opportuninty, but the umpire still has discretion if he believes the player has not had a reasonable time to correctly dispose of the ball prior to being tackled. On the extremely rare occasion the player is tackled after a bounce and immediately prior to the bounce coming back to the player, and the player manages to make a disposal that complies with the prior/no prior opportunity laws, then he should not be penalised. In general observation of players bouncing the ball and being tackled, it seems as though as it is an automatic free kick for holding the ball because players are rarely able to bounce the ball and make a legal disposal because of the force of the tackle, but it is possible.

If a team-mate prevents a player from disposing of the ball, by falling on top of him, for example, an opposition player enters and tackles one of the players that has possession of the ball, the umpire will penalise the team with the ball if there is no legal disposal. This prevents teams from forcing ball-ups.

In situations where there is doubt, the benefit-of-the-doubt goes to the player with the ball.

If a tackler makes an insubstantial and incomplete tackle, causing the ball to jolt free, then holding the ball should not be paid. i.e. The tackle must "stick". Also, a bump is not a tackle.

A player that receives a free kick or mark (i.e. set kick) and plays on, does not forfeit his prior opportunity. The player receives a reasonable time to dispose of the ball, from when he plays on, regardless of how much time he had to dispose of the ball prior to playing on. If a player is tackled within a reasonable time of the player playing on, then there is no prior opportunity. The player is still given a reasonable time to attempt to dispose of the ball, upon being tackled. A player who plays on, then has had a reasonable time to dispose of the ball after playing on, is then deemed to have had a prior opportunity to dispose of the ball and must make a immediate, correct disposal.

Guidelines for an umpire deciding whether there was a reasonable time or not, prior to a player being tackled are:

• How long the player has had possession of the ball.
• How long or how far a player has run with the ball.
• Deliberately taking on an opposition player.
• Whether the player was trying to make the play (even if there is a need to take on an opposition player), rather than force a bounce by the umpire.
• Whether or not the player was attempting to avoid injury by taking evasive action. (But being injured before or during a tackle is not an exemption for requiring to comply with the holding the ball law.)
• The player bouncing the ball.
• Whether or not there was a reasonable opportunity to dispose during a previous, broken or incomplete tackle.
• Whether or not player had a reasonable time to think about what he was doing.
• Whether the player was in control of his own actions or was unbalanced. A reasonable time must be given for a player to think and make a balanced disposal, considering the momentum of play.

The umpire will consider these guidelines if they are relevant to his subjective decision. None of these guidelines automatically constitute prior opportunity or no prior opportunity. The umpire has the discretion on the weighting of each guideline, depending on the circumstances.