Common Fouls

Question 1

Define common foul.

Answer 1

Common Fouls result from an illegal action that is the result of a genuine attempt to play the game.

Question 2

What are the two types of common foul?

Answer 2

1. Offensive
2. Defensive

Question 3

What is the sanction for an offensive common foul?

Answer 3

A common foul committed by the team in possession of the ball will be sanctioned with a loss of possession.

Question 4

What is the sanction for a defensive common foul?

Answer 4

A common foul committed by the team not in possession of the ball will be sanctioned with a sixty second penalty served by the player who committed the foul.

The player serving the penalty will be released prior to the end of the sixty second period if the opposing team scores a try, unless a penalty try is awarded.

If a defensive foul is committed when an offensive player is in possession of the ball and making a clear attempt to score, the Referee may award a penalty try in lieu of the sixty second penalty.

Question 5

When can a player be released from a sixty second penalty?

Answer 5

The player serving the penalty will be released prior to the end of the sixty second period if the opposing team scores a try, unless a penalty try is awarded.

Question 6

What is the sanction for a defensive foul that is commited when an offensive player is in possession of the ball and making a clear attempt to score?

Answer 6

If a defensive foul is committed when an offensive player is in possession of the ball and making a clear attempt to score, the Referee may award a penalty try in lieu of the sixty second penalty.

Question 7

Outline the charging foul.

Answer 7

A player is not permitted to hit an opponent, who is not actively taking part in the play or moving on court, with excessive speed or force, relative to the opponent that risks injury to that opponent.

Question 8

Scenario:

A player hits an opponent with excessive force, risking injury to the opponent.

What should they be charged with?

Answer 8

Charging foul.

A player is not permitted to hit an opponent, who is not actively taking part in the play or moving on court, with excessive speed or force, relative to the opponent that risks injury to that opponent.

Question 9

Are players allowed to make contact in stoppages in play?

Answer 9

A player is not permitted to make flagrant or advantageous contact with an opponent during a stoppage in play.

Question 10

Scenario:

A player makes advantageous contact during a stoppage in play.

What should they be charged with?

Answer 10

Each team will receive one warning per half for contact before the whistle. The second and subsequent incidents by a team will result in a foul.

A contact warning given during the second half will continue into all periods of overtime.

A player is not permitted to make flagrant or advantageous contact with an opponent during a stoppage in play.

Question 11

Outline the four in the key foul.

Answer 11

No more than three defensive players from a team are permitted in their key area when the other team has possession of the ball. If a fourth defensive player enters the key area, that player shall be charged with the foul.

Question 12

Scenario:

Three defensive players are defending their key whilst the opposing team has possession of the ball. A fourth defensive player enters the key.

What should the defensive team be charged with?

Answer 12

Four in the key foul.

No more than three defensive players from a team are permitted in their key area when the other team has possession of the ball. If a fourth defensive player enters the key area, that player shall be charged with the foul.

Question 13

Outline the holding foul.

Answer 13

a. A player is not permitted to grasp or hold an opponent with the hands or any other part of the body such that the opponent’s freedom of movement is impeded.
b. A player is not permitted for any reason to lean on an opponent enough to place him at a disadvantage.

Question 14

Scenario:

A player leans on an opponent, obstructing their access to the ball.

What should the player be charged with?

Answer 14

Holding foul.

A player is not permitted for any reason to lean on an opponent enough to place him at a disadvantage.

Question 15

Scenario:

A player grabs another player, impeding their range of movement.

What should the player be charged with?

Answer 15

Holding foul.

A player is not permitted to grasp or hold an opponent with the hands or any other part of the body such that the opponent’s freedom of movement is impeded.

Question 16

Outline the leaving the court foul.

Answer 16

A player is not permitted to leave the court when:
1. the ball is dead
2. the player does not have possession, to gain an advantage when the ball is live
3. the team does not have possession, crossing the try line (unless play is far removed)
4. the team has possession, but the player does not and crosses the try line

Question 17

Scenario:

A player leaves the court when the ball is dead.

What should the player be charged with?

Answer 17

Leaving the court foul.

A player may not leave the court when the ball is dead unless permitted by the Referee or other articles of the rules.

Question 18

Scenario:

A player who does not have possession of the ball leaves the court to gain an advantage.

What should the player be charged with?

Answer 18

Leaving the court foul.

A player who does not have the possession of the ball may not leave the court deliberately or to gain an advantage when the ball is live.

Question 19

Scenario:

A player leaves the court to avoid injury.

What should the player be charged with?

Answer 19

Nothing.

A player may leave the court to avoid an injury to himself or others. If circumstances cause him to leave the court, he must return to the court at the point nearest to where he exited. When he returns, he may not gain an advantage he did not have while on the court, and he may not reclaim any advantage he lost by leaving the court.

Question 20

Scenario:

A player whose team does not have possession of the ball leaves the court by crossing their try line. Play is nearby.

What should the player be charged with?

Answer 20

Leaving the court foul.

A player whose team does not have the possession of the ball may not leave the court by crossing his try line for any reason unless the play is far removed from the key area.

Question 21

Scenario:

A player whose team does not have possession of the ball leaves the court by crossing their try line. Play is not nearby.

What should the player be charged with?

Answer 21

Nothing.

A player whose team does not have the possession of the ball may not leave the court by crossing his try line for any reason unless the play is far removed from the key area.

Question 22

Scenario:

A player whose teammate has possession of the ball leaves the court by crossing the opposing team’s tryline.

What should the player be charged with?

Answer 22

Leaving the court foul.

A player whose teammate has possession of the ball may not leave the court by crossing the opposing team’s try line for any reason.

Question 23

Outline the pushing foul.

Answer 23

a. After making legal contact with an opponent, a player is not permitted to continue to apply force to his rear wheels, by repositioning his hands on the push rims or wheels, in order to move his wheelchair and push his opponent from a legal position into an illegal position.
b. A player is not permitted to help a teammate to defend or score by pushing with his hands or his wheelchair.

Question 24

Scenario:

After making legal contact with an opponent, a player applies force to the rear wheels by repositioning his hands on the push rims or wheels, in order to move his wheelchair and push the opponent from a legal position into an illegal position.

What should the player be charged with?

Answer 24

Pushing foul.

After making legal contact with an opponent, a player is not permitted to continue to apply force to his rear wheels, by repositioning his hands on the push rims or wheels, in order to move his wheelchair and push his opponent from a legal position into an illegal position.

Question 25

# Scenario: A player helps a teammate to score by pushing with his wheelchair. What should the player be charged with?

Answer 25

Pushing foul. ## Footnote A player is not permitted to help a teammate to defend or score by pushing with his hands or his wheelchair.

Question 26

Outline the illegal use of hands foul.

Answer 26

A player is not permitted to use his hands or arms to make **deliberate** or **advantageous contact** with an opponent.

Question 27

# Scenario: A player's arm accidentally makes contact with an opponent that is not advantageous and not within the vertical space. What should the player be charged with?

Answer 27

Nothing. ## Footnote A player is not permitted to use his hands or arms to make *deliberate* or *advantageous* contact with an opponent. When illegal use of the hands occurs *within the vertical space*, the foul shall be charged to the player who does not have possession of the ball, unless the contact was initiated by the player who has possession of the ball and was not as the result of movement to protect or pass the ball.

Question 28

# Scenario: Illegal use of hands occurs within the vertical space. Who is the foul charged to?

Answer 28

When illegal use of the hands occurs within the vertical space, the foul shall be charged to the player who: 1. does *not* have possession of the ball, unless 2. the contact was *initiated* by the player who has *possession* of the ball and was not as the result of movement to protect or pass the ball.

Question 29

When illegal use of hands occurs outside of the vertical space, who shall be charged with the foul?

Answer 29

When illegal use of the hands occurs outside the vertical space, the foul shall be charged to the **player who initiated the contact**.

Question 30

# Scenario: Illegal use of hands occurs within the vertical space, initiated by the player who has possession of the ball. What is the outcome?

Answer 30

The **player who has the ball** will be charged with illegal use of hands. ## Footnote When illegal use of the hands occurs within the vertical space, the foul shall be charged to the player who does not have possession of the ball, **unless the contact was initiated by the player who has possession of the ball **and was not as the result of movement to protect or pass the ball.

Question 31

Outline the spinning foul.

Answer 31

A player is not permitted to make **contact** with an opposing player’s wheelchair at any point **behind either axle** of the rear wheels such that the wheelchair is made to **rotate** in the horizontal or vertical plane in a way that places the opposing player's **safety** at risk. ## Footnote After a player makes legal contact in front of the axle of the rear wheel of an opposing player’s wheelchair, the continuing motion of the wheelchairs may cause the point of contact to move behind the axle, resulting in a spin. If the initial contact was legal and the contact was unbroken from that point until the spin occurred, the player will not be charged with a foul.

Question 32

# Scenario: Contact occurs behind the axle after moving from a contact that was initially legal resulting in a spin. Should a spinning foul be charged?

Answer 32

After a player makes legal contact in front of the axle of the rear wheel of an opposing player’s wheelchair, the continuing motion of the wheelchairs may cause the point of contact to move behind the axle, resulting in a spin. If the initial contact was **legal** and the contact was **unbroken** from that point until the spin occurred, the player will **not be charged with a foul**.

Question 33

Outline the one-meter foul.

Answer 33

*No player* is permitted to enter the area within a **one-meter radius** from the point on the sideline or end line where a **throw-in** is taking place. This one meter radius is in effect from the time the Referee blows his whistle to indicate that the ball is live until the ball is released by the in-bounder.