Summer Sevens Rules

• Use a size 3 rugby ball for Under 11 and younger age groups.
• Use a size 4 or 5 rugby ball for older age groups.

• Each team has seven players on the field and may have up to three substitutes.
• A player being substituted must cross the sideline or try line before their replacement enters. The players must make physical contact to clearly signal the substitution.
• If an injured player cannot continue, the referee stops play for the replacement and then restarts the game.
• For a serious injury, the referee must stop play immediately.

• Games consist of two 14-minute halves with a two-minute half-time break.
• There is no added time for play stopped due to injury.
• If a finals match is drawn, the team that scored first is awarded the win.

A try is worth one point. Each team manager records the score and confirms it with the opposing manager at the end of the game. If there is a dispute, the referee's decision is final.

• All kick-offs are punt kicks. After a try, the scoring team kicks off from the centre of the halfway line.
• The receiving team must be at least 10 metres behind halfway.
• If the kick does not travel 10 metres, goes over the dead-ball line, or crosses the sideline on the full, the receiving team is awarded a play-the-ball at the centre of halfway.
• The kick cannot be contested until it is caught, played at, dropped or touches the ground. The kicking team may then attempt to regain the ball.

• A touch occurs when an opposing player touches the ball-carrier with at least one hand. A defender may call “Touch” as contact is made.
• Touches above the shoulders or made with excessive force are not permitted. A player using excessive force may be removed without replacement.
• After a touch, the ball-carrier may pass or play the ball.
• The referee keeps the touch count.
• If the ball or ball-carrier touches the referee and either team gains an advantage, one touch is added and play restarts with a play-the-ball.

• After being touched, a player may pass to a teammate within two seconds and after taking no more than two steps from the touch mark.
• When the player passes, there is no offside line for defenders and general play continues.
• If the player takes longer than two seconds or more than two steps, the referee returns them to the touch mark for a play-the-ball.
• On the third intervention for overrunning the touch mark, the referee may immediately award a turnover.
• If a player is touched within two metres of the opposition try line, play restarts five metres back from the try line.

• The touched player faces forward and rolls the ball backwards between their legs, with one foot touching the ball.
• The play-the-ball takes place at or directly behind the touch mark.
• A supporting attacker collects the ball and continues play. If nobody collects it immediately, a defender who has retired five metres may collect it.
• When the ball-carrier chooses a play-the-ball, defenders must retire five metres and may move forward when the ball is played on the ground.
• An offside defender can only rejoin play after retreating behind the five-metre line from the previous play-the-ball.

• After a team's seventh touch, the referee immediately awards possession to the opposition and resets the touch count.
• The new team restarts with a play-the-ball at the seventh-touch mark. The opposition must retire five metres.

If a player is touched in the goal area between the try line and dead-ball line, they return to the five-metre line and restart play with the same touch count.

• A knock-on or forward pass results in a turnover.
• If a defender intentionally contacts the ball and the attacking team regathers it, the touch count resets to zero.
• Unintentional touches do not reset the touch count.

• When the ball or ball-carrier goes into touch, play restarts with a play-the-ball where the ball left the field.
• The team that did not touch the ball last takes the play-the-ball.

• Players may kick the ball at any time.
• Heavy contact is not permitted when attempting to regain a kicked ball.
• If the kicking team regathers directly, the touch count continues. If an opponent first plays the ball and the kicking team then regathers, the count resets to zero.
• A teammate in front of the kicker is offside and cannot attempt to regain the ball. They must also remain at least five metres from an opponent gathering it.
• If an opponent charges down or touches a kick in flight, all players are onside.

• After a penalty, the non-infringing team restarts with a play-the-ball. The opposition retires five metres and the touch count resets to zero.
• Everyone must follow the Lane Cove Summer Sevens Code of Conduct. The referee may impose a 10-metre penalty, remove a player without replacement, or turn over possession for a breach.
• If the non-infringing team may gain an advantage by continuing, the referee can call the infringement, allow play to continue and reset the touch count.

• If the ball becomes dead in goal, except when kicked dead from the field of play, the defending team restarts with a play-the-ball five metres from its goal line.
• If an attacking team kicks the ball dead through the opposition in-goal, the defending team may restart five metres from its goal line or from where the ball was kicked.
• If a player is touched inside their own in-goal, their team restarts with a play-the-ball five metres from the try line.