NRL.com and NRL Referees Elite Performance Manager Daniel Anderson have worked together to bring you five videos to demonstrate the 2013 Laws and Interpretations of the game.
Anderson explains; the tackle, obstruction, grounding the ball, video referee and shoulder charge rules, while talking you through the referee decision making process with multiple examples of each incident.
Please note: The 2013 NRL season will be adjudicated in accordance with the current ‘The Australian Rugby League Laws of the Game and notes on the laws’ with specific interpretations for NRL.
VIDEO REFEREE
2013 will see changes to the Video Referee process. On-Field Match Officials will now play an important role in the decision making process. In all try scoring situations, the on-field official will be required to make a ‘live’ decision.
The on-field referee will first indicate for the video referee using the traditional signal followed by indicating his ‘live decision with a ‘T’ sign to signal for a Try or by crossing his arms to indicate a no try decision. This is highlighted in the embedded video.
A video referee may overturn the on-field decision of the officials if there is sufficient evidence to do so. If there isn’t sufficient evidence to overturn the decision, the on-field live call made by the match officials will be confirmed.
There will be no ‘benefit of the doubt’ decisions or ‘refs call’ during season 2013.
In the event that the on field officials require assistance of the video referee, the following procedure will occur:
1. The head referee after consultation with the other on field officials will make a ‘Live Decision’
2. In the event that the head referee requires a video review, he will call time off and physically signal for a ‘video referee review’
3. The head referee will then signal his ‘Live Decision’ (TRY OR NO TRY)
4. The video referee will then review the on field ‘Live Decision’
5. The video referee will then assess if there is ‘sufficient evidence’ to overturn the original on field officials ‘Live Decision’
6. a. If there is ‘sufficient evidence’ the video referee will confirm that the ‘Live Decision’ is correct and this will be indicated to the head referee, players and spectators via the screen
b. If there is ‘sufficient evidence’ that the ‘Live decision’ is incorrect, the video referee will overturn the ‘Live decision’ and the new decision will be indicated to the head referee, players and spectators via the screen
c. If there is ‘insufficient evidence’ to confirm or overturn the ‘Live decision’, the video referee will revert to the original ‘Live Decision’ and this will be indicated to the head referee, players and spectators via the screen
7. If a ‘Live Decision’ has been overturned and after it has appeared on the screen, the head referee will communicate briefly the reasoning for the overturning.