In-match
Match Commencement
When all personnel are in place and the match is about to start, final checks:
- All personnel are in the correct position
- Only people permitted to be in the Technical Zone are present
- Team Managers confirm that there are no changes and that all front row positions are correct.
Medics
- Two medics are permitted, one roaming on each side of the pitch
- Medics should not get in the way of other people fulfilling their duties (Assistant Referees, opposition players, cameras etc)
- Medics are not permitted to act as Watercarriers or to relay information from coaches.
Water Carriers
- Must stay inside the Technical Zone when not permitted on the field
- Must wait for Referee to clearly signal time off before leaving the Technical Zone
- Must wear their designated bib properly at all times
- Must comply with the protocol when bringing the kicking tee to kickers.
Replacements
When a team indicates that they wish to make a replacement, the Controller should:
- Ensure that the Team Manager has:
- Inputted the information into the application, or
- Completed a replacement card fully, with
- Player on
- Player off, and
- Reason
- Ask the player(s) coming on to come close to the sideline (but not in a position where they may interfere with the ongoing match)
- Ensure that play has been stopped and that the Referee is available to take the information (not talking to players or Assistant Referees or otherwise dealing with something)
- Communicate to the Referee the jersey colour and shirt number(s) of the player(s) coming off
- Ensure that a player entering the field of play does not do so until the replaced player is clearly identified and starts moving toward the touchline.
Only when the player(s) has crossed the touchline should the Recorder approve the replacement in the application. It is at this stage that they Team Manager may not cancel a replacement. The player crossing the line is the indication that the replacement has been completed
Taking a few extra seconds to make sure things are right is better than rushing and getting things wrong even if it slows the game a little.
When using an App, communication between the Controllers and the Recorder is key to make sure that the right information is available. Controllers should confirm the numbers to the Recorder as they occur so that the Recorder can record the correct events at the correct time.
If signal boards are being used for replacements, these should be controlled and displayed by team or competition personnel, it is not the Sideline Officials’ responsibility to use these boards.
Extra Time
Sideline Officials must be aware of the tournament rules related to extra time. The Sideline Manager should have a coin with them for the Referee to perform the coin toss.
For Sevens, if an additional replacement is granted to teams, then this should be actioned (if using cards, an additional card is given to each Team Manager).