b'T O U C H T H E C O A S THAVE YOU HEARD?A TIMES ARE A CHANGINGFrom January 1st the 8th Edition rules will come into being acrossAny incorrect restart i.e. a tap the nation. So what are these new rules you talk about? Well hereis taken off the mark or taken is a quick breakdown of the changes. Remember they dont comeinstead of a Rollball will no into effect until next year NOT this years State Cup. longer result in a change of possession. The player will beThe terminology used throughoutteam. This rule will replace thesimply required to return to thethe rules has realigned our sportrequirement to return to ancorrect mark and perform the to its original roots and moreonside position without changingcorrect restart.in line with the terminologydirection. A player may now used throughout most of ourchoose any direction and changeInterchanges during a breakaway community. Touchdowns are nowthat direction as long as theirsituation will be prohibited. Any Tries, the score zone is now theactions do not obstruct theplayer who enters the field from In-Goal Area, the score line isattacking team.the interchange area during the Try Line and a period of timea breakaway, regardless ofwhether a try is scored or not, is the Sin Bin.Any three consecutive infringements in the onewill be sent to the sin-bin.Defenders will be required topossession by the defending retire a set distance of 7 metresteam after entering their 7-metreDrop-Off Procedure is now a from the ruck as opposed to zone will result in the last playertwo-minute period of extra time the current not less than 5to infringe being sent for anwith four players taking the field metres rule. Exclusion in the nearest Sin Binfor each team. It will commence Area until their team regainswith a tap off from halfwaywith the team who defended The change to the 7 metres willpossession of the ball.see the introduction of a 7-metreat the beginning of the game zone rather than the current 5 having 1st possession. At the Any touch made following an metre zone at either end of theintercept or following a ballconclusion of the two-minute field. Players will be required tobeing touched in flight will beperiod, should there be no clear move forward once a defenderzero touch.winner the teams will further enters that zone as is the current reduce to three players. Play rule but will be required to nowAny player sent to the Sinwill recommence from where it do so at a reasonable pace.Bin will remain in the Sin Binwas halted, continuing the touch Area for a compulsory fourcount. and the next Try wins incompleted sets of possession. The defender will be requiredsudden death. Tag your experiences #iloveportmacquarieto retire to an onside positionThis will no longer be at theVisit portmacquarieinfo.com.au for all thewithout obstructing the attackingdiscretion of the referee. things you can eat, see and do.24|Keeping In Touch 201877195_NSWTA-KeepingInTouchMagazine-2019.indd 24 2/12/19 3:22 pmESD2019 A4 Touch Magazine.indd 1 13/11/19 12:21 pm'