Is this penalty play legal?

Is this penalty play legal?

I want to run a play that catches opposing players off guard when my team has been given a penalty. Is it legal to call for a shot at the posts, place the ball on the tee, and go through the motions of a penalty kick. However, I keep four or so guys ready behind my kicker, who only kicks the ball off the tee 10m in front. Both the kicker and 4 team mates then run onto the ball, scoop it up and put it through the hands if required to score. I notice a lot of our opposition huddle under the posts, or leave massive areas open, when we call for a shot. Can you call for a shot, but not actually take a shot?

Rugby CoachCoach
ANSWERS
Rugby CoachCoach

It seems Aaron Cruden and Craig Joubert answered my qustion last night in a Chiefs v Stormers match. Cruden did exactly what iwas curious about and Joubert awarded a short arm penalty to the stormers. His explanation; "...If you call for a shot you have to make a reasonable atempt to kick the goal". I had my question answered by the best referee in the world! 

Dave BealCoach, England

What was Joubert doing while Owens was answering your query? ;o)

Rugby CoachCoach

Nigel? Perhaps a close second 😄 But i guess whoever gets the big game next year will answer that one.
Answered using Sportplan on Mobile

Sportplan TeamAdministrator, United Kingdom

Hi Warde,

We can see this question has already started quite a bit of discussion so we thought we'd try to keep that going by making this our question of the week on our Facebook page.

Here's a selection of the answers your question has received:

Image - Rugby answers from Facebook

Hope these help!

Robert PeterlinCoach, United States of America

A kick and a miss only become a deadball if the ball goes over the dead ball line.  To the best that I can remember, the only kick that results in an pre-determined "next step" is a kick to convert a try; and that is on account of the try, not the kick.

While there is a notion of "Fair Play", i.e. making a genuine attempt, that is not in the laws and this play ought to be perfectly "legal".  The burden rests with the players to react to every movement of the ball, until full time is called.  That is a key aspect of our sport that differentiates us from every other sport.

Rugby CoachCoach

so get your kicker to slip just before he kicks. or get him to practise hitting the posts. I have seen some crazy kicks at goal where the ball has hit the corner flag...so if planned you can make it look like a reasonable attempt.could be a fun thing to do , not sure I would spend time on it myself ( havnt yet ) but I have also pondered this question

Login or Join Now for FREE to post your answer

JOIN SPORTPLAN FOR FREE

  • search our library of 1100+ rugby drills
  • create your own professional coaching plans
  • or access our tried and tested plans

TRANSFORM YOUR TEAM'S SEASON WITH PROFESSIONALLY PLANNED SESSIONS

Use our expert plans or build your own using our library of over 700+ drills, and easy-to-use tools.

JOIN NOW

VIEW MORE QUESTIONS

See the whole archive of questions.

QUESTIONS ARCHIVE

SIGN UP NOW FOR FREE

  • search our library of 1100+ rugby drills
  • create professional rugby coaching plans
  • or access our tried and tested rugby plans

Sportplan App

Give it a try - it's better in the app

YOUR SESSION IS STARTING SOON... Join the growing community of rugby coaches plus 1100+ drills and pro tools to make coaching easy.
LET'S DO IT