Playbook glossary

The player who picks up after a rollball. The half may pass or run, but cannot score and loses possession if touched while carrying the ball.

You may also hear: Half · Acting half

The two central positions, inside the links. In numbered play calls, a middle is the 3 position. Middles do much of the straight carrying, rollball work and defensive resetting.

You may also hear: M1 · M2 · Middles · 3 position

The position between a middle and a wing. In numbered play calls, a link is the 2 position and connects the central attack to the edge.

You may also hear: L1 · L2 · Links · 2 position

The outside position beyond the link. In numbered play calls, a wing is the 1 position. Wings hold width and finish chances near the sideline.

You may also hear: Winger · LW · RW · 1 position

A temporary attacking role, not a fixed position: a delayed runner travels behind the touch and receives out the back before straightening.

You may also hear: Deep runner · Backdoor runner

Carry straight, make a clean touch and rollball, then reload the next runner and half without losing forward momentum.

You may also hear: Drive · Rucking

The half picks up and accelerates through a slow or offside defender, then passes backward to support before being touched.

You may also hear: Scooping

The carrier draws the defence one way while a second runner crosses behind and attacks back against its momentum.

You may also hear: Switch cut

Create a central touch, bring the other middle to half and release a delayed link out the back to create width before straightening.

You may also hear: Sweeper play

A player circles behind a teammate and re-enters as a passing option. Hua Hin's approved version builds through two touches and three players.

You may also hear: Wrap · Wraparound · Loop

A fast return from half to the player who rolled, attacking either between middle and link or back between the middles.

You may also hear: Quickie in · Quickie out

A deliberate rollball that creates the launch point for the strike play that follows. It names the setup, not the final move.

A rollball or launch point in the seam between a middle (3) and the adjacent link (2). The next word names the action or finish, such as 32 Scoop, 32 Peel or 32 Wrap. Exact routes can vary between teams.

You may also hear: 32 · 32 family · 32 platform · 32 dump · 32 short · 32 long

A rollball or launch point in the central seam between the two middles (3 and 3). The next word names the action or finish, such as 33 Quickie, 33 Scoop or 33 Sweeper. Exact routes can vary between teams.

You may also hear: 33 · 33 family · 33 platform · 33 dump · 33 quickie · 33 scoop · 33 sweeper

The narrower side of the field from the current ball position.

The wider side of the field from the current ball position.

The space between two defenders that an attacker is trying to open and run through.

You may also hear: Gap

After a touch, defenders retreat seven metres, become onside and reconnect before advancing.

You may also hear: Reset

The defender who will make the touch calls MINE so a teammate does not commit to the same touch.

The lead onside defender calls BALL to identify who will pressure the half and ball first.

The defender pressuring the ball forms the point, while teammates stay connected behind rather than advancing as isolated shooters.

You may also hear: Defensive V

How quickly the connected defensive line advances after becoming onside.

You may also hear: Defensive press

Defenders recover and cover one another after the original defensive shape has been broken.

You may also hear: Scramble

Contact between the player in possession and a defender, including contact with the ball, hair or clothing. Either player may initiate it.

You may also hear: Tag

The act of bringing the ball back into play after a touch or change of possession.

You may also hear: Roll ball

The position where the ball carrier was when touched. The rollball must be performed at the correct mark.

You may also hear: The mark

The restart used to begin or recommence the match and to restart after a penalty.

You may also hear: Tap off · Penalty tap

A defender is offside when closer than seven metres from a rollball mark, or ten metres from a tap mark.

A pass propelled laterally or backwards. The receiver may be moving forward, but the ball itself cannot travel forward.

You may also hear: Legal pass

A pass, flick, knock or hand-off propelled forward. It causes a change of possession.

The ball carrier passes or otherwise delivers the ball after a touch has been made.

You may also hear: Touch pass · Late pass

Control of the ball moves to the other team, including after the sixth touch, a dropped ball or certain half infringements.

You may also hear: Turnover · Changeover

The attacking team is normally entitled to six touches before possession changes.

You may also hear: Touch count

A referee ruling that awards a tap to the non-offending team after an infringement.