Official /Formal and Unwritten Rules

OFFICIAL /FORMAL AND UNWRITTEN RULES

Concepts

Rules

Conduct and Behaviour

Scoring

Adaptation

Small Sided Games

OFFICIAL /FORMAL AND UNWRITTEN RULES

Rules can be official/written or unofficial/unwritten.

Official/written rules are listed in the official rule book of an activity.

Examples of official/written rules

Activity – Football

Written/official rule – Offside rule

Description of rule

Their must be two players between the receiver and the goal when the pass is made.

Activity - Basketball

Written/official rule – 3 second rule

Description of rule

Attacking players are only allowed in the opposing teams’ zone for 3 seconds when their team has possession of the ball.

Unofficial/unwritten rules are not written anywhere but are commonly applied and are examples of good sporting behaviour.

Examples of unofficial/unwritten rules

Team Activity – Football

Unwritten/unofficial rule – Kick the ball out of play if a player is injured.

Reason for rule – So that the injured player can receive medical attention.

Individual Activity – Golf

Unwritten/unofficial rule – Stand still and keep quiet when players are playing.

Reason for rule – So that you do not distract the players making them miss-hit their shot.

Rules can ensure safety; restrict movement; restrict actions; lead to the development of tactics or skills and restrict layout and location.

Situation or
category / Activity / Rule / Reason/Action taken to
avoid breaking rule / Action taken if rule
is broken
Ensure
safety / Football / Must wear
shin-guards / To protect legs from injury
during tackles / Player removed
from pitch until
shin- guards are
put on
Restrict
movement
(team) / Basketball / Attacking team not
allowed in
opposition key for
more than 3 seconds
when in possession / Attacking players must
keep moving through/in
and out of the key / Side ball awarded to
defending team
Restrict
Movement
(individual) / Tennis / When serving your
feet must be behind
the service line / You could gain an
unfair advantage if you
are too close to the net
so you must keep your
feet behind the line until
you have served / Footfault called – loss
of point or second
service
Restrict
actions
(team) / Hockey / When swinging the
stick to hit the ball
near other players
it must be kept below
shoulder height / You could hit someone
near you and injure
them so you must keep
the stick below shoulder
height when hitting / Free hit to defending
team
Restrict
actions
(individual) / Badminton / You must not hit the
shuttle until it crosses
the net / You may hit your
opponent with the racket
injuring them so you
must make sure your
racket does not cross the
net when you hit a shot
near the net / Point or service
awarded to your
opponent
Tactical
development / Soccer / Offside rule / Defensive team moves
out to catch attacking
team offside so you must
learn to time your run to
be onside when the pass
is played / Free kick awarded to
defending team
Skill
development / Basketball / 3 points scored for
shot scored outside
3 point line / Players learn to shoot
jump shots from outside
the 3 point line / 3 points awarded for
basket instead of 2
Layout
required by
rules / 100 metre
Hurdles / Runner must stay in
lane / Runner leaving his/her
lane may impede/put off
other runners / Runner disqualified
Location
required by
rule / Rugby / Rugby must be
played on a grass
pitch / Playing on other surfaces
may cause injury / N/A

Rules can ensure the smooth running of activities

Team Activity – Football

Rule to ensure smooth running – Substitutions can only be made when the referee has given permission

and the play has stopped.

Reason activity runs smoothly – Play is not disrupted by the substitutions and teams can reorganize as a

result of the substitution before play resumes.

Individual Activity – Tennis

Rule to ensure smooth running – Players are only allowed a 2 minutes break when changing ends.

Reason activity runs smoothly – So that the game is not interrupted for too long causing the players to

cool down which may result in injury.

Safety Rules can limit your actions and ensure the safety of yourself and others.

Activity / Safety rule / How actions are limited / How safety is ensured
Hockey / Stick must be kept below
head height ifyou are
swinging itnear anyone / I must ensure that I keep
the stick below shoulder
height when hitting close
to anybody / I will not hit anybody with the
stick injuring them
Badminton / You must not walk
across the court when
someone is playing / You must stay off the
court when not playing / You will not collide with a
player causing injury to them
or yourself
Rugby / Teams must not come
together in the scrum
until the referee has
given permission / You must stay upright
ready to engage the scrum
and not go down and
forward until your
opponents are ready / You will not injure any players in
your own team or the opposition
Tennis / You must not hit the ball
when it is on the other
side of the net / I must ensure that if hitting
the ball when close to the
net my racket does not
cross over the net / I will not hit my opponent with
the racket, injuring them

Safety rules with regard to wearing equipment can ensure safety

Activity / Piece of equipment / How safety is ensured
Football / Shin guards / When tackling you will not get an injury to
your leg
American
Football / Helmet / When being tackled you will not get an injury
to your head
Cricket / Gloves / The batsman must wear gloves so that his
hands do not get struck by the ball when it is
bowled at him
Indoor
Hockey / Ball / The ball must not be lifted off the ground as it
may hit a player causing injury
Boxing / Mouth guard / Boxers must wear a mouth guard so that they
are not injured when punched

All activities have rules with regard to start/restart; offence/defence; playing area and scoring.

Activity / Category
of rule / Rule / Action taken as a result of
rule or if rule is broken / Change made to
performance to avoid
breaking rule
Football
(team) / Start/restart / Players must be in
their own half
when the kick off
is taken / Kick is retaken / Make sure you stay in
own half until the ball is
kicked
Badminton
(individual) / Start/restart / Players feet must be
inside the service
box when serving / Service awarded to your
opponent / Keep both feet inside the
service box when serving
Basketball
(team) / Offence / You have 24 seconds
to take a shot at the
basket / Possession/side ball given
to opponents / Take a shot at the basket
within 24 seconds
Boxing
(individual) / Offence / You must not strike
your opponent below
the waist / Disqualification / Ensure that you only
punch above the waist
Indoor
Football
(team) / Defence / One player must stay
in the opponents half
when you are
defending / Penalty awarded to your
opponents / Make sure one player
always stays in the
opponents half
Badminton / Defence / When defending
against the service
you must not go
beyond the service
line to be nearer the
net / Point awarded to the
server / Make sure that your feet
are in the service box
when receiving service
Activity / Category
of rule / Rule / Action taken as a result of
rule or if rule is broken / Change made to
performance to avoid
breaking rule
Football / Playing area
(team) / Pitch must not be
waterlogged and the
ball must be able to
roll / Match abandoned / N/A
Badminton / Playing area
(individual) / There must be no
water/sweat on the
court / Moisture is wiped up/floor
dried / N/A
Football / Scoring
(team) / The whole ball must
be over the line for a
goal to be scored / No goal awarded/play
continues / N/A
Table tennis / Scoring
(individual) / You must win the
game by two clear
points / Game continues until one
player is two points ahead / N/A

Rules can be adapted as you learn or participate

Activity / Rule / How rule is adapted / Why rule is adapted / Effect on performance
of rule adaptation
Volleyball
(team) / You must not
catch the ball
when playing a
volley / Allow players to
catch the ball in the
volley position / So that you can
learn the volley
position and it gives
you more time
to make a pass / Because you are under
less pressure and can
more easily pass the ball
high to a team mate
Basketball
(team) / Opponents can
take the ball out
of your hands
during play / Players are not
allowed to take the
ball out of your
hands during play / To give you more
time on the ball with
less pressure / You are under less
pressure when on the
ball and it is easier to
pass the ball to your
team mates
Badminton
(individual) / You must serve
from below the
height of the net / You can throw the
shuttle up and hit it
over the net / Because you could
not serve underhand / It allowed us to get the
game started and play a
rally
Tennis
(individual) / The ball can only
bounce once in
your court before
you hit it / You can let the ball
bounce twice before
hitting the ball / You are finding it
too difficult to get to the ball return it after one
bounce / You have more time to
get into position to
return the ball and can
play it accurately over
the net

CONDUCT AND BEHAVIOUR

Good behaviourensures the safety of yourself and others and that the rules are applied so that the activity runs smoothly.

Bad behaviour endangers yourself and others and can result in disruption to the activity so that it does not run smoothly.

Examples of good behaviour

Activity / Example of good behaviour / Positive effect of good behaviour on smooth
running of the activity
Football
(team) / Kick the ball out of play if a player is
injured / Players can receive immediate medical
attention
Golf
(individual) / Stand still when a player is playing a
drive / Player is not distracted when playing a
drive so that the ball lands on the fairway

Examples of bad behaviour

Activity / Example of bad behaviour / Negative effect of bad
behaviour on smooth running
of activity / How bad behaviour may be
penalised
Football
(team) / Tackling from behind / Opponent could be injured
and opposing team become
angry / Booked or sent off by referee
Tennis
(individual) / Deliberately hit the ball at your opponent
during a rally / Opponent could be injured
and is likely to become angry / Warning given by umpire and
point awarded to opponent

SCORING

Activities can be scored objectively or subjectively.

Objective scoring involves counting a score or measuring distance or time. i.e. football, badminton, basketball, 100 metres sprint, high jump, shot putt etc.

Subjective scoring considers the level of difficulty of the performance and is based on a judge’s opinion of what a performance looked like.

Examples of subjective scoring

Dance, high board diving, ice skating, ice dancing, gymnastics, synchronized swimming.

In the event of performers being awarded the same number of marks both are declared winners.

Examples of Objective scoring

Activity / How scored or winner decided / What happens if drawn / Activities with similar
scoring systems
Football / Most goals scored / 30 minutes of extra time
played then penalty kicks
taken / Hockey, handball, lacrosse
Basketball / Most points scored / Most points scored in
period of overtime wins / N/A
US Football / Most points scored / First team to score in
overtime wins / Football – golden goal
Table tennis / First to score 21 points wins / At 20-20 first to get
2 points ahead wins / Badminton
Athletics
100 metres / First to the finish line wins / Dead-heat / Swimming 100 metres
Athletics
Javelin / Distance thrown / Both athletes win / Athletics - Shot Putt,
Hammer, Discus
Athletics
High Jump / Highest height jumped wins / Count back to next highest
height jumped / Athletics – Pole Vault
Athletics
Long Jump / Longest distance jumped
wins / Both athletes win / Athletics – Triple Jump
Golf / Player with lowest score
wins / Extra holes are played
until winner is decided / N/A

ADAPTATION

Adaptation of an activity is when rules, scoring systems, equipment, duration, team size, lay-out, or playing area are changed to make skill learning or performance easier.

Activity / Adaptation / Reason for
Adaptation / Effect of adaptation on
skill learning / Effect of adaptation on
performance
Tennis / Change a large
racket for a
shorter lighter
racket
(Equipment) / Racket is too
heavy and
you cannot
play the shots
effectively / It is easier for me to
control the swing of the
racket and I can play the
shots more easily / I can play my shots with
more power and accuracy
making it harder for my
opponent to return my
shots
Football / No offside rule
(Rules) / It is less
confusing for
beginners and
more goals
will be scored / I don’t have to worry
about my position in
relation to opponents or
the timing of my runs
and I can concentrate on
learning the basic skills / The game is stopped less
and we get more shots at
goal/score more goals
Basketball / Change from
5v5 to 3v3
(Team size) / In 5v5 game I
get fewer
touches of the
ball, less
chances to
score and I am
put under a
lot of pressure / I get more of the ball and
more opportunity to
perform the skills in a
game / I am under less pressure
and have more time, so
that it is easier for me to
pass to my team mates or
shoot at the basket
Football / Change from
45 mins. each
way to 30 mins.
each way
(Duration) / Players or
learners tire
towards the
end of the 90
mins. and are
unable to
practice/play
effectively / I am able to keep
performing the skills of
the game well, for the
whole of the practice
match / I can perform the skills of
the game at the best of my
ability for the full match
without tiring
fBadminton / Change from
only scoring a
point if you
win a rally
when serving,
to whoever
wins the rally
wins the point
(Scoring) / Easier to
Understand
for a beginner / It is less confusing and I
find it easier to keep the
score accurately / N/A
Activity / Adaptation / Reason for
adaptation / Effect of adaptation on
skill learning / Effect of adaptation on
performance
Hockey/
Football / Change from
playing on a
full size pitch
to playing
game across
half of the pitch
(Playing area
or Layout) / It is easier to
cover
defensively
and puts less
demand on
my fitness / I get less tired when I am
practising in the game
and I can keep
concentrating on what I
am trying to do in attack
or defence / N/A

SMALL SIDED GAMES

Benefits of small sided games

• More touches/possession of the ball.

• More chance to perform the skills of the game.

• More chances to score goals/points.

• Less pressure when in possession.

• More time to perform skills when in possession.

• Pitch/court less crowded/more space to play in.

Effects of small sided games on skill learning and performance

Team Game / Team size / Effect on skill learning / Effect on performance
Football
Basketball
Hockey / 5v5 instead of 11v11
3v3 instead of 5v5
5v5 instead of 11v11 / I get more touches of the ball
and more chance to perform
the skills in the game situation
and it is easier to perform the
skills because I have more
space to play in / I have more time and less
pressure when I get the ball
and it is easier to pass to one
of my team mates because the
pitch/court is less crowded

Benefits of practicing using more attackers than defenders

• Attacking team always has a free player to pass to.

• Easier for attacking team to get a shot at goal/more shots at goal.

• Defending team can practice under increased pressure.