QRL MATCH REVIEW

GUIDE

Collective Consistency

Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


PROCESS

Match Review

PROCESS

Match Review

STEP 1

The Match Review Committee review several key indicators that they take into consideration when ascribing a grading.


These key indicators must be assessed by the Match Review Committee when reviewing the evidence of each case.


  • Force – The MRC must assess the impact of force in each incident the higher the force, the higher the grading.


  • Risk of Injury – The MRC must assess the potential for a player of being physically injured during each incident. The higher the risk of Injury, the higher the grading.


  • Careless/Reckless/Intentional – The MRC must assess whether the conduct of the player was either careless, reckless or intentional. If the conduct from the player was reckless or intentional, this would be a higher grading.


The Match Review Committee must assess each of these key factors as low, moderate or high. For Grade 1 Offences, the three key factors would generally be assessed in the low to moderate ranges. For Grade 2 Offences, the three key factors would generally be assessed in the moderate range. For Grade 3 Offences, the three key factors would generally be assessed in the moderate to high ranges.


PROCESS

Match Review

STEP 2

The Match Review Committee must also assess whether there are any other relevant factors that be taken into consideration when ascribing a grading to a charge. These other relevant factors may see a grading for a charge either increased or decreased.


The other relevant factors that may see a Grading for a charge increase are called aggravating factors – these factors may see a player being awarded a higher penalty.


The other relevant factors that may see a Grading for a charge decreased are called mitigating factors – these factors may favour a player being award a lower penalty.



PROCESS

Match Review

FINAL DECESION

  • Grade 1 Charges will generally see key indicators in the low to moderate range with no aggravating factors.


  • Grade 2 Charges will generally see key Indicators in the moderate range with some aggravating factors. There may also be some other mitigating factors.


  • Grade 3 Charges will generally see key indicators in the moderate to high range with several aggravating factors. There is generally no mitigating factors for the player charged.




PROCESS

Match Review

OVERVIEW

The MRC will form a view on:

>> Based on the evidence whether there is a reasonable prospect of the player being found guilty of the offence

>> Complete an assessment of the grading by following a process to determine what they believe is the correct grading.

The process to determine the grading of a charge is a two-step process.


  1. Assess the Key Grading Indicators


2. Asess any Mitigating Factors or Aggravating Factors.

STEP 1. KEY GRADING INDICATORS


There are three Key Grading Indicators which the MRC must assess when considering the correct grading.


>> FORCE

>> RISK OF INJURY

>> Was the conduct CARELESS, RECKLESS, INTENTIONAL


These three indicators must be assessed as:

>> LOW

>> MODERTE

>> HIGH

Wavy or Zigzag Lines. Horizontal Thin Lines Wave. Dotted Line. Big Set Black Color. Vector Illustration.

For Grade 1 Offences- the three key factors would genrally be assessed in the LOW to MODERATE ranges.


For Grade 2 Offences- the three key factors would genrally be assessed in the MODERATE range.


For Grade 3 Offences- the three key factors would generally be assessed in the MODERATE - HIGH range.

STEP 2. ASSESSING OTHER FACTORS


Assess whether there are other relevant factors that may see a Grading for a charge either INCREASED or DECREASED.


AGGRAVATING FACTORS - factors may see a player being awarded a HIGHER penalty.


MITIGATING FACTORS - these factors may favour a player being awarded a LOWER penalty.


AGGRAVATING FACTORS


>> Injury to a player

>> Direct contact to the head/neck


>> No ability for player to protect themselves

>> Other relevent factors


MITIGATING FACTORS


>> Other players have impacted outcome


>> Contact/impact not direct


>> Attacking player has dropped significantly


>> Other relevant factors


FINAL GRADINGS


Grade 1 charges will generally see Key Indicators in the LOW to MODERATE range with no Aggravating factors.


Grade 2 charges will generally see Key Indicators in the MODERATE range with some Aggravarting factors.

There may also be some other Mitigating factors.


Grade 3 charges will generally see Key Indicators in the MODERATE to HIGH range with several Aggravating factors. There is generally no Mitigating factors for the player charged.


QRL MATCH REVIEW

GUIDELINES

Reference and Grading Guide for Common Offences

Offence

CARELESS HIGH TACKLES

Charges pertain to if the player fails to show the care that all players must exercise.

Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


Grade 1 - The Defender, in attempting to make a tackle makes unnecessary, but accidental, forceful contact with the head/neck of an opponent


Grade 2 - As above with increased level of force


Grade 3 - As above with high forceful contact that may/may not cause injury


Grade 1

Offence EXAMPLE

CARELESS HIGH TACKLES

Offence

RECKLESS HIGH TACKLE

Charges pertain to if the player, in making or attempting to make the tackle, foresees that contact with the head or neck of an opposing player may occur but nevertheless makes the tackle regardless of the danger.


Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


Grade 1 - The Defender, in attempting to make a tackle makes unnecessary, forceful contact with the head/neck of an opponent


Grade 2 - As above with increased level of force


Grade 3 - As above with high forceful contact that may/may not cause injury


#Reckless Grade 1-3 is essentially Careless HT Grade 4-6 for ease of application



Grade 1

Offence EXAMPLE

RECKLESS HIGH TACKLES

Offence

DANGEROUS CONTACT

Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


  • Includes Cannonball (Diving into the legs off an opposition player), Chicken wing, dropping the forearm, Unnecessary contact, grapple tackle, hip drop, raised knee into contact, forceful contact on un-suspecting player (kicker, kick receiver, support runner) who has passed ball


  • Grading increases based on whether accidental or intentional, the force used and the potential to cause injury or the extent of the injury to the player




Grade 1

Offence EXAMPLE

DANGEROUS CONTACT

Offence

DANGEROUS THROW

Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


  • Grade 1 – arm/hand between legs, head below hips, element of lift/elevation, dangerous position (likely that head/neck/shoulders would be first point of contact with ground) but doesn’t go on with tackle or releases. Key indicators are elbow to sky and up on toes


  • Grade 2 – As above plus opponent’s head/neck/shoulder makes first point of contact with ground, even if defender pulls out of tackle


  • Grade 3 - all the above plus, mid-high elevation, no arresting of tackle and continues to drive player into ground with considerable force


• Referral Grade 4/5 – all the above, high elevation, injury caused, and excessive force with clear intent






Grade 1

Offence EXAMPLE

DANGEROUS THROW

Offence

STRIKING

Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


Involves the action of striking with forceful contact and can include the following actions:

o Punching

o Headbutts

o Knees

o Elbows

  • Grade 1 – Players involved in altercation and in line of sight of each other and one player throws a punch that makes forceful contact with the opposition player


  • Grade 2 – Player throws multiple punches that make contact, are forceful, have the potential to cause injury or does cause injury


  • Grade 3 or above – Player runs a distance to throw punches, forceful, attacked person potentially unaware of the imminent strike, with potential to or causes injury to attacked player


# A player who retaliates with a strike of their own is open to the same charge/s as the instigator

# If a player throws a punch but does not make contact, they can be charged with contrary conduct







Grade 1

Offence EXAMPLE

STRIKING

Offence

CRUSHER TACKLE

Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


  • Grade 1 – where a defender in making the contact, applies forceful pressure to the head/neck/spine of opposing player. (Re-grip/re-adjust, head pin)


  • Grade 2 – As above, however defender applies additional pressure, regrips and knows where opponents head is and doesn’t create space or loses control of the tackle. (Re-grip/re-adjust, head pin, significant forceful pressure to head/neck/spine)


  • Grade 3 – As above however defender applies significant pressure by throwing out legs and using full body weight to apply force to head/neck/spine. (Re-grip, excessive forceful pressure to head/neck/spine, legs being thrown out behind (indicates full body weight when taken to ground), no release)








Grade 1

Offence EXAMPLE

CRUSHER TACKLE

Offence

CONTRARY CONDUCT

Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


• Threatening behaviour (Physical / Verbal)


• Covers disputing decision/offensive language


  • Can be used for a melee situation if the player is already on the field (see re-entering field of play for grading guide)


  • Includes using gestures to the crowd, opposition players or the match officials


  • Includes punches thrown that don’t make contact


  • Includes actions that are not in the true spirit of the game


  • Gradings increase with the severity of the offence and potential to be negative in nature or cause injury













Grade 1

Offence EXAMPLE

CONTRARY CONDUCT

Offence

SHOULDER CHARGE

Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


  • Grade 1 – No attempt to wrap both arms including hands, forceful contact


  • Grade 2 – No attempt to wrap both arms including hands, high forceful contact


  • Grade 3 – No attempt to wrap both arms including hands, high forceful contact with head/neck and causes injury


  • Direct Referral to Judiciary – all the above with contact causing injury













Grade 1

Offence EXAMPLE

SHOULDER CHARGE

Offence

TRIPPING - Charged as: -Dangerous Contact


Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


  • Grade 1 – Contact is accidental/intentional as a result of attacker changing direction late and reactive in nature with little to no force


  • Grade 2 – Contact is intentional/accidental with significant force


  • Grade 3 – Contact is intentional with significant force and potential to cause injury or causes injury to attacking player














Grade 1

Offence EXAMPLE

TRIPPING- Charged as: -Dangerous Contact

Offence

KICKING- Charged as: Dangerous Contact (medium/high force and contact but definitive action)


or


Striking (High forceful contact and definitive action)



Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


  • Grade 1 – Accidental or low on force and contact


  • Grade 2 – Intentional in nature with limited force and contact.


  • Grade 3 – Contact is intentional with high force and potential to cause injury or causes injury to attacked player


#kicking can also be charged as contrary conduct if there is low or no contact but definitive action















Offence EXAMPLE GRade 1

KICKING- Medium/high force and contact but definitive action

STRIKING- High forceful contact and definative action

Circle Play

Offence

INTENTIONAL HIGH TACKLE Charged as:

High Tackle Charges pertain to if the player in making or attempting to make the tackle, foresees

contact with the head or neck of the opposing player and intends that contact to occur.



Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


• Refer to Judiciary

• Use Reckless Grade 3 and above as a guide for penalty
















Offence

DROPPING KNEES Charged as: Dangerous Contact



  • Grading depends on whether was accidental or intentional
  • Gradings increase with the force involved with potential to or

causes injury to attacked player




Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


Offence EXAMPLE GRade 1

DROPPING KNEES- Charged as Dangerous Contact

Offence

LAW BREAKING Charged as: Contrary Conduct



  • Deliberately breaks the laws of the game resulting in referee putting the

player on report or dismissing the player from the field





Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


Offence

OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE Charged as: Contrary Conduct



  • Audible to the crowd
  • Directed at the official / opposition players / spectators
  • Can be a one-off incident or a repeated offence resulting in being put on report during or after the game (match

report) or being dismissed from the field

  • Also applies to players on the bench






Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


Offence

DISPUTING A DECISION Charged as: Contrary Conduct



  • Directly linked to a player involving in a verbal situation with match officials resulting in being put on report during or after the game (match report) or being dismissed from the field







Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


Offence

RE-ENTERING PLAY Charged as: Contrary Conduct





  • Can be used in conjunction with other charges


  • When a player comes from the bench / sin bin area to be involved in an on-field incident.


  • Grade 1 – Re-enters field but does not become involved in the on-field incident and does not escalate the
  • situation


  • Grade 2 – Re-enters field and becomes involved by grabbing opposition players and potentially escalates the situation


  • Grade 3 or above – Re-enters the field of player and becomes actively involved in the on-field incident including using the use of strikes, kicks or other actions










Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


Offence

OBSTRUCTING Charged as: Dangerous Conduct





  • Includes passive and active obstruction


  • Level of risk involved


  • Includes actions involving a kicker, block runners, or escorts


  • Grading increases based on whether accidental or intentional, the force used and the potential to cuase injury or the extent of the injury to the player













Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


FOCUS

Area

Offence

HIP DROPS Charged as: Dangerous Contact



A hip drop tackle is where a defending player in joining or committing a tackle, drops or uses their own body weight to apply pressure to an opponent’s legs in such a way as to constitute an unacceptable risk of injury to the tackled player, this will constitute Dangerous Contact.


This type of conduct will include instances where a defending player drops their weight through their hips or through any other part of their body on to an opponent’s leg/s and in doing so places them in a vulnerable position. The concern about this type of action is that it traps, twists, and contorts muscles, tendons and joints in lower limbs in an unnatural way exposing the ball carrier to an elevated risk of injury.


What are the key indicators of this charge?


The defending player will generally have a grip of the opposition player, using that grip to lift or maintain body weight to then drops or swings their hip/s around (this drop/swing starts to look unnatural on football field).

The defender usually swivels their nearest hip away from the body, aiming their bottom or hip at the opposition player's body and lower limbs. The defender lands their body weight on the lower leg/s to stop the opposition players momentum, trapping the lower limb into a dangerous position with weight and force.





Descriptors/Indicators/ Grading Guide


NATIONAL SAFEPLAY CODE


The Safeplay Code was developed to emphasise safety and good conduct within the game of Rugby League by creating the best possible on-field environment and actively encouraging the core values of Rugby League, and a healthy respect for all participants. It applies to all players up to and including the Under 15 years age group.