USA Rugby Technical Zone & Sideline Management Guidelines

The Technical Zone is the area specified for teams and coaches to be around the field during a rugby match. Using these zones is an absolute for organization of the field and safety of players, coaches, referees and spectators. The following information is the official USA Rugby Technical Zone and Sideline Management Guideline.

• Technical zone (TZ) defined as space in front of the rope/barrier between the 10m line and 22m line*
• Technical zone ends 2m from the touch line to give room for ARs & touch judges
• Coaches may not cross into the other team’s TZ or leave their own TZ
• No more than 2 coaches are allowed in the technical zone
• Coaches should not stand in/near the try zone or anywhere on the field of play
• Uncertified coaches should not be in the TZ

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• #4 (Fourth Official) or Match Manager (data tracker) occupies the space between the 10m lines (Administrative Area)
• Chairs may be set up in the Administrative Area for disciplinary/sin bin purposes
• No coach or player is allowed in the Administrative Area except when petitioning for a substitution

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• Teams may have two medical professionals “in front of the rope”
• Medical professionals may roam either sideline and are not confined to the TZ*
• Only one (1) medical professional per team is allowed per side of the field*
• Second medical professional must be across from first medical professional on opposite sideline*
• Coaches are not allowed onto the field with medical personnel unless explicitly allowed by the match official
• Medical personnel should always introduce themselves to the match official(s) before the match begins

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• Team benches should also be between the 10m line and 22m line* but “behind the rope” and not in the technical zone
• Spectators should be on the opposite sideline from the teams unless a second rope is present to prevent mixing of spectators with players/staff/administrators

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• Water carriers must stay “behind the rope”* unless the match official signals that they may enter the playing field
• Water carriers should endeavor to wear a top that clashes with players on the field
• Coaches may not serve as water carriers
• Water carriers should not be in the TZ*
• Coaches should not huddle with teams on the field after scores

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• Teams must warm up in the end they are attacking into, not the end they are defending
• Players warming up must wear a contrasting top to the players on the field (e.g. a penny)
• Teams should not warm up with balls, cones, or other equipment (e.g. ruck pads)
• Teams should not warm up within 5m of the field of play
• If space demands it, teams may warm up in the try zone but only if they access the try zone by staying “behind the rope” to and from

*Variance specific to USA Rugby that differs from the IRB standard

Technical Zone Layout Diagrams

 

Click any of the images below to view a diagram of how technical zones should be laid out on the playing enclosure.