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IWRF Proposed Rule Changes

From the Great Britian Wheelchair Rugby Association Website
(Note: These are IWRF proposals (not USQRA) that will be discussed and voted on by the IWRF. They are posted here for review only. These issues do not directly affect the USQRA unless they are adopted by the association at a later date.

It's that time again! After Atlanta the rules are due for a review again Great Britian has been given a vast document with many proposals to vote on. Many are just simple re-wordings but others will potentially affect the entire nature of the game.

Summary of Proposed IWRF Rule Changes for GB Voting:

1-	Art. 13 The Wheelchair: Complete re-write. Discuss separately, too many to list.
2-	Art. 14 Uniform: Propose to delete rule on Captains "C" on a vest and replace it with a Captain's armband, so that at all times a nominated "floor captain" is always on court only the player with the band can talk to refs. Also clarifies home team as the team first on the programme at international events.
3-	Art 17 Captain. New addition: "It is the responsibility of the captain to work with the referees and their team mates to maintain proper court decorum." Also adds that responsible for passing armband to his replacement as captain e.g. at substitution.
4-	Art's 20 & 21 Adds that refs. duties only apply during games, anything else is down to tournament organisers. Clarifies English as used language, and adds rule for refs. to rule on anything not covered in the rules.
5-	Art 27 Playing time. Same but allows a 2 minute break only for gap end and 1st extra time, and from then on only 1 minute for each additional extra time.
6-	Art 29 Start: Jump ball becomes "Tip Off"
7-	Art 33 Throw In: Changes start of throw in from straddling middle line to being on the back court side at the centre line.
8-	Art 35 Throw in violations: New: Inbounding player has 10 seconds to release the ball not 10 to get it to another player in his team. "Rolled" deleted from list of methods of inbounding.
9-	Art's 39, 42 Ball becomes live when ball is released by inbounder i.e. Clock starts then, not when touched.
10-	Art 49 How the ball is played: Reword to allow any part of the body, but use of body below the knee not allowed (Spasm excluded)
11-	Art 50 Physical advantage. New! Rule prohibiting touching floor deleted. Adds rule to say that player can't keep possession of ball while on floor for more than 3 seconds, but can pass or tap etc. the ball while there.. NB Rule retain rules on refs. stopping play for dangerous situations.
12-	Art 52 Ball out of bounds. Deletes rule about touching something off court as being out of bounds, ESP the cones.
13-	Art 54 Held ball. Writes in rule to not allow an intentional; held ball by offering possession, to opponents to gain advantage.
14-	Art 57 Back court violation. Adds clause on being "completely in" either front or back before being considered to be in front or back. Debars hits on the line for over and back calls, and do you now have to completely re-enter before an over and back called?
15-	Art 59 Space on court. New clause. Allows players to "put" opponents in an illegal position, refs. should only call it if it affects play. 4 in key change might be contradictory?
16-	Art 61 Prin. of Verticality. Change: Now allows for player in possession to initiate a foul in his space!
17-	Art 67, 68 Foul changes: A) Illegal contact finally now called what we've always called it "Contact before the whistle" B) Illegal player, to be called "in and out" referees to our over and back rule, which wasn't actually in the last rules! C) 4 in key: new clause saying you can't be bumped or forced in the key.
18-	Art 70. Leaving the court. Still doesn't say when this rule applies i.e. Live and dead ball situations. Due to above(Illegal player) change there is no rule covering a defender going out of bounds between the cones!
19-	Art 72 Reaching in now called "Illegal use of hands" (what we all call a Contact foul!!) Adds clause to make all contact within and without of vertical space but doesn't clear up about refs. having to decide who initiated the contact!!
20-	Art 73 Spinning. Re-write: makes not all contact behind axle illegal only that which causes the player to " significantly lose his balance or contacts floor" uses 45 degree angle as a guideline for refs. judgement call.
21-	Art 74 Tech Foul. New clause adds: foul if use an unjustifiable excuse to obtain a stoppage in play e.g. 5th time out, time out while ball in air or with other team, trivial equipment call, falling out of chair deliberately.
22-	Art 82 Fouls during stoppages. New clause: Dead ball fouls apply and must be served . But which fouls?? All?
23-	Art 83 Correction of errors. New clause: Allows ref. to reset clock

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