Rugby terms for new parents

How to use this glossary

Rugby has its own vocabulary, and it can sound like a foreign language from the sideline. Here are the words you will hear most often, grouped by where you will hear them. Rules differ across youth leagues, so your coach is the final word.

Scoring and basics

Try

The main way to score. A player grounds the ball in the opponent's in-goal area. Worth five points in standard rules.

Conversion

A kick at goal taken after a try. Worth two points in standard rules.

Penalty

A kick awarded to one team after the other team breaks a rule. The team may kick at goal, kick to touch, or tap the ball and run. A free kick is similar for lesser offenses but cannot be kicked at goal for points directly.

Drop goal

A kick at goal during open play, made by dropping the ball and kicking it as it bounces. Worth three points in standard rules.

In-goal

The area behind the goal line where tries are scored.

Touch

The area outside the sidelines. When the ball goes into touch, play stops and restarts, usually with a lineout.

Pitch

The playing field.

Contact and the breakdown

Tackle

Bringing the ball carrier to the ground. In standard rules it must be made at or below the shoulders, and many youth programs set the limit lower.

Ruck

Players from both teams bind over the ball on the ground after a tackle and compete for it on their feet.

Maul

A group moves together while the ball carrier is held up by opponents and supported by teammates.

Breakdown

A general term for the contest for the ball after a tackle, which includes rucks and mauls.

Turnover

When the team without the ball wins it, for example by stealing it at a ruck.

Offside

Being in a position where you are not allowed to take part in play. Referees award a penalty if it affects the game.

Set pieces and errors

Scrum

A restart where the forwards of both teams bind together and push for the ball fed in between them.

Lineout

A restart after the ball goes into touch. Players form two lines and jump to catch a throw-in.

Knock-on

Losing the ball forward, which usually gives the other team a scrum.

Forward pass

A pass thrown toward the opponent's goal line, which is not allowed.

Advantage

When the referee lets play continue after a rule break because the non-offending team is benefiting. You may hear the referee call it out.

Sin bin

A temporary suspension (shown with a yellow card) for a serious or repeated offense. In adult union it is usually ten minutes, but this varies by competition and youth league.

Roles and formats

Forwards

The players, numbered 1 to 8, who mostly contest the scrum, lineout and breakdown.

Backs

The players, numbered 9 to 15, who mostly move the ball and look for space.

Sevens

A faster version of rugby with seven players per side and much shorter matches.

Tag rugby

A non-contact version where players remove a tag or flag from the ball carrier instead of tackling.

Keep learning

Terms are easier to remember with context. Read rugby rules for beginners to see how these words fit together, then positions explained for who does what. All of our guides live on the rugby hub.

Phrases you will hear on the sideline

Beyond single words, coaches and referees use short phrases. "Support!" means get close to the ball carrier so the ball can be passed or protected. "Go forward" means keep pushing toward the opponent's goal line. "Release" is a referee's call for a tackled player to let go of the ball. "Hands away" tells players to take their hands off the ball at a ruck. You will also hear "advantage over" when a referee decides play has not benefited the team and goes back to the original rule break.

If you hear something that is not here, ask a coach or another parent. Everyone remembers being new, and rugby families are usually glad to help.