Advantage Rule

The advantage rule is mentioned in § 8b of the playing rules. The rule formerly stated - "the referee punishes infringements of the rule except when the punishment would be the disadvantage of the non- offending side". According to some referees this means that the referee must always apply the advantage rule. This was never the intention of the rule. The referee must always maintain the right to punish every infringement, even if this is to the disadvantage of the non-offending team.

To try to make it clear that the referee has the freedom to apply, or not to apply, the advantage rule depending on the circumstances of the game, the PRC has changed the advantage rule so that it now reads - "The referee punishes infringements of the rules. If it is not to the disadvantage of the non-offending team the referee may choose not to punish an infringement". In that way it is perfectly clear that the referee has always the choice to apply or not to apply the advantage rule.

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