Definition
A kick-off and a restart mean the same thing. They are used to start the match, start each half, and restart play after scores or certain stoppages. A kick-off is a drop kick taken from the halfway line. The ball must travel at least 10 metres. If the kick is illegal or mishandled, the receiving team is given options on how the play will restart.
For example, here the green team is receiving a restart from the black team:
How to code
Step 1: Identify that a restart (kick-off) has occurred
A restart (also called a kick-off) is identified when one team lines up on the halfway line to chase a drop kick, and the receiving team spreads across their half of the field. Restarts only occur after:
The start of the first half, the second half, or extra time
A try, drop goal, or penalty goal has been scored
Step 2: Identify whether the receiving team won or lost the restart.
Restart won: The receiving team successfully catches the kick-off. For example, in the video below, the Green team receives the kick-off and catches the ball, meaning they won the restart receipt.
Restart lost: The receiving team fails to successfully catch the kick-off. For example, in the video below, the Red team receives the kick-off but does not catch it, and the White team regains possession. This means the Red team lost the restart receipt.
Step 3: Label the restart outcome.
Press "1" (Home Team Possession) or "2" (Opposition Possession) > Press "V".
Select (caught or maintained possession) or (didn’t catch/didn’t maintain possession) from the prompt.
Important to remember
Q: If the kicking team regains or catches the ball after the restart, is it still a restart receive lost?
A: Yes. It is still a restart receive lost if the kicking team regains or catches the ball after the restart.
Q: What is a restart (kick-off)?
A: A restart/kick-off is a drop kick from halfway used to start the match, start each half, and restart after scoring or certain stoppages. The ball must travel at least 10 metres.
Q: What does “restart won” mean?
A: Restart won means the receiving team successfully catches/controls the kick-off and retains possession immediately afterward.
Q: What does “restart lost” mean?
A: Restart lost means the receiving team fails to secure possession (muffs the catch, knocks on, etc.) and the kicking team regains possession.
Q: If the receiving team taps it back instead of catching cleanly, is it won?
A: If they successfully control and retain possession immediately (even via a controlled tap-back), treat it as won. If it spills and the opposition regains, treat it as lost.
Q: If the kick-off is illegal (e.g., doesn’t go 10m), how do I code it?
A: Still code the restart event as won.
Q: If a penalty happens immediately after the restart receipt, do I still code the restart outcome?
A: Yes. Code whether the receiving team initially won/lost the restart receipt, then code the penalty separately at the referee’s signal time.
Q: Do restarts after tries differ from half-time kick-offs?
A: Technically no: both are coded as restarts/kick-offs. What changes is context (after score vs start of half), not the event definition.
Q: If the ball is caught but immediately stripped, is the restart won?
A: If the receiving team catches but loses possession immediately due to a legal contest, treat the outcome based on your definition “retains possession immediately after receipt.” If they lose instantly, it is effectively lost.
Q: If the ball goes directly into touch from the restart, what should I do?
A: Code the restart event won and then code the resulting lineout/option outcome.
Q: Are “restart” and “kick-off” the same thing?
A: Yes.
Q: What happens if the player catches a kick inside their 22-metre area and immediately calls “mark”?
A: The referee stops play and awards a free-kick. The catcher takes the kick from the spot of the mark, acting as a defensive, high-pressure relief mechanism.
Q: What happens if the ball was not able to reach the 10m line?
A: The referee stops play and awards a scrum at the 50m line. Code it as Restart Received Lost.