Basketballers head to Munster finals

Mitchelstown area basketball U16 team of Michel Bieganowski. Paudie French, Michael Kenneally, Xavier Motherway, Niall Murray, Seamus O’Brien, Fintan O’Grady, Charlie O’Meara, Sean O’Sullivan and Olivier Stanczy compete for Cork in Munster finals in UL on Saturday next, April 20. They play Limerick in a preliminary round at 9.30am with the winners playing Tipperary at 11.30am. Karina O’Grady manages. Best of luck guys and coaches.

Offers of interest invited for participation of guys and girls aged 6-16 in cultural and sporting activities. Note: Age after July 31 2024.

NATIONAL CYCLE FOR CATHERINE

Catherine Collins has qualified to compete in grass cycling U12 over 10 in national finals at Gormanston on May 25/26.

Skittles U13, 16 Gaelic football U10 boys U12, 14 girls at Ballincollig closing May 15. Hurling U11, camogie U14 at Ballincollig closing date May 15. Gaelic football boys U10, girls

U12/14 closing date May 15. Music / talent / drama June 3 Watergrasshill.

ATHLETICS TRAINING

Fanahan McSweeney Athletics training on Tuesday / Friday 6pm in Kilworth Astro and St. Fanahans 6.45pm on Thursday. Boys and girls aged 6 up welcome to participate/ join. Queries 087-3589734.

TAG RUGBY

Entry team, mixed, panel of 12 (team 7 + 5 substitutes - minimum of 2 girls on field at all times). Age under 11 over 8 / under 14 over 11/ under 16 over 14.

NOTES

Size 4 ball will be used. Tags worn one on each hip must be no shorter than 12 inches, a minimum width of 2 inches with Velcro continuous around the circumference. All teams must wear numbered tops. Rolling substitutions. The duration of the match will be 15 minutes each half. In the event of a draw, extra time (5 minutes a side) is played. In the case of it still being a draw after extra time, sudden death rules apply.

Pitch size where possible will be: U11 will be 40m wide x 60m in length. U14 will be 50m wide x 80m in length. U16 will be 50m wide x 80m in length. Method of scoring: A try is worth 1 point. After a try has been scored the game restarts from the centre of the field with a tap and pass, by the non-scoring team. When playing on hard surfaces a try is scored by players merely running over the goal line with the ball. The definition of the surface will be at the discretion of the referee.

Passing: No forward passes are allowed and will be penalised by a tap and pass being given to the non-offending team. A forward pass is any pass where the ball travels in the direction of the opponent’s goal line. Note: A pass directly sideways is allowed.

The “Tackle” (Tag). Only the player with the ball can be tagged and a tag is simply the removal by a defender of one of the two tags from the ball carrier. Ball carriers can run or dodge potential taggers. Ball carriers cannot fend off or guard or shield their tags in any way. Note: Defenders should keep their head to the side or behind the ball carriers body for safety.

The defender holds the tag above their head and shouts tag for all to hear. They must step back at least 1m from the ball carrier allowing space from them to pass. Defenders are not allowed to snatch the ball from the player’s hand. Once tagged the player in possession of the ball must attempt to stop as soon as possible and pass the ball within 3 seconds of being tagged. Immediately after the pass has been made the defender must then present the tag back to the tackled player. The defender can take no further part in the game until they have returned the tag. Note: Giving the tag back simulates time taken up by defenders when tackling in full contact rugby and stops defenders being unrealistically active in some forms of touch rugby. It also maintains space for the attacking team.

Players must receive back their tags as no player can take any further part in the game without both tags properly in place on their belt. There should be no tags on the playing surface at any time.

Tap and pass: A tap and pass is used to start the game (from the centre of the field) or to restart it at the place where the ball went out of play or where the infringement took place. Note: If an infringement takes place over the goal line or within 5m of the goal line, then a tap and pass should be awarded to the non-offending team 5m out from the goal line to create some space. At a tap and pass the ball is held in two hands and on the instruction “play” by the referee, the player taps the ball with his foot and passes the ball to a team mate.

The player making a tap and pass must pass the ball and not just pick it up and run themselves. The ball must be passed through the air and not taken from the hands of the first player. To ensure safe practice the receiver of a tap and pass should start from no more than 2m behind the passer. The opposition cannot start moving forward until the player has tapped the ball. At a tap and pass the opposition must be 10m back.

Ball out of play: If the ball or carrier goes out of play a tap and pass is given to the other team from the sideline. Each team has 5 tags to score, on the 6th tag, possession changes (a turn over). That the ball must be carried in two hands at all times.

The Sin bin: Players can be sin binned for 5 minutes for the following: Deliberate aggressive fouling of any kind. Continuous fouling or unsporting behaviour. Sending Off: A player may be sent off for the following: Striking or kicking an opponent. Verbal abuse or use of bad language towards opponents or officials. A player who is sent off shall not be allowed to take any further part in that game or in the following game that his team participates in.

A player in the act of scoring is allowed one step after being tagged to score. In the event of a draw, extra time (5 minutes a side) is played. In the case of it still being a draw after extra time, sudden death (first team to score a try. Team, all boys, all girls, mixed, maximum of 4, minimum of 2. Under 11/Over 6 Under 13/Over 6.

REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE

Area entries / queries to 0873589734 invited to many cultural and games activities. Family help is invited to offer availability of the ideal number of games. See website for rules etc.