JUMP: Before a lineout gets to this stage, the ball has to be thrown in.
THE lineout - where do we begin?
There are 20 pages about it in the lawbook and, I've read somewhere, more than 200 possible infringements.
But it is an important part of rugby and a feature that distinguishes it from many other similar ball games.
For a lineout to take place, the ball needs to be in touch. There are several ways this can happen.
The most common way is for the ball to cross the touchline, usually from a kick, and touch anything or anyone beyond the line.
This includes while being in-flight or being carried by a player.
If a player has one foot on or over the line, and makes a catch directly from a kick, then the ball is in touch.
A ball kicked over touch from outside the 22m line means the lineout would be back where the ball was kicked, with the opposition throw into the lineout. In this case, there is no gain in ground for the kicker's team, unlike if the ball was kicked out from inside the 22m.
If the ball was kicked out from inside the 22m line, then the lineout would be where the ball crossed the touchline.
When a player with one or both feet on the touchline picks up a stationary ball which is still in play, then the player is deemed to have taken it into touch, giving the lineout at that spot to the other team.
However, if the same player picks up a rolling ball then it is considered to have been kicked directly into touch.
The ball is not out when a player standing in the field of play catches the ball after it has crossed the touchline, provided he can remain in play.
Such a player can also knock the ball back into the field of play - backwards - but he cannot hold it at any stage over the touchline.
If the player jumps and catches the ball he must land with both feet inside the field of play, otherwise the ball is in touch.
An interesting point to note is a player standing in touch can kick or knock the ball back, provided it is still in the field of play.
So, now that the ball is in touch and therefore out, what can happen next?
The first option for the team which has the throw is to take a quick throw-in before a lineout is formed.
A lineout is considered to be formed when two or more players from each team are lined up on the "line of touch" - the imaginary centre line of a lineout - so once those four or more players are in readiness for the ball, a team cannot take a quick throw-in.
For a quick throw-in to be legal, there are a number of conditions to be met.
The player must use the ball which went into touch and it may only have been handled by that player and an opponent who took it into touch.
If anyone else touches the ball, such as a spectator, ball boy, other players or touch judge, the quick throw-in is disallowed.
The quick lineout ball must be thrown in anywhere between where the ball went out and the thrower's goal line.
It must be thrown in straight or backwards and has to travel at least 5m before it touches the ground or a player.
If any of the above are infringed, the opponents have the option of a lineout at the place where the quick throw-in was attempted or a scrum 15m infield.
A player forced into touch with the ball must release the ball and make it available for a quick throw-in, otherwise he is penalised with a penalty kick 15m infield.
Opponents must not prevent the ball being thrown in at least 5m, otherwise they are penalised with a free kick.
Next week we will look at what is supposed to happen at a conventional lineout.
In the meantime, the Referees' Association welcomes four new referees, three of whom are current premier or senior players, thanks mainly to the recruiting efforts of Kawana Tihema.
These referees have already started refereeing Saturday morning junior grades - no doubt a lot of coaches, tired of having to referee half a game each week, will be relieved to have officials take the responsibility of helping their young players to enjoy the great game of rugby.
Let's hope there are more players out there nearing retirement who can begin a post-playing career as referees.
Several pensioners are nearing the end of their active careers and replacement stock is needed.