Restarts are one of sevens' biggest momentum swings.

What a restart does

A restart puts the ball back into play after a fixed event: the start of a half, a score, a ball made dead in-goal, or another law-defined stoppage. In sevens, the halfway restart after a score is especially important because possession can change again within seconds.

The restart is not a casual punt. A kick-off or score restart is a drop kick, taken at or behind the centre of the halfway line. A drop kick means the player drops the ball from the hands and kicks it as it rebounds from the ground.

The scoring team kicks off again

In 15-a-side rugby union, the team that conceded usually restarts after points. Sevens is different. After a team scores a try, penalty goal, or dropped goal, the team that scored restarts play with a drop kick from halfway.

That rule is central to sevens tactics. A team that scores can immediately contest the next restart and try to keep possession. A team that has just conceded must receive cleanly, protect the ball, and avoid giving away another quick attacking chance.

Kick-offs at the start of halves

The match also starts, and restarts after half-time or extra-time intervals, with a kick-off from halfway. Competition regulations and the coin toss decide which team kicks off and which direction the teams attack at the start.

Once the restart is ready, the kicking team must be behind the ball when it is kicked. The receiving team must be on or behind its 10-metre line. The referee manages the mark, player positions, and the signal to restart.

The ball must reach the 10-metre line

A legal halfway restart must travel at least 10 metres toward the opposition half before the kicking team can play it. If the receiving team plays the ball before it has travelled 10 metres, play can continue because the receivers have accepted the contest.

If the ball does not reach 10 metres and is not legally played by the receiving team, the kicking team has failed the restart. In sevens, that usually means a free-kick to the opponents at the centre of the halfway line.

Why short restarts matter so much

Many sevens restarts are deliberately high and short. The kicking team wants the ball to pass the 10-metre line, hang in the air, and give its chasers a realistic chance to win it back.

This is legal if the kick is taken correctly and the ball travels far enough. It becomes illegal when chasers start in front of the ball, advance early, interfere with receivers in the air, or play the ball before it has reached the required distance unless the receiving team has already played it.

When the restart goes wrong

A restart kick that goes directly into touch, directly into touch-in-goal, or over the dead-ball line without being touched is not a successful restart. A kick that uses the wrong method, is taken from the wrong place, or has team-mates in front of the kicker also creates a restart offence.

The practical sevens outcome is usually a free-kick to the non-offending team at halfway. That is harsher than simply letting the kicking team try again, and it is one reason restart accuracy matters so much in a short match.

What the receiving team can do next

A free-kick from a restart error gives the non-offending team possession and options. They may tap and run, kick for territory under the free-kick rules, or choose a scrum if that is tactically better.

A free-kick is not the same as a penalty. The team cannot score a goal directly from it, and a direct kick to touch does not carry the same lineout reward as a penalty kick. In sevens, teams often tap quickly because defensive space is valuable and the restart defence may still be reorganising.

22-metre and goal-line drop-outs

Sevens also uses rugby union drop-out restarts when the ball is made dead in or beyond in-goal in ways covered by the laws. Depending on who took the ball into in-goal, who made it dead, and how it got there, the restart may be a 22-metre drop-out, a goal-line drop-out, a scrum, or another restart.

Drop-outs are also drop kicks. A 22-metre drop-out is taken on or behind the defending team's 22-metre line. A goal-line drop-out is taken on or behind the defending team's goal line. Officials first identify the in-goal sequence, then apply the correct restart and mark.

How referees enforce restarts

Officials look at the restart in order: correct restart type, correct team, correct place, correct kicking method, player positions, distance travelled, and any foul play during the contest. In sevens, assistant referees and in-goal officials may help with touch, dead-ball, and in-goal decisions at major events.

Advantage can still apply, but restart errors are often clear technical offences. If the ball is legally available and the receiving team benefits, play may continue. If the restart offence removes a fair contest, the referee brings play back for the correct sanction.

Where people get caught

• "The team that conceded always kicks off": not in sevens after a score. The scoring team restarts.
• "A short restart is illegal": no. It is legal if it is a proper drop kick, travels 10 metres, and the kicking team starts behind the ball.
• "The ball has to be caught before anyone can compete": no. Once the restart has travelled the required distance, both teams may contest it lawfully.
• "Any failed restart is just retaken": not generally in sevens. Restart errors usually give the opponents a free-kick at halfway.
• "A drop-out and a kick-off are the same restart": they are both drop kicks, but they happen for different reasons and from different marks.

How to read the call

1. Identify why play is restarting: start of half, score, in-goal outcome, touch, infringement, or another stoppage.
2. Check which team should restart, remembering that the scoring team restarts after points in sevens.
3. Confirm the mark: halfway, 22-metre line, goal line, scrum mark, lineout mark, or free-kick mark.
4. For a kick-off or score restart, check the drop kick, team-mates behind the ball, opponents behind the 10-metre line, and the ball travelling 10 metres.
5. Apply the outcome: play on, advantage, free-kick, scrum, lineout, drop-out, or another restart required by the in-goal sequence.

Source material

• World Rugby Law 12: Kick-off and restarts
• World Rugby Sevens variation: Kick-off and restarts
• World Rugby Sevens variations
• World Rugby Laws of the Game