Offside is the most common penalty during a match. If a penalty is
awarded within goal kicking distance of a team's kicker, the team
captain may elect to have the kicker take an uncontested place kick
at goal for three points from a spot determined by the referee
called a mark. If the kick is successful, play is restarted at the
50 metre line with a drop kick back to the scoring team. After an
unsuccessful penalty kick, play is usually restarted by a drop kick
(a kick executed by allowing the ball to hit the ground before
kicking it) to the kick attempting team from the 22 metre line. This
restart is called a 22 metre dropout.
Other common penalties include violent play, barging, not releasing
the ball, obstruction (blocking) and diving over a collapsed ruck.
Other options available to a team awarded a penalty include
restarting play by a tap kick through the mark with the opposing
team ten meters away or an uncontested kick to touch which is
awarded back to the team receiving the penalty award.
For minor infringements such as a foot up in the scrum, a free kick
can be awarded. A free kick is just like a penalty kick except it
cannot be taken directly at goal and if it goes to touch, the other
team is awarded the ball for the lineout
