Rule Clarifications

[In the way]

As a retired Ref just wondering has there been some rule changes lately that I am not aware of ?

Last couple of weeks watching our WNPL on NPL TV, women's match game between NTC and WA, the referee blew the whistle for NTC to take the kick off, three WA crossed the halfway line, ran towards the NTC players and they had not even kicked off yet ?
Putting NTC players under pressure - surprised non of the players or coaches said anything - or is that allowed now ?

My understanding, they are not allowed to cross the half way line until the ball is played. It has happen it a couple of the mens matches as well.

Last week watching Comets demolish Inter, ( WNPL ) Comets were awarded a penalty which their player missed, but Inter had at least two players run inside the penalty box before the ball was kicked - should have been retaken.
The AR was watching the Goalkeeper, but so was the Referee. One of them needs to watch for players encroaching the area ( Referee )
If the rules have not changed than these are just observations need to be mindful of for future games.
Question is who is at fault - players who do not know all the rules, or players/coaches who know the rules but do it anyway ? Or the referee ?

[MegaBonus]

Or the referee ?

whether players and/or coaches dont know the rules and/or are trying to exploit them, the final arbiter is the ref.....simple!!!

[In the way]

Or the referee ?

whether players and/or coaches dont know the rules and/or are trying to exploit them, the final arbiter is the ref.....simple!!!

seems not all others know the rules,, you think at wnpl level all players and coaches would be familiar with the laws of the game. they get away with a lot at that level, so many free kicks and throw ins are taken upto 10m further than where they are suppose to. Some call that gaining advantage I see that as a for of cheating, depends how you were taught.

[Rob Lozza]

Or the referee ?

whether players and/or coaches dont know the rules and/or are trying to exploit them, the final arbiter is the ref.....simple!!!

seems not all others know the rules,, you think at wnpl level all players and coaches would be familiar with the laws of the game. they get away with a lot at that level, so many free kicks and throw ins are taken upto 10m further than where they are suppose to. Some call that gaining advantage I see that as a for of cheating, depends how you were taught.

What makes you think W/NPL players and coaches would be familiar with the LOTG? Football experts commenting on TV are no better, often making cringeworthy statements to show their lack of knowledge and understanding of the LOTG.