Rule 4 - Commencement of Play - lining up

[troy]

Editorial change suggested – I don't want to change the rule as I want to maintain the direction that the players should line up on the goal-line, but I want to avoid the potential for referees to unnecessarily penalise a team when they don't all line up. This is implicit in the Principles of the Rules and Role of the Referee under `Advice to Referees'. I suggest leaving the Rule unchanged but elaborating in the Comments on the Rules under Commencement of Play at the end of para 1 with "The referees should not penalise a team when only some of the players line up but all others remain behind the goal line"

[becks.c]

Current ICF rules read:

"At the beginning of each period of play, five (5) players will line up ready to start, stationary and with some part of their kayaks on their own goal line."

What benefit is there for our players to deviate from the international rules in this instance?

[Juno]

What is the point in penalising a team that is already penalising themselves, what is the advantage of lining up facing the wrong way? As long as the players are making contact with or behind the line they are gaining no unfair advantage.

[Unregistered]

I think that the players should be required to line up. I agree with Juno that (except for the case mentioned below) there is no advantage to them not to, but this is an issue of definition and spectacle. I wonder how we would react if half the players were not on the rugby/soccer field at the start of the game? It lacks professionalism.
AlsoI agree with Becks that unless there is a good reason, then why not model on ICF?
If we went with leaving the rule but adding a comment, it seems to me we are contradicting ourselves. Comments normally clarify/expand specifics but in this case the rule says it is a requirement and the comment advises referees to ignore any breach.
Lastly I want to make reference to the habit of some players of sitting perpendicular to the chaser and pushing them from behind to aid them in competing for the ball. I know that some refs consider this as OK, but I believe that to an observing public, they see it as 'cheating'. I myself see it as contrary to a 'clean' start. The requirement to line up would disallow this practice.
Michael Beauchamp