The trial rule will allow any official unsure of a scoring decision to consult with the game's official scorer.
Another rule, which will only be trialed for the first week of the competition, will see teams penalised for being the last to touch the ball before it goes out of bounds, whether or not it is on the full.
If it is unclear who touched it last, a throw-in will occur.
Other trial rules enable boundary umpires to pay free kicks at stoppages, while players will have the option to take a 50m penalty from inside the arc or shoot for nine points from beyond it.
Umpires will once again pay free kicks against players who drag the ball under their opponents or try to hold it in.
The format of this year's NAB Cup competition has drastically changed from seasons past.
The new Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney clubs bring the number of teams to 18, divided into six pools.
Each pool of three will play each other on the same day, with the winner of each pool to progress to round two.
The two sides with the best records outside of those six will join them in a quarter-final set up of eight teams.
2011 NAB Cup trial rules and explanations:
1. A player awarded a 50m penalty which takes them inside the 50m area can elect either to kick from outside 50 for nine points, or kick from inside 50 for six points
It was felt that a player awarded a 50m penalty which would advance him inside 50 should be given the opportunity to decide whether he kicks from outside 50m for nine points or take the full 50m penalty to kick from inside 50 for six points.
2. Official scorer can assist with scoring decisions by reference to technology
If a video replay is immediately available, the goal umpire can consult with the official scorer to determine the correct decision. There is no avenue for players to refer decisions.
3. Boundary umpires pay free kicks for holding and high contact at stoppages
As an extension to the 2010 NAB Cup trial, boundary umpires may pay free kicks for obvious holding or high contact infringements. They will not pay any other form of free kick.
4. Free kick against player who drags or holds ball under opponent
As an extension of the rule trialled in the 2010 NAB Cup, the umpire may pay a free kick against a player who drags the ball under his opponent, and may also pay a free kick against a player who holds a ball under his opponent, when he is trying to knock it out.
5. Last touch out of bounds
To be trialled in the first round of matches only, a free kick will be paid against the last player to touch the ball before it went out of bounds. A free won’t be paid if the umpire is unable to determine who touched the ball last, if the ball goes out of bounds from a spoil after a marking contest or if the ball goes out of bounds as a result of a defensive smother to a kick or a handball.
