Here's a guide to the game:
The Game
Playing Field and Equipment
The Players and Positions
Uniforms
The Umpires
Scoring
Starting and Restarting Play
Possession and Disposal of the Ball
Free Kicks
Serious Infringements of the Rules
Criticism of Umpires
The Blood Rule
Role of the Coach and the Runner
Other Team Officials on the Ground during the Game
The aim is
to kick the ball between the middle 2 posts at the opposite end of the
field, and the winning team is the one with the highest score total at
the end of the 4th quarter, the game is drawn if the points are
equal.
The game is 4 quarters, each 20
minutes long. When play is delayed, eg the ball going out of the
playing area, time is added on to the playing time of the quarter
(‘time on’)
3 minutes is allowed between the 1st and 2nd quarters for the teams to change ends.
Half-time interval is 20 minutes with players being allowed to leave the ground for 15 minutes.
5 minutes is allowed between the 3rd and 4th quarters.
Teams change ends at the end of each quarter.
Playing Field and
Equipment
The
playing field is an oval shape, between 135-185ms in length and 110-
155ms in width and the boundary is marked with a white line.
The goal square is 9ms in length from the goal posts, 6.4ms in width.
There is a centre square in the middle of the oval, is 45ms each side.
The
centre circle in the middle of the oval is 3ms in diameter, and is
divided by lateral line extending 2ms either side of the diameter.
Goal and Behind posts: these are made
up of 4 posts at the 2 ends of the ground, they consist of 2 goal posts
set 6.4ms apart on the boundary line and 2 behind posts are each set
6.4 metres either side of the goal posts on the boundary line. The goal
posts are a minimum height of 6ms, and the behind posts are a minimum
height of 3ms. All posts are padded to a height of 2ms.
The
Ball is made from leather and either tan (day use) or yellow (night
use) in colour. It is 270-280mm in length, and 167-173mm in diameter,
it’s circumference is 720-735mm by 545-555mm. The ball is approximately
450-500gs in weight.
The Players and Positions
A team consists of 18 players with 3 reserve players.
Players may be subbed out (a player on the field swapped for a reserve player) at any time during the match.
Although players have positions, they are free to move anywhere on the ground when play is in progress.
Player
positions:
There are 5 general areas of play,
referred to as a 'line'. There are 3 players in each line and the
players are either left, centre or right position. The lines are:
Full Forward: Left-Forward Pocket, Full-Forward, Right-Forward Pocket
Half Forward: Left-Half Forward, Centre-Half Forward, Right-Half Forward
Centre Line: Left-Wing, Centre, Right-Wing
Half Back: Left-Half Back, Centre-Half Back, Right-Half Back
Full Back: Left-Back Pocket, Full-Back, Right-Back Pocket
Purposes
of player positions:
All players should
contest the ball when its within their vicinity (unless playing to
other instructions). Other purposes of the positions line are:
Full Forward: Attack the goal and trap the ball in the area
Half
Forward: Attack the goal, set up scoring shots, trap the
ball further forward - then hold and trap the ball in the area
Centre Line: Attack the goal, set up
scoring shots, recover the ball from the backline, trap the ball
further forward - then hold and trap the ball in the area
Half
Back: Hold the ball in the area, attack - clear ball
forwards and recover ball from backline
Full back: Hold the ball in the area and attack - clear ball forwards
The
uniforms are called Guernseys and each member of the team is to wear
the same colours. Each guernsey bears a different number, allocated to
a player for the season, or possibly career (numbers have no
relationship to position). Teams wear white coloured shorts when
playing away from home for easy identification. Players must also wear
full length socks in team colours, and standard designed boots. There
is no padding is worn but mouthguards, soft protective head-gear and
shin guards are allowable.
There
are 3 field umpires, whose major responsibilities are: to start play,
award marks and free kicks, and generally enforce the rules of the
game. Each umpire controls roughly one 3rd of the ground. The umpire in
the 3rd where the ball is currently is the umpire in charge, however
either of the other umpires may bring attention to infringements that
occur 'behind the play'.
There are 2
boundary umpires who judge when the ball is out of the playing area,
and also return the ball to the centre of the ground after a goal has
been scored. The boundary umpires patrol one side of the field each.
They take positions at opposite corners of the centre square when the
ball is bounced in the centre square as they are responsible for
detecting players who enter the centre square illegally.
There
are 2 goal umpires who judge, signal, and record all scores in a match,
goal umpires take precedence over boundary umpires in vicinity of the
goal area. Signals are:
- 2 flags are waved to indicate a goal
- 1 flag is used to indicate a behind
- flags are waved to indicate to the other goal umpire the score.
The
goal umpire also indicates to the field umpire what the score is by
indicating with 1 finger for a behind and 2 fingers (one out-stretched
on each hand) for a goal. Before the goal umpire can indicate the
score, the field umpire signals to him that no infringements have
occurred so that a score may be added.
Changing
of Decisions:
field umpires can’t alter a
decision once it has been made, except by a further breach of the
rules, goal umpires can correct mistakes prior to restart of play.
A ball kicked between the 2 larger goal posts without being touched is a goal and scores 6 points.
If the ball passes between a goal post and a behind post then it is a behind, and it scores 1 point.
If
the ball hits the goal post, a behind is scored (1 point), regardless
of where the ball bounces off to.. Play stops as soon as the ball hits
the goal post, and is restarted by a kick-in.
If
the ball is forced, or carried, but not kicked over the scoring line by
the attacking team, anywhere between the goal posts, a behind is scored
(1 point).
If the ball hits a behind
post without bouncing it is deemed 'out on the full' and the opposing
team takes a free kick from next to the behind post. If the ball
bounces and hits the behind post then the ball is thrown into play
again by the boundary umpire from next to the behind post. In both
cases no points are scored.
If the ball
is kicked or forced over the scoring line between the goal post and the
behind post by any player, then a behind is scored (1 point).
Starting and Restarting Play
Teams determine which their goal is by tossing a coin.
The
field umpire starts play by blowing his whistle and bouncing the ball
in the centre circle so that it bounces up vertically to be contested
by the players in the centre square.
At
the start of play, no player may enter the centre circle, and only 4
players from each team are permitted in the centre square until after
the ball has been bounced.
After a goal is scored, play is restarted in the centre of the ground with a bounce.
The other common situations when play is restarted are:
-
After a behind has scored: Any player of the defending team kicks the
ball from within the kick-off 'square' in front of goal, The player
must kick the ball out to restart play.
- After the
ball has gone out of bounds: If the ball bounced, then the boundary
umpire throws the ball into play, if the ball did not bounce is out as
a result of a kick that was not touched, the opposing team receives a
free-kick from the spot from where the ball went out, taken by the
closest player from the opposing team.
- When a pack of
players prevents either team gaining clear possession: The umpire
bounces the ball where play stopped.
The ball is deemed to be out of play in the following situations:
- A goal is scored: Time is stopped from when the goal umpire finishes waving his flags to when the ball is bounced.
-
A behind is scored: Time is stopped from when the goal umpire finishes
waving his flag to when the ball is kicked in.
- The
ball goes out of bounds: Time is stopped from when the ball goes over
the boundary line until the boundary umpire throws the ball back into
play.
- Whenever the field umpire signals to the
time-keeper that time is to be stopped by raising his arm and blowing
his whistle.
Out
of Bounds:
A ball that has gone completely
over the boundary line is considered out of bounds. If the ball is on
or over the boundary line, the ball is still in play. A player can be
over the boundary line and in possession of the ball without the ball
being considered 'out of bounds'.
Possession and Disposal of the
Ball
A player may hold the ball for unlimited time when he is not being held by an opponent.
A player lying on or over the ball is considered to be in possession.
A player running with the ball must bounce the ball or touch it on the ground once every 15ms.
A
player in possession of the ball and held by an opponent must dispose
of the ball immediately by kicking or handballing the ball.
To
handball correctly, a player must hold the ball in one hand and hit it
with the clenched fist of the other hand, the hand holding must not
move.
A mark is allowed when the ball
is caught from a kick which has travelled a minimum distance of 10ms,
and the ball has travelled in the air without being touched by another
player. The player taking the mark may play on immediately, or go back
and kick over the position where he took the mark.
Shepherding:
A player may hinder the movement of an opposition player towards the
ball, but only within 5ms of the ball. Shepherding allows the
opposition player to be pushed in the chest or side, or for the player
to place his body between the opposition and the ball.
Free Kicks
Free
kicks may be given against players either with or without the ball. A
free kick is taken at the spot where the infringement occurred
A free kick is given against the player in possession of the ball for the following reasons:
- Not disposing of the ball within a reasonable time when held by an opponent.
- Not disposing of the ball correctly by using a handball or a kick.
- Kicking the ball over the boundary line without it bouncing first or being touched by another player.
- Deliberately forcing or taking the ball over the boundary line.
- Running more than 15ms without bouncing the ball or touching the ball on the ground.
A free kick is given against any player who:
- Grabs an opponent with the ball above the shoulder or below the knees.
- Pushes an opponent in the back.
- Trips or attempts to trip an opponent.
- Charges an opponent.
- Interferes with an opponent attempting to mark in the air by punching or bumping.
- Shepherds an opponent when the ball is more than 5ms away.
- Enters the centre square before the ball is bounced at the restart of play.
Following a free kick or mark, a 50m penalty is given against a player standing on the mark who:
- Refuses to stand on the mark at the point indicated by the umpire.
- Deliberately wastes time in returning the ball to the player who is to take the kick.
- Holds the player who is to take the kick preventing play continuing.
- Runs over the mark before or as the ball is kicked.
Kick-in
after behind:
If a ball is kicked back into
play from the goal square following the scoring of a behind, and then
goes 'out of bounds' without being touched despite bouncing, it is
treated as if having gone out of bounds on the full. The attacking team
is awarded a free kick.
Play
On:
An umpire doesn’t have to stop play to
award a free kick to a player who has been infringed if the player or a
team-mate has possession and is in an advantageous position, the umpire
then calls 'play-on' and allows play to continue. This is referred to
as 'paying the advantage'.
Relayed
Free Kicks:
A player who is infringed upon,
immediately following the disposal of the ball, may have a fellow
team-mate take the free kick from the spot where the ball landed after
being disposed of.
Serious Infringements of the
Rules
Reports:
There is no send-off rule at AFL level. Players can be 'reported' by
umpires for serious breaches of the rules. The umpire is required to
inform the player immediately of such a report. After the game, a
report form is detailed by the umpire.
The
Tribunal:
A reported player, the umpire and
the player who was infringed are usually required to appear before the
League Tribunal to give evidence about the breach of rules. The
Tribunal determines the innocence or guilt of the player based upon the
evidence supplied, and any penalty for a player found guilty. This is
usually suspension for eligibility to play for a number of games.
Trial-by-video:
Reviews of video-tapes of games played that week are also conducted to
note any reportable incidents missed by the field umpires. Players can
be cited to appear before the Tribunal from these video reviews, as if
reported.
Reportable incidents. Players can be reported for:
- wilfully wasting time
- unduly interfering with a player while he is kicking for goal
- disputing the decision of an umpire
-
unduly interfering with, assaulting, using abusive threatening or
insulting language or behaviour towards an umpire during the progress
of a match or within or without the oval on the day of the match.
- assaulting another player
- using abusive, threatening, or insulting language, or otherwise misconducts themselves
- shaking a goalpost when a player is preparing to kick for goal or when ball is in transit.
- throwing an opponent after they has taken a mark or ball is out of play.
- violently pushing an opponent after that player has disposed of the ball.
- intentionally tripping or kicking (or attempts to) an opponent.
- striking (or attempting to) a player with the hand or arm.
- charging an opponent.
- engaging in unduly rough play
- remaining on the playing area not wearing proper uniform after being warned by the umpire.
- wearing unacceptable equipment.
Players
and team officials are not allowed to make public comments about the
umpiring standards or decisions. If they do so, they risk a fine from
the League.
The Blood Rule
A
player who is bleeding or who has blood on himself or his uniform is
required to leave the ground, at the request of the umpire and have the
problem seen to. The player will not be allowed to return until the
bleeding has ceased and any blood has been completely removed. This
player can be subbed off the ground, or the umpire can call a halt to
play while the player is seen to.
Role of the Coach and the Runner
The
role of the coach in Aussie Rules is different compared to other sports
in that the coach is only able to address his players before the game,
and then during the ¼-time, ½-time and
¾-time intervals. There are no time-outs in Australian Rules.
The coach usually sits overlooking the ground, noticing tactical
manoeuvres and imbalances in the game. When a change in tactics or of
players is desired during the actual game, the coach sends his orders
to the club's Runner. The Runner is allowed on the ground during play
to communicate to players and relay the coaches’ instructions a lot of
runners are also Assistant Coaches, helping with team decision making.
Other Team Officials on the Ground during the
Game
A
team can nominate 5 trainers that are allowed on to the playing field
to assist with injured players, or provide help to players, except in
the case of an injury, the trainers are only allowed on the ground when
there is a pause in the play.