Summary of the Sport:
Rule: |
Description: |
Object of the Game |
The object of the game is to score points is by kicking and/or throwing the oval-shaped ball into the Y-shaped goalposts at each end of the field. |
Time Limit |
Four 20-minute quarters, with a 15-minute half-time intermission after the second quarter. Clock only stops when play is unduly stopped & prolonged injuries. |
The Ball |
Option #1 = A prolate spheroid which is about 11in (28cm) long and about 22in (56cm) in circumference at the center and weighs around 0.875lbs. Option #2 = Size 5 prolate spheroid that is 76cm (in) long circumference & 56cm (22in) in short circumference. Smaller balls may be used for youth & recreational play. |
Number of Referees |
3 to 6 referees plus booth review. |
Number of Players |
11 players per team on the field at any point of time. |
Protective Gear |
Players are only allowed modest padding on Head, Shoulders, Collarbone etc. Only a mouthguard is required. |
Advancing the Ball |
Running with the ball (only in accepted zones), Kicking the ball, and Passing the ball in all directions. |
Scoring Methods |
Field Goal (6-inside 50yd line; 9-beyond 50yd line), Behind (1-inside 50yd line; 3-beyond 50yd line), & Safety (2). |
Contact? |
Tackling (wrapping, holding or wrestling a player who has possession of the ball to the ground between the shoulders and the knees) is allowed. Blocking from any direction is not allowed. |
The Field:
- Overall Dimensions = 360' x 160' (110m x 49m).
- Playing Field = 300' x 160' (91.4m x 49m).
- Goalposts = 18’6” - 23’ 4” (5.6m - 7.1m) with crossbar 10' (3m) above the ground.
- End Zone = extends 30' (9.1m) from endline.
- Center Circle = 60' (18.3m) diameter.
- Length of Match = 4 20-minute Quarters; When play is unduly delayed, such as the ball going out of the playing area, the clock is stopped and time is not added on similar to american football.
- The clock stops under the following circumstances:
a) Either team calls a timeout.
b) A period ends.
c) The ball and/or ball-carrier goes out of bounds.
d) A player from either team is injured during a play.
e) An official signals a penalty/foul/violation by raising a card.
f) Either team scores a goal.
g) A coach has challenged a referee’s call, and the referees are reviewing the call.
h) A wet ball needs to be replaced with a dry one. - Each team gets 3 1-minute timeouts per half.
- Both teams have unlimited substitutions; Substitutions only at stoppages in play but not used to hold up play.
- Ball-ups occur at the Center Circle.
- Only 1 Midfielder from each team may attempt to catch the ball.
- A player may not grab the ball at the ball-up and play on; They must knock or palm the ball and cannot play the ball again until it has been touched by another player.
- At the start of play and after each goal, the other two midfielders must lineup on the center circle; All other players must line up on the 40 yard lines.
- After any score, the ball is taken to the center and restarted via a ball-up.
- The ball is inflated to an air pressure of 12.5-13.5 psi (86-93 kPa).
- Length = 10.875 - 11.4375 inches (276.225 - 290.5125mm).
- Weight = 14-15oz (400-430g).
- Short circumference = 20.75 - 21.25 inches (527.05 - 539.75mm).
- Long circumference 27.75 - 28.5 inches (704.85 - 723.9mm).
- Laces = either 1) 4.375 inches long and 1.125 inches wide or 2) Eight laces equally spaced.
- Color & Texture = Natural Tan; Pebble-grained without corrugations.
- Made from leather: red (day use) or yellow (night use) in color.
- Length = 27-28cm.
- Diameter = 16.7-17.3cm.
- Circumference = between 72-73.5cm x 54.5-55.5cm.
- Approximate weight = 450-500g.
- 11-a-side (3 Forwards, 3 Midfielders, 4 Defenders); 11-14 reserves (4-5 Forwards, 3-5 Midfielders, 4-5 Backs) for a total of 22-25 players on the roster.
- Forwards:
a) Forwards are the players who are positioned nearest to the opposing team's goal. The primary responsibility of forwards is to score goals and to create scoring chances for other players. Forwards may also contribute defensively by harrying opposition defenders and goalkeepers whilst not in possession (4). - Midfielders:
a) Midfielders are players whose position of play is midway between the attacking forwards and the defenders. Their main duties are to maintain possession of the ball, taking the ball from defenders and feeding it to the strikers, as well as dispossessing opposing players. (3) - Backs:
a) Backs play behind the midfielders and their primary responsibility is to provide support to the team and to prevent the opposition from scoring a goal. They remain in the half of the field that contains the goal they are defending (4). - All players must stay with their zones (Forwards = in front of the 50yd line; Midfielders = anywhere except the end zones; Defenders = behind the 50yd line).
- American/Canadian football = Running with the ball; However, all midfielders cannot run with the ball over the 50yd line as they must pass the ball across by either 1) handballing, 2) throwing, or 3) kicking the ball.
- Australian football = Bouncing the ball; A player in possession must bounce the ball after running with it for 10 yards; A player in possession may bounce the ball only once.
- Passing/Kicking the ball in any direction; Kicking the ball off the ground is not allowed.
- Handballing (a player holds the ball stationary with one hand and punches the ball with the clenched fist of the other hand; similar to volleyball); To handball correctly, the hand holding the ball must not move relative to the player's body.
- Throwing the ball like an American QB.
- A player may hold the ball for an 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 in possession of the ball and held by an opponent must dispose of the ball immediately by kicking or handballing the ball.
- If the ball is dropped by a team-mate or opponent, it is play on.
- At the start of play and after each field goal, the center players must line up in the middle of the field (between the 40 yard lines).
To prevent congestion, the forwards and backs must line up in their respective zones at the start of play and after each goal.
After play has been started, players must stay in their designated areas.
- If a player catches a kick/throw that travels 15yds (13.72m) or more in any direction except backwards, they must mark the ball; The ball must travel in the air for entire distance for the mark to count and marks will not be paid for backwards kicks caught by a teammate.
- Upon taking a mark, the referee will blow the whistle to signify the mark and a player is entitled to an unimpeded kick/throw of the ball to either 1) advance his team towards their goalposts ("play on") or 2) score a goal. The nearest opposition player stands on the spot where the player marked the ball, which is also known as the mark, and becomes the man on the mark while the player who caught the ball must retreat at least 6 steps; If the player hasn't attempted a kick after 10 (defending zone) or 30 (attacking zone) seconds have passed, normal play will resume.
- The criterion for a mark is that it be caught cleanly, i.e. the player have complete control of the ball, for any length of time. As such, if the ball is caught in one grab, and then punched out from between the player's hands, a mark is paid, even if he has held it for only an instant. Similarly, if a ball is controlled, and then dislodged by another player or the ground, the mark will still be paid.
- If two players mark the ball simultaneously, the referee will award the mark to the man in front (i.e. the player who has the front position in the marking contest); if he cannot determine which player is in front, then the referee will award possession of the ball to the team that is next to receive the ball according to the held ball rules.
- Spoiling the mark:
a) Spoiling is the technique typically employed by opposition defenders to legally stop a player from catching the ball. Spoiling is performed by hand or fist (as a punching action) either before or shortly after the player has caught the ball in their hands. - The rules are quite strict on defensive spoiling methods. Players are not allowed to 1) push other players out of marking contests, 2) make forceful front on contact with an opponent in a marking contest if they are not simultaneously attempting to mark or spoil the ball, or 3) make high contact is allowed unless such contact is incidental to attempting to mark or spoil the ball and/or if the contact is made on a neutral-vertical plane.
- The maximum amount of consecutive marks per possession is 6; anymore marks will result in a free kick/throw to the opposition.
- The co-ed version of the game is non-contact, with the tackle being replaced by a touch; the co-ed version must have at least 5 females on the field at any one time.
- Players can only tackle a player with the ball; No player can take a voluntarily tackle.
- Players can only be tackled between the shoulders and the knees; Shoulder charging is not allowed.
- Once the tackle has been made, it is illegal to try and move the player from the point where the tackle was made.
- When a player is touched/tackled by an opponent, he/she has a maximum of 10 seconds to dispose of the ball by either 1) handballing, 2) throwing, or 3) kicking the ball; If the player fails to dispose of the ball within this period, possession will be awarded to the other team.
- Shepherding (pushing, bumping or blocking an opposing player from gaining possession of the ball or reaching the contest) within 5yds is permitted.
- When the ball goes out of bounds by either foot or hand, the nearest opponent shall kick or throw the ball in.
- If there is doubt as to which team forced the ball out of bounds, the umpire shall throw the ball up.
- Following an unsuccessful kick/throw at goal.
- When an opposing player intercepts a pass.
- When the player in possession drops the ball and it is recovered by an opposition player.
- After the 4th consecutive tackle, either 1) an automatic handover takes place & play resumes (i.e. "play on") or 2) the defense turned offense receives a free kick/throw in the zone where the tackle took place.
- The referees make sure the game is played according to the rules. There are 3 types of referees.
- Field Referees:
a) 2 Field Referees: control the game by paying free kicks, marks, 30yd penalties and instructing the players what to do in most situations. - Boundary Referees:
a) There are 2 Boundary Referees who decide when the ball is out of bounds or out of bounds on the full. When the ball is out of bounds they throw the ball back into play by throwing it over their head. - Goal Referees:
a) There is 1 Goal Referee at each end of the ground. They decide if a goal or safety has been scored.
- Pushing an opponent in the back.
- Tackling an opponent around the neck or below the knees.
- Being tackled fairly by your opponent and then dropping the ball.
- Being tackled by your opponent when you don't have the ball.
- Kicking the ball out of bounds on the full.
- Running with the ball outside of your respective zone.
- Tripping or kicking an opponent.
- Arguing with, disputing the decision of, or using abusive language towards a referee.
- Scragging the player who has taken a mark; that is, to tackle the player or impede him from taking the kick as quickly as they would like.
- Failing to return the ball quickly and on the full to a player who has been awarded a free kick.
- Wasting time, deliberately or inadvertently, by kicking the ball forward after one's team has conceded a free kick.
- Using unnecessary roughness against a player who has already taken a mark.
- Running over the mark; the man standing on the mark cannot move forward, and must respond if called to recede by the umpire.
- Running through the mark; other defensive players who are not standing on the mark may not run across the imaginary line between the man standing the mark and the man taking the kick, unless following his direct opponent.
- Entering the protected zone; defensive players may not impede an opponent by entering or remaining within the corridor of space extending five metres either side of the imaginary line between the man standing the mark and the man taking the kick, and extending backwards, unless following his direct opponent.
- If any referee sees or hears any of these things, an instant penalty & free kick/throw at the 30yd line will be given; All fouls will either result in either a yellow or orange card.
- A yellow card means a 10-minute suspension; A red card means a player is thrown out the game.
- Field Goal (6-inside 50yd line; 9-outside 50yd line):
a) A kick or throw into the goalpost; All throws must be made from outside of the end zone. - Behind (1-inside 50yd line; 3-outside 50yd line):
a) A behind is scored when either 1) the ball hits a goal post, or 2) if any player sends the ball between the goal posts by touching it with any part of the body except the feet, shin, or hands before passing between the goal posts. - Safety (2):
a) A safety occurs in the following circumstances; 1) A forward touches the ball to the ground in the end-zone similar to a try in rugby, 2) if a back is tackled by a forward (if the defense has recovered possession of the ball) in the end-zone, or 3) a forward is tackled by a defender in the end-zone before they can score a field goal or safety. Scenarios # 1& 2 award points to the offense, while scenario #3 awards points to the defense.
- Required = AFL jersey, shorts, shoes/cleats (rubber only), soccer shin guards, and mouth guard.
- Optional = rugby headgear and american football gloves.
- Similar to rugby, both teams must wear their dark color uniforms during games unless the teams share similar colors; If that is the case, the designated home team will wear their dark color uniforms and the away team will wear either 1) their lighter color uniforms or 2) an alternative darker color uniform.
- Uniform # System: Defenders = 65-99 / Midfielders = 32-64 / Forwards = 00-31.