Rule: |
Description: |
Number of Players |
15 players per team on the field at any point of time |
Object of the Game |
To score goals & behinds. There are 4 goalposts at each end of the field. The object of the game is to put the ball in your opponents goal. |
Time Limit |
Four 20-minute quarters, with a half-time intermission after the second quarter. No added time for stoppages. |
The Ball |
The short circumferences must be 21" (54cm), while the long circumference must be 28" (72cm). Red balls are used for day games, while yellow balls are used for night games. |
Protective Gear |
Players are only allowed modest padding on Head, Shoulders, Collarbone etc. Only a mouthguard is required. |
Contact? |
No high tackles (above the shoulder) and no ankle tapping (swiping or kicking an opponents feet while they're in possession). A player may retard the movement of an opposition player towards that of the ball, however it may only be done within 5 meters of the ball. |
Advancing the Ball |
Players must bounce the ball every 15 meters (or 10 strides; umpires discretion). No offside, players can stand/pass in any direction (No throwing, passing allowed only with kicking and a 'hand-ball' pass). |
Scoring Methods |
Goal (5-inside 50m line; 8-beyond 50m line) Behind (1-inside 50m line; 3-beyond 50m line) |
The Pitch:
- Overall Dimensions = 94-100m x 68-70m (103-110yds x 74-77yds).
- Goalposts & Behind posts = 6.4m (7yds) wide x unlimited height (minimum of 10m/11yds in height for behind posts or 15m/16yds for goalposts).
- In Goal Area = 10-22m (11-24yds).
- Center Circle = 10m (11yds) in diameter.
- Made from leather: red (day use) or yellow (night use) in color.
- Length = 270-280mm.
- Diameter = 167-173mm.
- Circumference = between 72-73.5cm x 54.5-55.5cm.
- Approximate weight = 450-500g (Dry weight inflated ball).
- A game consists of 4 20-minute quarters with 2-minute breaks in between 1/2 and 3/4 quarters and a 15-minute halftime; When play is unduly delayed, such as the ball going out of the playing area, the clock is not stopped and time is added on similar to soccer.
- Teams change ends at the end of each quarter.
- Teams have 15 players on the field; 24 players on the roster (9 substitutes).
- Forwards: 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 (6).
- Midfielders: 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: 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 (6).
- 8 substitutions allowed during the game (2 per quarter); unlimited during the quarter & halftime breaks.
- A player running with the ball must bounce the ball or touch it on the ground once every 15 meters (or 10 strides; umpires discretion); The players are only allowed to bounce the ball once, so as to encourage kicking.
- 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 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 relative to the players body.
- Each player must stay within their respective zones (Backs = behind the 50m line / Midfielders = everywhere except the in-goal areas / Forwards = in front of the 50m line.
- Drop punt:
a) The most used kick where the ball is dropped vertically and kicked before it hits the ground. As the ball moves through the air it spins backwards and is regarded as more accurate, and easier for a teammate to mark. - Grubber:
a) Is used to make it harder for the opposition to gain control of the ball, as it rolls and skids along the ground. Usually used in AFL as a scramble to score a goal, the kick is quite rare due to its unpredictability. - Torpedo Punt:
a) Is harder to catch as it spins on its long axis, but is used because it can travel slightly further. - Checkside Punt:
a) Also known as a banana kick, it bends away from the body and is often used for a set shot on goal with a narrow angle. It comes off the inside of the boot with the ball spinning in the opposite direction to the swing of the leg.
- A mark is allowed when the ball is caught from a kick which has traveled a minimum distance of 15m (16yds), and the ball has traveled 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.
- 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/behind. 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 seconds (or 30 of inside the 22m line) 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.
- All players may only tackle the ball carrier above the knees and below the shoulders; No high tackles (above the shoulder) and no ankle tapping (swiping or kicking an opponents feet while they're in possession).
- A player may retard the movement of an opposition player towards that of the ball, however it may only be done within 5 meters 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 (when the player himself is not in possession of the ball.) cf. screens in basketball or blocking in American Football.
- 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 of the ball for the following infringements of the rules:
a) Not disposing of the ball within a reasonable time when held by an opponent,
b) Not disposing of the ball correctly by using a handball or a kick,
c) Kicking the ball over the boundary line without it bouncing first or being touched by another player,
d) Deliberately forcing or taking the ball over the boundary line, or
e) Running more than 15 meters without bouncing the ball or touching the ball on the ground. - A free kick is given against any player who:
a) Grabs the opponent with the ball above the shoulder or below the knees,
b) Pushes an opponent in the back
c) Trips or attempts to trip an opponent,
d) Charges an opponent,
e) Interferes with an opponent attempting to mark in the air by punching or bumping,
f) Shepherds an opponent when the ball is more than 5 meters away, or
g) Enters the center square before the ball is bounced at the restart of play. - Following a free kick or mark, a 22 meter penalty is given against a player standing on the mark who:
a) Refuses to stand on the mark at the point indicated by the umpire,
b) Deliberately wastes time in returning the ball to the player who is to take the kick,
c) Holds the player who is to take the kick thereby preventing play continuing, or
d) Runs over the mark before or as the ball is kicked. (Any player in the opposing team can give this penalty). - Kick-in after behind:
a) If a ball is kicked back into play from the in goal area, following the scoring of a behind, and subsequently goes 'out of bounds' without being touched by a player of either team 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":
a) An umpire need not hold up play by awarding a free kick to a player who has been infringed. Where the player or a team-mate has possession and is in an advantageous position, the umpire calls 'play-on' and allows play to continue. This is referred to as 'paying the advantage'. - Relayed Free Kicks:
a) 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. This is at the umpires adjudication.
- When an umpire/referee awards a free kick to an opposition player
- Following an unsuccessful kick 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.
- When the ball is wrestled from a player's possession.
- If the ball bounces out of the field of play, an umpire performs a 'throw-in' where both teams contests for possession, however if the ball is kicked out on the full the opposing team gains possession via a 'free kick'.
- Teams determine the choice of goal by tossing a coin.
- Ball-up:
a) The field umpire starts play by blowing his whistle and bouncing the ball in the center circle so that it rebounds vertically to be contested by the players in the center square. At the start of play, no player may enter the center circle, and only four players from each team are permitted in the center square until after the ball has been bounced. - After a goal is scored, play is restarted in the center of the ground in the manner described above.
- The other common situations when play is restarted are:
a) After a behind has scored. Any player of the defending team kicks the ball from within the kick-off 'square' in front of goal, but only after the goal umpire has finished waving his flags. The player must *kick* the ball out to restart play.
b) After the ball has gone out of bounds (outside the boundary line).If the ball bounced, then the boundary umpire throws the ball into play by throwing it over his head towards the center of the ground.If the ball did not bounce and went over the boundary line 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. The closest player from the opposing team takes the free kick.
(c) When a pack of players prevents either team gaining clear possession.The umpire bounces the ball where play came to a halt. - The ball is deemed to be out of play in the following situations:
a) A goal is scored. Time is stopped from when the goal umpire finishes waving his flags to when the ball is bounced;
b) A behind is scored. Time is stopped from when the goal umpire finishes waving his flag to when the ball is kicked in;
c) 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;
d) 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 any portion of 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' given part of the ball is still in play.
- If the ball goes out of bounds, the referee restarts play with a throw-in; if the ball goes out on full or if the referee rules that a ball was kicked or handballed out deliberately, the referee will award a free kick to opposite team at the spot where the ball went out of bounds.
- Goals are worth either 5 points (inside 50m line) or 8 points (beyond 50m line); The goal umpire signals a goal with two hands raised at elbow height and then other goal umpire confirms the signal by waving green flags above his head.
- Behinds are worth either 1 point (inside 50m line) or 3 points (beyond 50m line); The goal umpire signals a behind with one hand raised at elbow height and then other goal umpire confirms the signal by waving white flags above his head.
- A behind is also awarded to the attacking team if the ball touches any part of an opposition player, including his foot, before passing between the goal posts, or if the ball hits a goal post, or if any player sends the ball between the goal posts by touching it with any part of the body other than a foot.
- Players can score goals by kicking the ball with either the foot, shin, or hand only.
- Players can score behinds by touching any part of body, including the hands.
- Players can score both goals and behinds by handballing, but only inside the In-Goal Area.
- AFL jersey, shorts, shoes/cleats (rubber only), soccer shin guards, and mouth guard.
- Similar to rugby, both teams must wear their dark color uniforms during games unless either 1) the teams share similar colors or 2) if someone is colorblind; 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.