Austrailian Rules Football
Australian (Aussie) Rules Football in London
What is Australian Rules Football ?
Australian Rules Football (also "Aussie Rules" or "footy") is a physical contact sport. It is a form of football with roots traceable from early forms of Rugby and Gaelic football, but it is uniquely Australian. Its rules were codified in 1858, and probably predate all other modern forms of football, such as American, Canadian, Rugby Union and League, Association (Soccer) and Gaelic football. Today it is a multi-million dollar business, with a National Competition and numerous smaller leagues. Interest in the game is generally at an all time high within Australia, yet despite this, some parts of Australia are still lukewarm in support of their team in the AFL, and the game has yet to take a firm hold overseas.
The Game
- 1.1.1 Length of game is 4 quarters of 20 minutes playing time. When play is unduly delayed, such as the ball going out of the playing area, time is added on to the playing time of the quarter. This is referred to as 'time on'. (Game length used to be 4 quarters of 25 minutes, but was changed in 1994 to 20 minutes, with the allowance for additional time-on when the ball is out-of-bounds : see 1.6.6)
- 1.1.2 A maximum interval of 3 minutes is allowed between the first and second quarters for the teams to change ends.
- 1.1.3 The half-time interval is a maximum of 20 minutes with players being allowed to leave the ground for not more than 15 minutes.
- 1.1.4 A maximum interval of 5 minutes is allowed between the third and fourth quarters.
- 1.1.5 Teams change ends at the end of each quarter.
- 1.1.6 The team scoring the most point wins the game. The match is drawn if points are equal.
POSITIONS
Full Forward: Attack the goal
Half Forward: Attack the goal
Centre Line: Attack the goal
Half Back: Hold the ball in the area
Full back: Hold the ball in the area
Attack - clear ball forwards
Starting and Restarting Play
- 1.6.1 Teams determine the choice of goal by tossing a coin.
- 1.6.2 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.
- 1.6.3 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.
- 1.6.4 After a goal is scored, play is restarted in the center of the ground in the manner described above.
- 1.6.5 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.
Goal post -- | | -- Goal post | | | | | | | | Behind post -- | | | | -- Behind post / --------------- \ / | | |___| - Goal 'square'
- (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.
- 1.6.6 Each quarter runs for 20 minutes of playing time when the ball is in play.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.
- 1.6.7 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.
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