From: marino@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.australian
Subject: Summary of AFL rules
Date: 22 Jan 93 15:07:09 +1100
Organization: Computer Centre, Monash University, Australia

               Summary of Rules for Australian Rules Football
               ----------------------------------------------

 The following rules are a brief summary of the most frequently applied rules
in Australian Rules Football.

1. The Game
-----------
1.1 A regulation game consists of 4 quarters each of 25 minutes playing time.
    When play is unduly delayed, such as when a goal is scored, time is added
    on to the playing time of the quarter.

1.2 A maximum interval of 3 minutes is allowed between the first and second
    quarters for teams to change ends.

1.3 The half-time interval is a maximum of 20 minutes with players being
    allowed to leave the ground for not mnore than 15 minutes.

1.4 A maximum interval of 5 minutes is allowed between the third and fourth
    quarter.

1.5 Teams change ends at the end of each quarter.

1.6 The team scoring the most points wins the game. The match is drawn if the
    points are equal.


2. The Players and Positions
----------------------------
2.1 A team consists of 18 players with two interchange players.

2.2 Players may be interchanged at any time during the course of a match.

2.3 Although players have designated positions, they are free to move any-
    where on the ground when play is in progress.


3. The Umpires
--------------
3.1 The central or field umpires have full controll of the game. Major
    responsibilities of the field umpires are to start play, award marks and
    free kicks, and generally enforce the rules of the game. In carrying out
    their responsibilities, the field umpires move around the entire playing
    area.

3.2 The two boundary umpires judge when the ball is out of the playing area,
    and also return the ball to the center of the ground after a goal has been
    scored. The boundary umpires patrol one side of the ground each. They take
    positions at diagonally opposite corners of the center square when the
    ball is bounced in the center square at the start of each quarter or after
    a goal is scored. At the center bounces, the boundary umpires are
    responsible for detecting players who enter the center square area
    illegally.

                                _________
                              /  | | | |  \
                            /      | |      \
                          /                   \
                        /         Center        \
                       |        ---------        |
                       |        |       |        |
       Boundary line > |        |   O   |        | < Boundary line
                       |        |       |        |
                       |        ---------        |
                       |          Square         |
                         \                       /
                           \        | |        /
                             \    | | | |    /
                               \ --------- /

3.3 The two goal umpires judge, signal, and record all scores in a match. Two
    flags are waved to indicate a goal, and one flag is used to indicate a
    behind. The 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 one finger for a behind and two 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 infingemants have
    occurred so that a score may be added. This is why the goal umpire looks
    around sometimes before signalling a score.


4. Scoring
----------
4.1 A ball kicked between the two larger goal posts without being touched is a
    goal and score six points.

                      Goal post >>  |   |  << Goal post
                                    |   |
                                    |   |
                                |   |   |   |
                Behind post >>  |   |   |   |  << Behind post


4.2 If the ball passes between a goal post and a behind post then it is a
    behind, and it scores 1 point.

4.3 If the ball hits the goal post, a behind is scored.

4.4 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.

4.5 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.

4.6 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.


5. Starting and Restarting Play
-------------------------------
5.1 Teams determine the choice of goal by tossing a coin.

5.2 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.

5.3 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.

5.4 After a goal is scored, play is restarted in the center of the ground in
    the manner described above.

5.5 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.

                      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.

5.6 Each quarter runs for 25 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 flags to when the ball is kicked in.

    (c) Whenever the field umpire signals to the time-keeper that time is to
        be stopped by raising his arm and blowing his whistle.


6. Possession and Disposal of the Ball
--------------------------------------
6.1 A player may hold the ball for unlimited time when he is not being held
    by an opponent.

6.2 A player lying on or over the ball is considered to be in possession.

6.3 A player running with the ball must bounce the ball or touch it on the
    ground once every 15 metres.

6.4 A player in possession of the ball and held by an opponent must dispose
    of the ball immediately by kicking or handballing the ball.

6.5 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.

6.6 A mark is allowed when the ball is caught from a kick which has travelled
    a minimum distance of 10 meters, 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.


7. Free Kicks
-------------
7.1 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.

7.2 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.

    (e) Running more than 15 meters without bouncing the ball or touching the
        ball on the ground.

7.3 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 puching
        or bumping.

    (f) Shepherds an opponent when the ball is more than 5 meters away.

    (g) Enters the center square before the ball is bounced at the restart of
        play.

7.4 Following a free kick or mark, a 50 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.

    (d) Runs over the mark before or as the ball is kicked. (Any player in
        the opposing team can give this penalty)


Hope you enjoyed this summary. It comes from the book "Australian Football
Skills" by John Harris and Neville Strauch, and published by Simon & Schuster
Sydney, Australia, 1989. (I do this in the hope that I have not infringed
any copyright laws.)

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-  John Marinopoulos                                                      -
-                                                                         -
-  Department of Mathematics                           Tel:+613 565 5460  -
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-  Australia                                                              -
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