What is Australian Rules Football?

 
 
 

Australian rules football or ‘Aussie rules’ OR afl is played between two teams of 18 players.

objective:

  • score MORE POINTS THAN THE OPPOSING team by kicking A FOOTBALL through A SET of goalposts at EITHER end of a large oval-shaped field, PEREFERABLY A CRICKET FIELD.

basics:

  • The game begins with a ball up in the center of the oval, much like basketball.

  • iN-gAME PLAY is free flowing LIKE SOCCER BUT without offsides.

  • IN possession of the Football, PLAYERS HAVE THE OPTON TO run, HANDPASS, or KICK the ball.

    • Running is limited to 15 meters to which the player in possession then needs to ‘dispose’ of the ball.

    • Proper disposal can be done ONE OF THREE WAYS: a HAND PASS, A KICK, OR A BOUNCE/DRIBBLE OFF THE GROUND.

    • a HAND PASS IS EXCUTED via a one-handed punch, MUCH LIKE AN UNDERHAND VOLLEYBALL SERVE; NOT LIKE TWO-HANDED RUGBY THROW.

  • if A player KICKS THE FOOTBALL AND IT IS CAUGHT BY A TEAMMATE, the player receiving earns an unimpeded free kick called a mark.

    • A mark is only awarded if the kick travels more than 15 meters.

    • if a kick is dropped or hits the ground, FREE play continues on.

  • A Player with the ball can be tackled by the opposition.

    • if the player with the ball is tackled WITH THE BALL, a turnover is awarded.

      or

    • if the player being tackled did not AMPLE TIME TO PROPERLY dispose the Football, a ball up will occur AT THE SPOT OF THE TACKLE.

  • if THE BALL GOES OUT OF BOUNDS, PLAY STOPS TEMPORARILY. play RESUMES UPON A THROW IN, SIMILAR TO A BALL UP.

scorING:

  • there ARE FOUR GOAL POSTS AT EACH END OF THE FIELD.

  • A GOAL IS AWARDED BY Kicking the ball through the middle SET goal posts. gOALS ARE WORTH 6 points

  • A BEHIND IS AWARDED WHEN THE BALL IS KICKED through EITHER OF the side posts. BEHINDS ARE WORTH 1 point.

  • scores are kept on the scoreboard in the following fashion: Goals.behinds.total.

    a normal scoreline would read:

    • Orange county Giants 8.4.52

      Los Angeles dragons 6.7.43

    …With Orange County winning 52 - 43.

  • At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins.

Aussie Rules is the most popular sport in australia, played professionally by18 teams in both the premier Men’s and women’s divisons AFL and AFLW. It’s fast, fun, and like nothing you’ve never experienced!

Check out here on how to play