Official Rules
The field shall be approximately 100m x 50m and shall be marked into 3 zones - forwards, centres and backs.
2. Teams
A. Teams shall consist of 7 players on the field and any number of reserves.
B. Interchange of players may take place at any time.
C. Teams shall consist of 2 forwards, 3 centres and 2 backs.
D. Mixed teams must have a minimum of 2 females.
3. Playing Time
2 x 20 minute halves.
4. Start of Play
A. The game shall be started by a ball-up between two players in the centre of the ground.
B. A player may not grab the ball at the ball-up and play on. They must knock or palm the ball (no punching is allowed) and cannot play the ball again until it has been touched by another player.
C. After a goal, the ball is taken to the centre and restarted as in (A).
D. If a point is scored, the opposition full back shall kick in from between the goal posts.
5. Out of Bounds
A. When the ball goes out of bounds by either foot or hand, the nearest opponent shall kick the ball in. The player may not kick for goal from an out of bounds kick in.
B. If there is doubt as to which team forced the ball out of bounds, the umpire shall throw the ball up.
6. Tackling
A. No tackling is allowed. When a player is touched by an opponent, he/she has a maximum of 3 seconds to dispose of the ball by handpassing or kicking. If the player fails to dispose of the ball within this period, possession will be awarded to the other team.
B. How much time the umpire allows a player to dispose of the ball depends on the circumstances and is solely at the discretion of the umpire.
C. If a player has had prior opportunity to dispose of the ball when touched, it is holding the ball and a turnover will occur.
D. A legal touch can only occur between the shoulders and knees.
7. Contact
A. As it is a non-contact competition the following acts are not allowed and will result in an automatic free kick:
a. shoves in the back
b. going for hangers (high marks) by jumping on people
c. lifting your knee in a marking contest
d. charging or running through people
e. hard shepherds (soft shepherds by putting your arms out are OK)
f. holding or grabbing your opponent
g. diving on the ball (knocking the ball on is OK)
h. tripping
Please note it makes no difference whether contact is intentional or not.
8. Marking
A. Any player catching a ball directly from the kick of another player, no matter how small the distance, shall be awarded a mark.
B. Contested marks, involving two players going for the ball shoulder to shoulder, are permitted.
C. Punching from behind is permitted, provided no contact is made to the player in front.
9. Bouncing the Ball
A player in possession may bounce the ball only once.
10. Kicking Off the Ground
A player is not permitted to deliberately kick the ball off the ground. If accidental the umpire will call play on.
11. Send-off Rule
A. Players will be sent off for umpire abuse and/or rough play (yellow card).
B. Any incidents of aggressive rough play will result in a player's removal from the match (red card).
12. Scoring
A. Six points are awarded for a goal and one point for a behind.
B. In mixed games, goals scored by a female are worth 9 points (super goals).
C. Only the forward line may score for their team. These players should be identified by their position e.g. bib.
D. No score will be allowed when kicked from an out of bounds free kick.
E. Whilst players are encouraged to move freely around the ground, forwards must be within the forward zone to score.
F. Goals can only be kicked from marks taken in the forward zone.
G. There are no rushed behinds.
H. A free kick in the forward zone will be awarded if the umpire believes a forward would have taken a mark but was illegally infringed against in the marking contest. The player may take a set shot for goal.
