Why is aussie rules so popular

The ball usually doesn't have to be held for very long, especially in a physical marking contest; and yes, anything goes as long as both contestants are going for the ball. The player taking the mark may play on immediately, or go back and kick over the position where he took the mark. A free kick is given against the player in possession of the ball for the following infringements of the rules:. Following a free kick or mark, a 50 meter penalty is given against a player standing on the mark who:.

Create new account Request new password. United States Australian Football League. You are here Home » Development. Introduction to Australian Football. What is Australian Rules Football? Where is Aussie Rules Played? 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 , 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 and outside 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. Australia is divided into 6 states and 2 territories.

Although played in the States of Queensland and New South Wales, it runs second string to Rugby League in terms of popularity in those states. Games usually start for the Premiership season in the last weekend of March, and continue through until the end of August. The match is considered drawn if points are equal. Back to Table of Contents The Field Aussie Rules is played on cricket ovals; thus, there are no standard dimensions for a football field usually called "ground" or "paddock".

The field should be an oval between and meters in length and and meters in width. The Melbourne Cricket Ground is considered an ideal surface; its dimensions are m length by m width. The boundary is marked with a white line drawn a few meters from the stands. Back to Table of Contents The Ball The ball is an oval bladder covered with leather, tanned for day use or colored visible yellow for night matches, and inflated to 69kPa 10 lbs pressure.

It is slightly larger and rounder than the American or Canadian ball, as it was not designed to be thrown. Back to Table of Contents Players and Positions A team consists of 18 players; three interchange players substitutes are allowed on the bench. Free substitutions are allowed at any time during the match, through a "gate" in front of either bench.

Purposes of Player Positions All players should contest the ball when its within their vicinity unless playing to alternative coaching instructions. Other general purposes of player positions according to line are: Full Forward: Attack the goal, Trap the ball in the area Half Forward: Attack the goal, Set up scoring shots, Trap the ball further forward - then hold, Trap the ball in the area Centre Line: Attack the goal, Set up scoring shots, Recover the ball from the backline, Trap the ball further forward - then hold, Trap the ball in the area Half Back: Hold the ball in the area, Attack - clear ball forwards, Recover ball from backline Full back: Hold the ball in the area, Attack - clear ball forwards No padding is worn.

Back to Table of Contents Scoring A ball kicked between the two larger goal posts without being touched is a goal and scores six points. The ball is returned to the center circle for a "ball-up. One thing that can be confusing is the score. You may see something like: North Melbourne Kilda 9. 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.

If ground conditions won't allow the ball to bounce, the umpire simply tosses the ball into the air as if it were a "jump ball. Australian Rules Football is clearly the most popular spectator sport in Australia, though in terms of participation more men play golf, cricket and tennis.

Rugby league is another popular sport, but not as a sport to play. It is also interesting to see that what people are interested in and search for online can be quite different to what they actually go to watch. It also highlights the difficulty in defining 'popular' sport - is it what people are most interested in, what they play the most or what they watch? Possession of the ball is in dispute at all times except when a free kick or mark is paid.

A distinctive feature of the game is the mark, where players anywhere on the field who catch a ball from a kick with specific conditions are awarded possession. Australian Football is a contact sport, in which players can tackle using their hands or use their whole body to obstruct opponents. Dangerous physical contact such as pushing an opponent in the back , interference when marking and deliberately slowing the play are discouraged with free kicks, distance penalties or suspension for a certain number of matches, depending on the seriousness of the infringement.

The Victorian Football League VFL emerged in , when a few of the wealthier clubs decided to start their own league. The VFL consists of 18 teams, most of the teams are still based in Australia although the league has teams in five Australian states. So what makes Aussie Rules so popular?

For the fans, it is probably the fever which is present all around these games. You should see all the supporters proudly wearing their team colours, and it definitely makes you feel this crazy footy atmosphere. In order to move the football up the field players are permitted to kick, handball or run with it, permitting they bounce it every 15 metres. Free kicks are awarded when the umpire deems that a player has either incorrectly disposed of the ball, pushed a player in the back, tackled above the shoulders, held or pulled another player, kicked the ball over the boundary line, or been overly aggressive.

Tackling in AFL, similar to rugby and American football , sees players attempting to stop the other team from progressing by making contact with them below the shoulders and above the knees. When a player is tackled they must release the ball by kicking or handballing it.

A ball up is similar to a tip-off in basketball , where two ruckmen attempt to hit the ball after the umpire throws it up to restart play. A mark is when a player kicks the ball over 15 meters to another player and it is successfully caught. The player who caught the ball is then awarded space and time to make the next play without pressure.

A handball , different to a throw, is when the ball is punched using the alternative fist to catapult the ball from the opposite hand think of an underhand serve in volleyball. A handball is used to move the ball between teammates without having to kick it. Any player on the field can attempt to score by kicking the ball through the goal posts. There are four posts positioned at either end of the field; the taller posts are goal posts, which are flanked by two shorter posts called behind posts.

A goal, equivalent to six points, is awarded when the ball is kicked through the two middle posts, while a single point, or behind , is awarded when the ball goes between an outside and middle post.