Aussie Rules Football Explained for Beginners

Aussie Rules football or footy is a separate sporting discipline that was quite popular among certain groups of people. Nowadays, however, it is becoming more and more popular around the whole world. This is a team kind of sport that includes elements of basketball, soccer, Irish or American football, and rugby. Moreover, players are allowed to use force. That is why, Aussie Rules football competitions can happen to be very cruel sometimes.

Main Peculiarities

Such an event lasts for 80 minutes (four 20-minute periods). It should be mentioned at once that it refers to actual time only. To explain, if there is a delay, time should be stopped by a corresponding official. To tell the truth, it is a rarity if a delay occurs because even if a player gets injured, it is not a serious reason for the referee to stop a game.

Every team is represented by 18 players who are simultaneously on the field. There are backs, halfbacks, midfielders, forwards, half-forwards, and followers. Thus, it is followers who deal greatly with chasing the ball. As for the ball for Aussie Rules football, it is very similar to that used in rugby; it weighs about 650 g.

The referees throws the ball on the ground; after it bounces from the ground, the ball is said to be in play. The given element came to Aussie Rules football from basketball (it is an analogy with the starting throw).

The field has a form of elongated oval of 140-180 meters long and 110-150 meters wide. Every team has two goals (i.e. four vertical sticks) that are placed at the field shorter ends. Two goals of the same team create a so-called nested doll – small goals are within large ones. Goals are surrounded by 50-meter areas, within which it is forbidden to attack a player who has the ball in his possession. When a team sends the ball through the large goal, it is worth one point, while six points are awarded for hitting the small goal. Any points are counted only when the ball goes through any goal after it has been sent by a foot.

In the center of the field, there is a four-sided figure with a circle being drawn within it. Teams occupy sides of the four-sided figure prior to the beginning of an event, while the circle is used to throw the ball in play.

If an athlete catches the ball the previously overcame a 15-meter distance, he can kick it with his hand without any hindrance from the side of opponents to keep playing. In addition, athletes can run with the ball in hands but only 10 steps are allowed. After that, it is necessary either to pass the ball or to bounce it at the ground. In the latter case, an athlete will obtain the right to perform another 10-step run.

As for passes, athletes can make them both by hands and by feet. If the ball crosses the field boundaries, a side referee should return it by behind-the-neck throw. For this, he should stay with his back to the field and deliver the ball.

Every Aussies Rules football events should be served by a main referee and two side referees.

History

According to a generally accepted belief, Aussie Rules football was created in the 19th century. The first official match took place somewhere in the Australian state of Victoria. Initially, the given sport had been considered as a secondary discipline for cricket players to train their physical skills. Later, however, the sport became a fully-fledged activity.