6.0 Goals and Behinds

 

6.1 A goal shall register six points and a behind one point. The team scoring the greater number of points shall win the match. If the points are equal, the match shall be drawn.

6.2 When a ball crosses a goal or behind line or hits a goal post, the field umpire shall give the goal umpire an "All Clear" signal if there have not been any incidents in play which the field umpire intends to penalise.

6.3 A score cannot be registered unless the field umpire calls or indicates "All Clear", or "Touched, All Clear" to the goal umpire.

6.4 Subject to the "All Clear" signal, a goal shall be scored when the ball is kicked over the goal line by a player of the attacking team without touching a player or a goal post. A behind shall be scored in any other case when the ball passes over the goal line, or touches or passes over a goal post or passes over a behind line without touching or passing over a behind post.

6.4.1 If a defending player kicks or takes the ball over the goal or behind line, a behind shall be scored.

6.4.2 If the ball touches or passes over a behind post, it shall be out of bounds.

6.4.3 The fact that the ball has struck or touched an umpire (or any other authorised official or replaced player) shall not prevent the scoring of a goal or a behind.

6.4.4 While the ball is on the ground and a player has his hands on it, and if another player kicks the ball, it shall be deemed to have been touched in transit. If the ball goes over the goal or behind lines, the field umpire shall call "Touched, All Clear" and a behind shall be registered.

6.4.5 In the event that the ball crosses a goal or behind line, or hits a goal post, and the goal umpire does not receive an all clear from the field umpire and play continues, the goal umpire shall run after the field umpire and notify him at once.

On receipt of such advice, the field umpire shall stop play and give the all clear.

The goal umpire shall signal and record the score and play shall recommence in accordance with these laws.

In the event that a free kick has been awarded after the ball crosses the line and before the all clear has been given, the field umpire shall give the all clear and the goal umpires shall signal and record the score. The free kick shall then be taken at the spot where the infringement occurred or where the ball is at the time, whichever is the greater penalty against the offending team.

6.4.6 In the event that, after the all clear has been given for a goal, an infringement occurs to a player of the defending team prior to the ball being bounced in the centre circle, the resultant free kick shall be taken at the spot where the infringement occurred, or at the centre circle, whichever is the greater penalty against the offending team.

6.4.7 In the event that, after the all clear has been given for a behind, an infringement occurs to a player of the defending team prior to the ball being kicked off after the behind, the resultant free kick shall be taken at the spot where the infringement occurred, or at the back line of the centre square, whichever is the greater penalty against the offending team.

6.5 The goal umpires shall be the sole judges of goals and behinds and their decisions are final, except when the ball has become dead by a decision of the field umpire.

6.5.1 Upon receiving "All Clear", the goal umpire shall initially indicate a goal by raising both index fingers, and a behind by raising one index finger.

6.5.2 The goal umpire shall then signal a goal by waving two flags, and a behind by waving one flag. A score cannot be annulled unless the goal umpire immediately rectifies a mistake by notifying the field umpire before the ball is bounced in the centre if he has wrongly signalled a goal or before the ball is kicked off in the case of a behind except when the ball has been signalled out of bounds and the signal has not been seen by the field umpire.

6.5.3 When a score has been annulled, the goal umpire shall immediately stand on the centre of the goal line and hold both flags above his head in crossed position.

6.6 At the first sound of the siren, the ball shall be dead, but a player who has, prior to the first sound of the siren, taken a mark or been awarded a free kick shall be allowed to kick or handball the ball. A goal or behind obtained therefrom or from a ball which is in transit prior to the first sound of the siren shall be counted.

In the event that the siren sounds whilst the ball is in transit, or whilst the player taking a kick after the siren is preparing to kick the ball, or after he has kicked the ball, an infringement occurs to a player of the attacking team before the all clear has been given, the field umpire shall blow his whistle and consult with the goal umpire as to whether a goal or behind has been kicked.

If a goal has been kicked the field umpire shall give the all clear and the goal shall be registered. In the event that a behind has been kicked, the player offended against shall be given the option of taking the free kick at the spot the infringement occurred, or allowing the behind to be registered.

Should the siren sound whilst the ball is in transit, or whilst the player taking a kick after the siren is preparing to kick the ball, or after he has kicked the ball, an infringement occurs to a player of the defending team before the all clear has been given, the field umpire shall award a free kick to the player offended against at the spot where the infringement occurred.

6.6.1 In the event that two or more field umpires are officiating, the ball shall be deemed dead when one of the field umpires hears the first sound of the siren. That field umpire shall be the sole judge of whether the ball has been kicked or handled or whether a free kick has been awarded prior to the first sound of the siren.

6.6.2 If the ball is touched in transit the field umpire must be satisfied that the score was not assisted by another player, but if the ball touches any player below the knee it shall become dead and no score recorded.

6.7 Controlling bodies shall authorise such officials as they deem appropriate to record scores, separate from the goal umpires. In the event of the goal umpires disagreeing on the final scores, the controlling body may take the separately recorded scores into consideration in determining the result of the match.

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