Laws and Interpretations

The Game

The majority of people who officiate in Australian Football have played the game at some stage; of those who haven't played it, most have followed it as a spectator. There are very few who wish to officiate who have no experience or contact with the game at all.

This unit aims to provide some knowledge of the fundamentals of the game. For those who have played or followed the game, this will serve as a refresher. For those new to the game, this will serve to provide some very basic information about "what the game is all about".

The best method of gaining this knowledge is to consult the Laws of Australian Football.

The following is a list of Laws which will provide this fundamental information:

Law 1.0 - Playing ground, oval, goal and behind posts
Law 2.0 - The ball
Law 3.0 - Teams
Law 4.0 - Players' boots, jewellery and protective equipment
Law 5.0 - Starting the match
Law 6.0 - Goals and behinds
Law 16.0 - Umpires - duties and instructions
Law 17.0 - Match-time, duties and responsibilities of umpires and timekeepers

Laws Relating to Boundary Umpiring

The Laws of Australian Football contain laws that are directly related to Boundary Umpiring.

It is therefore crucial that boundary umpires have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the laws which are relevant to their duties and responsibilities.

The relevant laws are listed below and have been grouped together for ease of cross reference and understanding.

The best method of learning and understanding these laws is to study the Laws of Australian Football booklet and discuss them with your Course Supervisor.

These are as follows:

Laws of Australian Football - Boundary Umpires

1.1.1	Playing ground
8.1.1	Marking the ball
9.2	Definition of a kick, ball brought into play: kicking from outside the boundary line
12.5	Free kick for kicking the ball out of bounds
16.6.1	Behind post / out of bounds
16.6.2	Ball out of bounds
16.6.4	Whistle / indications
16.6.5	Kicked out of bounds on the full
16.6.6	Returning the ball to play
16.6.8	Indication not seen by field umpire
16.6.9	Returning the ball to the centre square
16.6.10	Operation of centre square at centre bounce

Interpretation of Laws Relating to Centre Square Infringements

The boundary umpire is the sole judge as to whether a player has stepped completely over the line at the centre square. The player may lean over the line but immediately his foot completely crosses the line the boundary umpire will blow his whistle, point in the direction of the team to receive the resultant free kick, and if possible, call the number of the offending player and their club, then quickly move off in the direction of the scoring zone of the team which has been awarded the free kick.

Players are not permitted to enter the square after the field umpire has commenced the approach to bounce or throw up the ball until the ball touches the ground in the act of bouncing, or is thrown up.

It is the field umpire's responsibility to count the number of players in the square.

Laws Relating to Goal Umpiring

The Laws of Australian Football contain laws that are directly related to Goal Umpiring.

It is therefore crucial that goal umpires have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the laws which are relevant to their duties and responsibilities.

Definition of a Kick

If the ball touches a player below the knee it is deemed to have been kicked.

Goal Umpire is Sole Judge

After having been given the "all clear" by the field umpire, the goal umpire is the sole judge of a goal or behind.

"All Clear"

The "all clear" is given to the goal umpire by both word of mouth and visual confirmation, and indicates to the goal umpire that the field umpire does not propose to award a mark or free kick and therefore the goal umpire is at liberty to indicate a goal or behind. The score is ackowledged by the waving of the flag or flags, and then registered on the goal umpires' score card.

The goal umpire cannot register a score until the "all clear" has been received from the field umpire.

If the ball has passed over the goal or behind lines and the goal umpire is in doubt as to whether the field umpire has given the "all clear" he should run out and consult the field umpire to obtain information. If the field umpire confirms "all clear" the goal umpire then runs backwards to the scoring area and signals a score.

"Touched - All Clear"

If the field umpire observes that the ball is touched by a player before it crosses the goal or behind line, he should call and indicate "touched - all clear" to the goal umpire.

If the ball is kicked off the ground while a player has his hand on it or the ball is kicked from another player's hands and the ball crosses the goal or behind line, the field umpire should, unless he awards a free kick for an infringement of the laws, call and indicate "touched - all clear".

Although the goal umpire is the sole judge of goals and behinds, he cannot register a goal if the field umpire has called and indicated "touched - all clear".

If "touched, all clear" is given by the field umpire, but the goal umpire is certain that the correct score is a goal, he must run to the field umpire and quickly explain events as he saw them, and request "all clear". If the field umpire insists on "touched, all clear" the goal umpire will return to the goal area, signal touched, and wave and record a behind.

Visual Confirmation of "All Clear"

If the field umpire is of the opinion that the score is:

(a) A goal, he will raise both hands to his mouth when giving the verbal "all clear".

(b) A behind, one hand to the mouth when giving the verbal "all clear".

(c) If uncertain, he will stop, look directly at the goal umpire, put his hands at his sides and give "all clear" verbally.
He should endeavour to give an indication to the goal umpire on all occasions, except if touched close to the goal line.

(d) If the ball was touched, he will indicate by hitting one hand with the other above the shoulder height in front of his body, then put one hand to his mouth and give "touched - all clear" verbally.

(e) If the ball hit the goal post he will raise one forearm vertically at right angles to his upper arm, tap it three times with the other hand, then put his hand to his mouth and call "all clear".

Note: Visual indication by a field umpire is a guide only (except in the case of "touched - all clear"). The goal umpire is the sole judge.

Goals - When Scored

Subject to the "all clear" signal by the field umpire, a goal is scored when the ball is kicked over the goal line by a player of the attacking side without the ball touching a player or a goal post.

A goal is scored in the case of a ball kicked high in the air and after crossing the goal line, without having been touched, is blown back by the wind and strikes the goal post, or is blown back across to the goal line into the playing area.

If a player's boot contacts the ball before the ball completely crosses the goal line, the ball is deemed to have been kicked before the line.

In the instance of an attacking player kicking a ball on the goal line the resultant score will be a goal.

Behinds - When Scored

Subject to the "all clear" signal by the field umpire, a behind is scored when the ball:

passes over the behind line without touching a behind post
strikes a goal post, including the back of the goal post from an angle kick, or flag or knob on top of the post
passes over a goal post, even though the major portion of the ball is on the goal side of the post. (It should be assumed that had the goal post been higher the ball would have struck the post).
is touched by a player before it passes over the goal or behind line.
is carried over the goal or behind line by a player of either side.
is handballed over the goal or behind line by a player of either side.

Ball Marked on Goal or Behind Line

If the ball is marked on the goal or behind line by a player and the ball had not passed over the line when marked, even though the player may be over the line, a score should not be registered. It is the position of the ball, not the player, that dictates the matter.

In the case of a player attempting to mark the ball on or before it crosses the goal line and the ball rebounds off the player's hands or chest and is caught again behind the goal line, a behind should be registered because the ball in such a case was touched before it crossed the goal line and was not actually marked until it had passed over the line and finally held by the player.

If a player marks the ball with a single grab close to the goal line it can only be a goal or a mark. The decision can never be a point.

Ball Striking Behind Post

1. If a ball kicked, punched or knocked from inside the playing arena, strikes or directly passes over the behind post, it shall be out of bounds.

2. If a player is kicking the ball back into play from behind the goal line and it hits the behind or goal post before going into play or out of bounds, no score shall be given by the goal umpire, as the ball has not come back into play without obstruction and the field umpire must give another kick.

Ball Must Be Completely Over Goal or Behind Line

If any part of the ball is on or above the goal or behind line, it has not crossed the line, therefore the ball is still in play and a score should be registered. The ball must have completely passed across the line.
If a ball is on the goal line when an attacking player kicks it completely over the line, the score will be a goal.

Ball Striking Umpire, Trainer or Messenger

The fact that the ball, whilst in transit, strikes an umpire, messenger, doctor, medical attendant, policeman or any other person (except a player), who is inside the playing arena, does not annul the scoring of a goal or behind, or the awarding of a mark. If the ball deflects from an umpire, trainer or messenger etc. and passes over the goal or behind lines, a score should be recorded except where the interference is deliberate.

The goal umpire must ensure, when straddling the goal or behind line, that they do not allow the ball to strike them. However, if the ball does strike the goal umpire accidentally and then crosses the score line, the score stands.

Goal Umpire Rectifying a Mistake

A goal umpire may alter his score by notifying the field umpire prior to any of the following:

The field umpire bouncing the ball in the centre of the ground after a goal has been indicated.
A defender kicks off after a behind has been indicated.
Before a breach of the laws has been penalised.

If a score has been acknowledged and the goal umpire realises a mistake has occurred, they would, after notifying the field umpire, indicate the annulment of the score by standing in the centre of the goal line and holding both flags above their head in a crossed position, until the other goal umpire carries out the same action. Then, if necessary, the correct score is waived. The scoreboard must then be altered accordingly.

Goal Umpire Conferring With Field Umpire

The goal umpire may consult with the field umpire if he is unable to decide the team or the player who kicked the ball over the goal line.

On other occasions if either the goal or field umpire is in doubt, the two umpires may confer before a decision is given. Specifically, if the goal umpire wishes to seek an "all clear" from the field umpire in the event of the field umpire not being aware that the ball had passed over the goal or behind line, he must immediately run to the field umpire and inform him of the score.

Goal Umpire Over-rules Boundary Umpire

The goal umpire has authority to over-rule the boundary umpire if they disagree as to whether the ball had crossed the behind line, or had gone directly over the behind post.

Goal Umpire Unable to Give Decision

If the goal umpire is unable to see whether the ball has passed over the goal or behind lines and declines or is unable to make a decision, due to injury or other reasons, the field umpire shall bounce the ball on the centre of the kick-off line in front of goal.

(If the goal umpire is aware that the ball has crossed the goal or behind line, but is unable to see whether the ball crossed the line between the goal posts, or goal and behind posts, he should not penalise the scoring team by declining to make a decision. In any case, a behind at least has been scored and the goal umpire should register a behind in preference to declining to make a decision).

If a goal umpire is unable, due to injury, to wave the flag or flags to signal a score, he may instruct an emergency or substitute goal umpire to wave the flags and signal a score.

Goal Umpire Not Judge of First Sound of Bell or Siren

The field umpire is the sole judge of the first sound of the siren or bell. The goal umpire therefore shall not decide whether the ball was kicked after the first sound of the siren or bell or whether the ball was in transit at the time of the sounding of the siren or bell. If the ball has passed over the goal or behind lines and the field umpire gives the "all clear", the duty of the goal umpire is to register a score.

Legitimate Kick for Goal After the Siren

In the event of a field umpire awarding a free kick or mark immediately prior to the siren, necessitating in a shot at goal being taken after the siren, it is possible that spectators may invade the arena.

The umpire will endeavour to clear the arena and observe the following in conjunction with the goal umpire:

Spectator marks or stops the ball - end of game.
Spectator assists ball over scoring line - no score - end of game.
Ball deflected over score line after contacting spectator - no score - end of game.
Spectator interferes with defender (irrespective of whether he may have been able to touch the ball or not) and crosses score line - field umpire gives "all clear" - score stands.

Where things are normal and a player has a legitimate shot at goal after the siren, if:

1. the ball hit's a player's hand as he attempts to stop it - a behind results.
2. it is punched through by a player i.e. assisted - result is no score, however it is the field umpire's decision.

Indication to Scoreboard Attendants

Goal umpires must check scores with each other at the end of each quarter. They will then indicate to the attendants on the scoreboard as to the correctness of the scores by waving flags if they are correct. In the event of the scores being incorrect, goal umpires will attract the attention of the attendants by walking toward the scoreboard and having the error amended by the scoreboard attendant.

If the goal umpires are unable to attract the attention of the scoreboard attendant, they are not to wave all clear.

Goal Umpire to Record Score

It is the duty of goal umpires to keep a record of all goals and behinds scored.

Goals - record goals on scorecard on return to the centre of the goal after replacing flags.

Behinds - wait for kick off and mark card after next act of play which takes the ball away from goal area OR on a cessation of play (e.g. out of bounds, free kick etc.). When point is scored at other end of ground, write down your score immediately after replacing your flag.

In the event of the field umpire calling the players into line to count them, at the request of either Captain, the goal umpire shall make a record of the score at that time.

Time check with Club Timekeepers

Prior to the commencement of match, Timekeepers will call on goal umpires and synchronise watches.

Goal Umpire Responsible for Keeping Time

All umpires are to enter the arena at least five minutes prior to the official starting time of the game. Goal umpires are required to advise umpires as to the time.

Goal umpires are to note the time of completion of the second quarter and are required to advise umpires as to the time they are required to enter the arena for the commencement of the third quarter.