In an effort to achieve consistency in decision-making, there is an emphasis on understanding the “spirit of the laws” (i.e. the philosophies underlying the laws) and officiating according to the spirit of the laws.
FAIRNESS & SAFETY
It is the spirit and intention of the laws to ensure that a match is played in a fair manner and to protect players from sustaining injury.
All breaches of the laws shall be penalised.
For coaching purposes, seven main areas have been identified:
1. Contest for the ball
2. Diving on the ball
3. Marking contests
4. Tackling
5. Ruck contests
6. Advantage Plays
7. Ten metre penalty
1. CONTEST FOR THE BALL
GENERAL PLAY
The player whose sole objective is to contest the ball shall be permitted to do so.
- A player may be fairly met by use of the hip, shoulder, chest, arms and open hand and be pushed or bumped in the chest or side.
- Solid but legal bumps are permitted.
CONTACT TO THE HEAD
Contact to the head is considered to be illegal.
HEAD OVER THE BALL
A free kick will be awarded against a player who bumps or makes forceful contact to an opponent from front-on when that player has their head down over the ball.
- A player can bump an opponent’s body from side-on but any contact forward of side-on will be deemed to be front-on.
- A player with their head down in anticipation of winning possession of the ball or after contesting the ball will be deemed to have had their head down over the ball for the purposes of this law.
2. DIVING ON THE BALL
The ball shall be kept in motion.
Where a player elects to dive on the ball or, when on the ground, elects to drag the ball underneath their body and is correctly tackled, the player is to be penalised for holding the ball if they fail to immediately knock the ball clear or correctly dispose of it.
3. MARKING CONTESTS
The player whose sole objective is to contest a mark shall be permitted to do so.
- Where there is incidental contact in a marking contest when the ball is the sole objective (eyes on the ball), play on will result.
- When a player leaps early, the attempt must be realistic (i.e. they must be able to touch the ball).
4. TACKLING
A player who is tackled illegally while in possession of the ball will be awarded a free kick.
NO PRIOR OPPORTUNITY — REASONABLE TIME
The player who has possession of the ball and is tackled correctly by an opponent shall be given a reasonable time to kick or handball the ball or attempt to kick or handball the ball.
- If the tackle pins the ball, the umpire will throw the ball.
- If a correct tackle or bump causes the player with the ball to lose possession, play on will result.
PRIOR OPPORTUNITY — IMMEDIATE DISPOSAL
The player who has possession of the ball and has had an opportunity to dispose of it and is then tackled correctly by an opponent must immediately kick or handball the ball.
- If a correct tackle pins the ball or causes the player with the ball to lose possession, a free kick will result.
- If a bump or knock to the arm causes the player with the ball to lose possession, play on will result.
5. RUCK CONTESTS
The player whose sole objective is to contest the ruck shall be permitted to do so.
Where there is incidental contact in a ruck contest when the ball is the sole objective (eyes on the ball), play on will result.
6. ADVANTAGE PLAYS
The ball shall be kept in motion by permitting the team offended against to take advantage, provided play is continuous.
- Advantage can apply only to a free kick. It cannot apply to a mark.
- A guide as to whether play is continuous is that the outcome of the play would have been the same had the whistle not been blown.
7. TEN METRE PENALTY
After a mark or free kick has been awarded, a 10-metre penalty will be awarded against the opposing team which unduly delays the play or abuses an umpire.
An undue delay of the play includes:
- Going over the mark before the umpire calls play on.
- Not returning the ball directly to a player after they have been awarded a mark or free kick.
- Unduly holding up an opponent after that player has marked the ball or received a free kick.
