Edited — see clarification below.
Serendipity is always unexpected — perhaps it’s in its nature to be so. Recently, AussieRulesBlog has been having a slightly agitated online discussion on some aspects of the rules of Aussie Rules. As part of that discussion, we made the observation that the vast majority of the crowds we share stadiums with appear to have only a passing acquaintance with the rules of the game if we can take the almost maniacal shouting of “Baaallllllll!!” as any indication.
As a result, we had resolved to do a series of posts on various aspects of the rules with a view to doing our bit to improve general understanding of them and thus, somewhat contrary to our reputation, also do our bit to moderate some of the criticism directed at umpires at the elite level.
The serendipity comes in as we watched Foxtel’s broadcast of the Bulldogs-Hawthorn game yesterday evening. Brian Taylor expressed a view on an umpiring decision that was completely at odds with the rule that we had, only a day or two beforehand, considered in some detail. We don’t think it’s making too big a leap to suggest that most footy fans get their knowledge of the rules and their interpretation from TV broadcasts — whether it be the audio from umpires which is broadcast or the comments of those providing the TV commentary.
So, here goes with our first foray into developing a better understanding of the rules of the game. We’re going to start with one of the most contentious areas of the game: holding the ball.
Here’s the relevant rules, direct from Laws of Australian Football 2011 (including weird capitalisation!):
15.2.3 holding the football — Prior opportunity/No Prior opportunityOne of our correspondents in the previously-mentioned online discussion opined that footy is a simple game that people try to complicate. Our instinctive reaction was to scoff, but there’s actually something to that view — especially when you take the time to read and analyse the rules.
Where the field Umpire is satisfied that a Player in possession of the football:
(a) has had a prior opportunity to dispose of the football, the field Umpire shall award a Free Kick against that Player if the Player does not Kick or Handball the football immediately when they are Correctly Tackled; or
(b) has not had a prior opportunity to dispose of the football, the field Umpire shall award a Free Kick against that Player if, upon being Correctly Tackled, the Player does not Correctly Dispose or attempt to Correctly Dispose of the football after being given a reasonable opportunity to do so.
15.2.4 application — specific Instances where Play shall continue
For the avoidance of doubt, the field Umpire shall allow play to continue when:
(a) a Player is bumped and the football falls from the Player’s hands;
(b) a Player’s arm is knocked which causes the Player to lose possession of the football;
(c) a Player’s arms are pinned to their side by an opponent which causes the Player to drop the football, unless the Player has had a prior opportunity to Correctly Dispose of the football, in which case Law 15.2.3 (a) shall apply;
(d) a Player, whilst in the act of Kicking or Handballing, is swung off-balance and does not make contact with the football by either foot or hand, unless the Player has had a prior opportunity to Correctly Dispose of the football, in which case Law 15.2.3 (a) shall apply; or
(e) a Player is pulled or swung by one arm which causes the football to fall from the Player’s hands, unless the Player has had a prior opportunity to Correctly Dispose of the football, in which case Law 15.2.3 (a) shall apply.
15.3.1 correct disposal
A Player Correctly Disposes of the football if the Player Kicks or Handballs the football.
There are only three key factors in administering this rule — prior opportunity, whether the ball is dislodged as part of the tackle, and correct disposal (or attempt). This mind map spells out the decision making process.
Clarification: The mind map has been altered to reflect the effect of 15.2.4 (c), (d) and (e), wherein a player having had prior opportunity loses the chance to make an attempt at a correct disposal. The ball can still be dislodged by an incidental blow to the arms, but otherwise, if a correct disposal is not made, it is a free kick against.
The points of potential controversy are whether the ball was dislodged as part of the tackle, the length of time associated with “a reasonable opportunity” and the legitimacy of attempts to correctly dispose of the ball.
To our later chagrin, we distinctly recall last weekend howling at an unfortunate umpire to enquire how an opposition player had disposed of the ball when tackled. The umpire, who was somewhat closer than our position high in the eyrie of the Great Southern Stand, had clearly judged that the ball had been dislodged as part of the tackle. Yesterday, watching the game on TV, we viewed the holding the ball decisions in a new, more enlightened, light. We’re not yet prepared to extend an olive branch to The Giesch, but we’re sure the umpires are actually doing a much better job than we’d been giving them credit for.
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2 comments:
I really like the flow chart! IMO that makes more sense than the text description...
Good work and btw for the readers sake, I was one you where arguing with :)
It was your notion that footy is a simple game that suggested the use of mind mapping. It's not unusual that a graphical representation — even a partial one — conveys a concept more effectively.
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