How does the AFL now define holding the ball?
Roar Rookie By Widget, 26 Jun 2012 Widget is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- 2012 AFL season, AFL, AFL umpires, holding the ball
I know I am not alone when I ask what is defined as holding the ball in the AFL these days. It is quite obvious that even the players in the AFL just aren’t quite sure.
As supporters of course we want to see free flowing and open football, but sometimes we want to see players putting their head over the footy to create a stoppage to help their team.
Quite clearly the AFL has instructed the umpires to try and get rid of players holding the ball in in tight situations.
Gone are the days when the rule was clear cut and players and supporters knew what was holding the ball and what was play on.
Now it seems as if there is a different interpretation of the rule, not just every week but in every game.
There is no wonder that players get frustrated in some situations, especially when an umpire’s explanation of holding the ball changes each time the players see them.
Even some of the legends of the game have come out and said that it is not that the rule needs to be changed but it just needs to be defined and enforced consistently.
For the sake of every footballer and every supporter’s sanity, something needs to be done.
- Explore:
- 2012 AFL season, AFL, AFL umpires, holding the ball
June 26th 2012 @ 8:40am
Redb said | June 26th 2012 @ 8:40am | Report comment
100% agree it is confusing.
Not sure how the AFL fix this as the classic intepretation of holding and dropping the ball have been ruled out of the game to keep it flowing. Ironicially the awarding of a free kick helps acheive this now rather than a rugby scrum forming.
June 26th 2012 @ 9:20am
Gr8trWeStr said | June 26th 2012 @ 9:20am | Report comment
I agree there is inconsistency in the application of the ‘Holding the Football’ rule. I think it comes from a blurring of the distinction between players with ‘Prior Opportunity’ and those with ‘No Prior Opportunity’. Players with ‘Prior Opportunity’ are let off if they ‘make an attempt’, when only players with ‘No Prior Opportunity’ are entitled to the ‘made an attempt’ get out clause. Players with ‘Prior Opportunity’ are also to easily let off because they are bumped or knocked and drop the ball.
The AFL, I think rightly, is trying to stamp out players diving on the ball to avert a dangerous situation so I don’t agree that should be allowed and is clearly against the current rules of the game.
I’ve included the relevant sections of the 2012 Laws of AFL below for reference.
15.2.3 Holding the Football — Prior Opportunity/No Prior Opportunity
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.
(c) Except in the instance of a poor bounce or throw, a Player who takes possession of the football while contesting a bounce or throw by a field Umpire or a boundary throw in, shall be regarded as having had prior opportunity.
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.
15.2.5 Diving on Top of the Football
Where a Player is in possession of the football by reason of diving on top of or dragging the football underneath their body, the field Umpire shall award a Free Kick against that Player if they do not immediately knock the football clear or Correctly Dispose of the football when Correctly Tackled.
15.2.6 F ootball Held to the Body of a Player
The field Umpire shall bounce the football when a Player, in the act of applying a Correct Tackle, holds the football to the body of the Player being Tackled or the football is otherwise pinned to the ground, unless the Player being Tackled has had a prior opportunity to Correctly Dispose of the football, in which case Law 15.2.3 (a) shall apply.
June 26th 2012 @ 10:30am
me, I like football said | June 26th 2012 @ 10:30am | Report comment
I think Law 15.2.3 (a) should appy for all instances of 15.2.4 (a-e) not just c,d and e
June 26th 2012 @ 10:00am
Col said | June 26th 2012 @ 10:00am | Report comment
The major problem I see surrounding the “holding the ball” rule this year is the increasing prevalence of the 2nd, and sometimes 3rd tackler in. The only reason why these players are getting involved in a tackle is to lock the ball in – the main thing the AFL is against. Yet it is the player who takes posession of the ball and is gang tackled, that is continually penalised for “holding the ball” in.
Tackles need to be limited to one-on-one. That way, if a player takes posession of the ball, is tackled one-on-one, and doesnt dispose of the ball correctly or make an attempt when he has had no prior, then reward the tackler with a free kick.
If a player takes posession of the ball and is tackled one-on-one, then a 2nd tackler gets involved, PENALISE the 2nd tackler, because the only reason why he is getting involved is to lock the ball in or stop the player in posession of the ball making a legitimate attempt to get rid of it.
This would stop the rucks forming, encourage players to win the ball, reward tacklers for making effective tackles, make the holding the ball calls easier for the umps, whilst maintaining a high speed contest.
June 26th 2012 @ 11:14am
swannies05 said | June 26th 2012 @ 11:14am | Report comment
I don’t mind this idea at all Col. I don’t really mind if there are two tacklers whilst the player is still on his feet, but once they are on the ground then if a player goes in to basically block any possible route for the ball to get out then they can be penalised. Am I right in saying that they do penalise now players for dragging the ball underneath their opponent? I know it isn’t in the rules published above, but I thought I heard this earlier in the year?
June 26th 2012 @ 11:48am
TomC said | June 26th 2012 @ 11:48am | Report comment
Absolutely!
On the one hand, umpires seem to be much more lax this season when assessing prior opportunity.
On the other hand, there’s much more onus on the player at the bottom of the pack to try and make an attempt to get rid of the ball.
What frustrates me most about the second point is that it so often seems to come down to how quickly the umpire calls for a ball up, which seems pretty arbitrary.
June 26th 2012 @ 12:41pm
Fitzy said | June 26th 2012 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
Oh hi Widget good to see you are still righting articles. I was a bit let down by this one though. I Fitzy has been to many umpiring clinics and well I think that it is harder to tell whether the players are holding the ball in or not. The umpires are doing a dam good job i would like to see you out there doing any better.
June 26th 2012 @ 12:55pm
Abbz said | June 26th 2012 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
After recently completing an umpiring course, I have been told to follow these 2 points when interpreting the holding the ball rule.
If an player have gains possession of the ball and is tackled without prior opportunity the must ATTEMPT to dispose of the ball.
Whereas If an player has prior opportunity and is tackled the must dispose of the ball immediately.
If a player does not follow these guide lines i have been told to award a free kick for holding the ball. My concern with this rule that is does not say anything about correct disposal of the ball, which I think umpires are forgetting about and letting players just throw the ball out when they are tackled.
June 26th 2012 @ 12:56pm
Fitzy17 said | June 26th 2012 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
hey widget i officially have an account
June 26th 2012 @ 1:45pm
kennoth said | June 26th 2012 @ 1:45pm | Report comment
Something needs to be done for sure…especially when a free is given close to goal.
There is often “stacks on the mill” stuff and the ump pulls a free for very obscure reasons just to clear the pack.
Two against one OK but that’s it. Third tackler in Penalised.
We don’t want to see ugly rugby mauling packs spoiling our beautiful flowing game.
June 26th 2012 @ 1:45pm
kennoth said | June 26th 2012 @ 1:45pm | Report comment
Something needs to be done for sure…especially when a free is given close to goal.
There is often “stacks on the mill” stuff and the ump pulls a free for very obscure reasons just to clear the pack.
Two against one OK but that’s it. Third tackler in Penalised.
We don’t want to see ugly rugby mauling packs spoiling our beautiful flowing game.