Page 530 - Ultimate Visual Dictionary (DK)

SPOR TS

Australian rules and START OF PLAY

Field
umpire
Gaelic football Center
circle

VARIETIES OF FOOTBALL have developed all over the world and Australian
rules football is considered to be one of the roughest versions, allowing full
body tackles even though participants wear no protective padding. The game
is played on a large, oval field by two sides, each of 18 players. Players can
kick or punch the ball, which is shaped like a rugby ball, but cannot throw
it. Running with the ball is permitted, as long as the ball touches the ground
at least once every 10 meters. The fullbacks defend two sets of posts. Teams
try to score “goals” (six points) between the inner posts or “behinds” (one
point) inside the outer posts. Each game has four quarters of 25 minutes,
and the team with the most points at the end of the allotted time is the
winner. In Gaelic football, an Irish version of soccer (see pp. 524–525), a SCORING
size 5 soccer ball is used. Each team can have 15 players on the field at a time.
Players are allowed to catch, fist, and kick the ball, or dribble it using their
hands or feet, but cannot throw it. Teams are awarded three points for getting
the ball into the net, and one point for getting it through the posts above the
crossbar. Gaelic football is rarely played outside of Ireland.
GOAL
(6 POINTS)
AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL FIELD
Goal Goal umpire
Right Fullback
fullback
Left
Center fullback
halfback 445–610 ft
(135–185 m)
Right BEHIND
halfback Left (1 POINT)
halfback 21 ft
(6.4 m)
Follower
Goalpost
Rover
Follower
Center 21 ft
square (6.4 m) Behind
Center post
circle
Left
center
Right center (wing) Behind- Goal-
(wing)
line line
Field Goal square
umpire
Center GOALPOSTS
Left half 107∕8 in
Right half forward (27.5 cm)
forward
Lace
Center half Left full
forward
forward
Right full
forward Full forward Leather
Boundary covering
line Goal umpire AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL

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