Auskick Rules

Welcome to the Auskick Rules where you can find all you need to know about teaching footy at your school. The below Auskick Rules should be read in conjunction with the rules for each age group.

Auskick Rules
In any coaching program it is vital that the children actually get to play in appropriately structured games of Ausssie Rules (matches). The guidelines for such matches are defined in what is termed Auskick Rules – These rules have been adapted from the AFL’s Auskick rules for children and youth from 5 – 17 years of age to suit the UK climate of young children that are new to the game.

The Auskick Rules are:

The rules and procedures for conducting modified matches at varying age levels, particularly for school-aged children new to the game
Recommended for schools, community clubs and leagues that have a responsibility for delivering football to this age group.

Auskick Rules games are heavily modified at the early age levels. As children proceed through middle to later age levels, less modification occurs until by age 16, the standard rules are recommended (except in the case of female teams).

The rules are modified to ensure the emphasis is clearly placed on skill development, safety and enjoyment.

In Auskick Rules football:

The spirit of the game is important: Matches should be played in a good sportsmanlike and natured spirit.
The referee (possibly a coach) should instruct the players on the rules and procedures and be prepared to stop and take part in the game for the benefit of teaching purposes.
Children rotate through different positions and the interchange bench.
Restrictions on tackling are enforced primarily to ensure that players develop possession and disposal skills free of the pressure of being pushed, bumped or tackled. They are also employed to greatly reduce the risk of injury.
Similarly, to require that children must either hand pass or kick the ball, the ball is not to be kicked off the ground.
Barging (fending off or chopping past opponents) is not permitted.
To encourage disposal skills and develop team play, players may take only one or two bounces of the football.
Procedures are in place for penalties, including the possibility of being ordered off.
In younger age groups, pairs of players of similar size and ability are restricted to an area as this prevents ball chasing and subsequent congestion.
Coaches are allowed on the ground to coach and encourage in games involving players aged 5-15.

The interpretation and application of the Auskick Rules for each age group follows.

Introduction

The Auskick Rules are designed to ensure that participation in the game falls within the developmental philosophy of the program. It is designed for school aged children to:

be fun and safe
be designed specifically to maximize participation, skill learning and development
be based upon rules and procedures appropriate to the children involved
involve appropriately accredited coaches
provide a logical, sequential transition from introductory level through to competitions at club and/or school
be managed by the community

Playing ground, time and equipment
The Auskick Rules policy is committed to a reduced playing area, playing time and suitably modified equipment to take the emphasis away from endurance and allow for greater skill development. With smaller grounds the players are encouraged to concentrate on the game, because the ball is never far away.

Field sizes recommended are the optimum size and flexibility may be required to make best use of specific circumstances such as space available. In some cases smaller fields may be more appropriate.

Team composition
Smaller sided teams are also used in Auskick Rules. This allows individual players to have more frequent and longer contact with the ball. It also allows for grading and matching of opponents and teams.

With fewer players, play is more open, even when played on a reduced size oval. Because of the openness of the game, and the fact that fewer players are contesting the ball at once, marking and picking up skills can be better developed.

The spirit of the game is to give all available players a game of football. Therefore:

where difficulty occurs fielding full numbers, both coaches must agree to equate player numbers.
excess players should be given to the opposition team if they are unable to field the required numbers.
coaches should consider modifying the numbers per side to ensure all players participate (for instance, if planning 9-a-side but only 12 players in total are available: play 6-a-side. Or if 30 players are available, simultaneously play two games of 6-a-side, or one 9-a-side game with one 6-a-side game)

One-sided games
In the interest of their players learning and development, coaches should make changes in one–sided games to create a reasonable contest. Usually one-sided games result in little learning or enjoyment for either team, or their individual members, and they do not achieve Auskick Rules objectives. Recommended changes include ensuring good matching of players, different rotations, etc. Both coaches should work together to manage the game in this respect.

Use of zones
Zones restrict “pairs” of players to an area and thereby prevents ball-chasing and subsequent congestion where all players congregate around the ball. The zones start the players thinking about their positioning on the ground prior to being allowed the freedom to move wherever they wish as will be the case later.

Zones also enable groupings of players of similar size and ability to play within a zone. In general play, zones are not intended to lose continuity of the game. In other words, if a player runs out of his zone during a play, he and an opponent are allowed to continue until the play stops. Once this happens, i.e. ball up, free kick, a mark (in most circumstances) out of bounds or a score, the two players should be then directed back to their zones. Common sense should prevail when deciding if players run into a different zone.

Rotation of players
Children will experience playing in a variety of positions. The rotation of players through different positions and the interchange bench enables the development of a solid foundation to all skills and adds variety and interest to the game. Rotation through the zones applies to all games played by 5-8 and 9-12 year olds.

It is critical that coaches know positions and basic elements of positional play and be able to teach them to the children as they develop. With larger sized teams (12 and 15 a side), teaching positional play within zones is a learning outcome which will help children with the rules applying to ball ups and start to prepare them for unrestricted positional play in the 13+ year olds game.

It will also make the umpires’ job easier in instructing players to stay in their correct positions. (Auskick coach education programs will ensure that coaches are appropriately prepared to do this effectively)

Out of bounds
The fact that there are no boundary throw-ins means that the number of opportunities to kick the ball is increased, congestion is reduced and the ball is kept in motion.

Tackling
The Auskick Rules aim to provide players with the best possible conditions to learn, develop and improve their kicking and handballing by reducing the congestion and pressure on the player in possession. Tackling skills are introduced sequentially towards the end of the Auskick program, in conjunction with teacher and school consultation.

Players will develop evasive skills and be less likely to incur injury. Children will have increased confidence to attempt to gain possession. In responsibility to the safety of the tackler, players are not allowed to barge or chop past an opposition player at any level. Fending off with an open hand to the body (not above the shoulders or in the back) is allowed for 13+ year olds.

Gaining possession
At the appropriate time, the Auskick Rules policy allows for the skills of knocking and stealing the ball from the possession of an opponent. Contests to gain possession of the ball are part of the game.

Marking (catching)
The Auskick policy of marks being awarded over any distance is designed to reduce congestion and to encourage players to attempt to catch the ball. It also recognises that many youngsters cannot kick the ball over 10 metres.

Bouncing
The Auskick policy allows a player to have one (for the higher age group - two) bounces when in possession of the football to prevent players running excessive distances with the ball. This encourages disposal skills and team play.

Kicking off the ground
Although it might be argued that this is a skill in itself, the Auskick Rules policy disallows it, to enhance the development of possession and disposal skills by making players gain control of the ball. This will assist players to go for the ball confidently without worrying about injury to their hands.

The coach on the ground
Auskick Rules allow the coach on to the ground to provide praise of all children when warranted or explain errors immediately when they occur. It is the intent of the Auskick policy to enable teaching and feedback to occur as the game continues. In the older age group. 13+, the coach is to remain on the sidelines and to use a runner to deliver the teaching point or message.

Order off and distance penalties
Order off rules and distance penalties are normally used to reinforce the spirit of the game. They are generally invoked for such things as bad language, poor sportsmanship, disputing umpires decisions (order off) and hindering opposing players who have been awarded a mark or free kick (distance penalties).

Bad language, poor sportsmanship and disputing umpires decision is unacceptable and should be actively discouraged by those responsible for teaching the game (coaches and referees).

In line with accepted teaching principles, and if coaches are doing the job of a Auskick coach appropriately, it should be possible to deal with issues which arise in this area without resorting to the order off rule. This is particularly so with 5 – 8 year olds. The process of ordering off a child in this age group and the level of attention it creates is a severe punishment for a young child. It is likely to alienate the child and should be avoided. It should be possible to deal effectively with issues which may arise in this area immediately through counseling by the referee and the coach on the field.

Overstepping the mark is a coaching matter and should be dealt with on the spot by the umpire and coach. In the case of bad language, abusive language or behavior, time wasting, etc., the umpire should attempt to deal with it on the spot and if necessary refer it to the coach, who should then counsel the player regarding appropriate behavior. If it continues or worsens (i.e. a player is deliberately testing the umpire, the player could be substituted to another zone (including the bench) for counseling by a coach’s assistant and to have “think time”. An apology to the umpire may be appropriate prior to returning.

Distance penalties can be applied for breaches in the 9-12 and 13+ old games, but are not mandatory. The emphasis should still be on the process and, while the penalty can be used as a deterrent, the ability of the coach and umpire to teach during the game should be a priority.

Roles of coaches and umpires
Auskick coaches and umpires have key roles in ensuring the success of games played in the program. The competence with which they go about the task will determine how well the objectives of fun, safety, participation, learning and development are taught.

Coaches have a primary role in teaching players the skills of the game and how to play to the rules and umpires have a primary role in administering and teaching the rules. They also have other key elements of their roles referred to regularly throughout the Auskick Rules, with particular reference to the team, marking, positional play, order off and distance penalties and the spirit of the game. The competency with which they carry out these aspects of their roles will be crucial in determining program success.

Spirit of the game
With the rules designed to encourage participation, safety, skill and fun for all participants throughout their development, the spirit of the game is to ensure that it is played in a fair manner and spirit of true sportsmanship. Coaches and umpires should meet and shake hands prior to the game. Umpires should instruct players and coaches on rules and procedures. At the end of game, players, coaches and umpires should all shake hands and the umpires should be acknowledged and thanked by the coaches.