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competent decision-makers from reaching the top levels of umpiring. The bounce is also physically demanding on the back and hamstrings and is a major cause of field umpire injuries. These two effects are compounding, with physical demands limiting the amount of time umpires can spend perfecting the craft. These reasons have resulted in opinions that all bounces should be replaced with throws.
107:. Generally, the ruckmen try to jump and tap the ball down to one of the team's rovers. To that end, the height to which the ball is thrown or bounced needs to be at least above the outstretched arms of the teams' ruckmen; ruckmen may also try to take clean possession of the ball, or allow it to fall to ground and become a ground contest. The
263:
An umpire may recall an errant centre bounce which skews in such a way that it does not create a fair contest between the two ruckman, stopping play and re-setting the players to execute a second ball-up by throw. Rules allowing for errant or skewed bounces to be recalled were also introduced only in
209:
Boundary throw-ins were not always used in the sport's early history. Specialist boundary umpires were introduced in 1904, with the field umpire performing the restart before this. Originally the umpires punched ball back into play; in 1910, this was changed to a short backwards throw-in, extended to
157:
execute the ball-up; this includes leaving a corridor immediately behind the umpire for him to retreat into. The two ruckmen must stand apart, and may not physically engage each other until the umpire has bounced or thrown the ball; but once the ball is in flight, they may engage in the ruck contest.
156:
A ball-up may be contested by only one player (generally the ruckman) from each team, nominated by the players and confirmed by the umpires prior to throwing or bouncing the ball. There is no restriction on the positioning of other players around the contest, provided there is space for the umpire to
255:
These markings were introduced over time to manage a variety of issues. The centre square (originally a centre diamond) was introduced in 1973 to prevent congestion from having too many rovers around the centre bounce. The centre line was introduced in 1982 to prevent players from wrestling prior to
205:
A boundary throw-in occurs to restart play after the ball goes out of bounds. The boundary umpire stands at the point where the ball went out of bounds, back turned the players, and flings the ball high and backwards over his head towards the ruck contest; the ball spins end-over-end. The same rules
276:
The skill of being able to bounce an obloid-shaped ball vertically upwards on a grass surface is unique to
Australian rules football, and is much loved by traditionalists. However, it is very difficult to master, and it is blamed for deterring aspiring umpires from pursuing the job, or hindering
188:
The ball-up has been a feature of the Laws of the Game since 1872; prior to this, a scrimmage would be allowed to continue until the ball was won. Ball-ups were originally thrown, but bouncing had become common from as early as 1880; the rules formally changed to a mandate a bounce in 1887.
180:
The rule requiring that only one ruckman from each team contest the ball was introduced in 2017. Prior to this, a common strategy was for one ruckman to block the other while a team-mate entered the ruck contest and won the tap-out, becoming what was known as a
127:
A centre bounce (or centre throw) is staged at the beginning of each quarter and after each goal. A general ball-up is staged after all other neutral stoppages in play, with the exception of after the ball goes out of bounds, which is restarted by a
114:
Under modern rules, in place since 2013, almost all ball-ups are executed by throw, with only the ball-ups in the centre of the ground at the start of each quarter and after each goal is scored executed by bounce – this type of ball-up known as a
119:. An umpire may also elect to throw instead of bounce if soft or wet ground conditions preclude bouncing; prior to 2013, soft ground condition was generally the only reason for throwing the ball, with the bounce standard at all ball-ups.
251:
These restrictions apply only to the initial centre bounce, or a centre throw after a recalled centre bounce. An around-the-ground ball-up which happens to be at or near the centre of the ground is not subject to these restrictions.
267:
The centre bounce was introduced to the Laws of the Game in 1891. Prior to this, the ball was kicked off from the centre of the ground by the team who was scored upon (or, as determined by the coin toss at start of the game).
374:
99:
throws the ball vertically upwards. For a bounce, the umpire throws the ball firmly on the ground such that it bounces several metres up into the air approximately, although not always perfectly, vertically.
568:
57:
is the method by which the field umpire restarts play at a neutral contest after a stoppage within the field of play. It involves the throwing or bouncing of the ball up between two players, known as
284:
injuries for ruckmen in the early years of the 21st century. In addition to introducing the 10m circle to limit run-up length, free kicks were introduced against ruckmen leading with a raised knee.
210:
a long backwards throw in 1920, and was replaced with a ball-up near the boundary line in 1921. The modern boundary throw-in was re-introduced in 1931 and has persisted since then.
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649:
111:
is one of the most specialised positions in an
Australian rules football team, and is usually one of the tallest players or players with the highest vertical leap on the team.
226:
The laws governing a centre bounce (or centre throw) are more prescriptive, and lead to a different style of contest. Several rules consider the markings on the ground:
291:, rubber pads were installed in the very centre of the AFL venues to give the umpires a reliable surface for centre bounces. These were quickly removed after
247:
The team's other players have defined positions, with three inside the centre square (but outside the 10m circle), six in each 50m arc, and one on each wing
348:
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68:, occurs to restart play after the ball has gone out of bounds. It is governed by similar rules, although is not itself known as a ball-up.
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injuries caused by front-on knee clashes at centre bounces had become a common problem over the previous years.
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the bounce. The 10m circle was introduced in 2005 to limit the length of the ruckmen's run-ups, as
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569:"How the traditional bounce is hindering and rattling AFL umpires — while turning others away"
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Long run-ups and front-on knee clashes during centre bounces became a common cause of
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governing the ruck contest itself apply equally to a boundary throw-in as a ball-up.
103:
In both cases, the ball is then contested by the teams' ruckmen, which is known as a
264:
the 21st century, with bad bounces considered a variable of the game prior to this.
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There are two means of executing a ball-up: a throw or a bounce. For a throw, the
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Is the first to touch the ball in the air but is not one of the nominated ruckmen
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Touches or interferes with the ball before it reaches the apex of its trajectory
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132:. The rules governing a centre bounce differ from those of a general ball-up.
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Australian rules football ground markings are used for the centre bounce
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Boundary-throw in during a
Carlton and South Melbourne match in 1882.
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Gerry Carmen (23 November 1982). "Centre line – it's official".
404:. Vol. XIII, no. 341. Melbourne, VIC. p. 460.
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Illegally pushes the opposing ruckman out of the contest
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Illegally blocks the opposing ruckman from the contest
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A free kick is awarded in a ruck contest if a player:
61:, who then attempt to win possession for their teams.
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Fair Play (12 October 1872). "Review of the season".
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The ball is bounced in the very centre of the ground
299:slipped on one and suffered a serious knee injury.
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233:When the ball is bounced, each ruckman must be:
242:On the team's defensive side of the centre line
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434:. Melbourne, VIC. 4 November 1886. p. 6.
75:since 1872. Ball-ups are the equivalent of a
16:Method to restart play in Australian football
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464:. Australian Football League. Archived from
535:. Melbourne, VIC. 22 April 1891. p. 6.
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375:"Who will win from the ruck rule change?"
331:"AFL keeps interchange uncapped for 2013"
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176:Rucks the ball out of bounds on the full
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415:"The Norwood Footballers in Victoria".
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317:"Introduction to Aussie Rules Football"
152:Contesting the centre bounce in England
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970:Australian rules football terminology
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430:"Intercolonial football conference".
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567:Ben Waterworth (22 February 2017).
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29:bounces the ball in a game between
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144:Ruck contest in the SANFL in 1924
623:Laws of Australian Football 2013
373:Edmund, Sam (22 December 2016).
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594:"Rock-hard Gabba risks lawsuit"
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548:"A bid to beat bouncedown yips"
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71:Ball-ups have been part of the
64:A related type of contest, the
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546:Blake, Martin (1 May 2003).
354:. Australian Football League
239:Inside the 10m centre circle
236:Outside the 3m centre circle
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450:AFL History of Rule Changes
282:posterior cruciate ligament
258:posterior cruciate ligament
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419:. 15 July 1880. p. 6.
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659:Australian rules football
417:South Australian Register
87:from other team sports.
55:Australian rules football
815:Deliberate out of bounds
506:"New ruck rules for AFL"
491:. Melbourne. p. 42.
462:"Rule changes 1858-2013"
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349:"Laws of the Game 2021"
319:. USAFL. 23 March 2010.
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510:Sydney Morning Herald
381:. News Corp Australia
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929:Priority draft pick
863:coast-to-coast goal
777:chicken wing tackle
468:on 23 February 2014
512:. 16 December 2004
337:. 16 October 2012.
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830:Push in the back
820:Holding the ball
805:50-metre penalty
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750:spectacular mark
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602:. Retrieved
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576:. Retrieved
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531:"Football".
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514:. Retrieved
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934:Rookie list
662:terminology
27:Matt Stevic
949:Footy gods
871:super goal
810:Coathanger
797:Free kicks
709:place kick
598:Fox Sports
573:Fox Sports
472:8 February
385:1 February
379:Herald Sun
303:References
297:Shaun Rehn
272:Challenges
924:Positions
701:drop punt
697:drop kick
604:21 August
578:21 August
516:21 August
432:The Argus
358:21 August
91:Execution
77:jump ball
964:Category
909:Guernsey
904:Flooding
781:fend-off
767:Shepherd
717:set shot
681:Handball
295:ruckman
293:Adelaide
51:ball-ups
35:St Kilda
939:Time-on
889:Ball-up
839:Scoring
736:Kick-in
705:grubber
676:Clanger
553:The Age
489:The Age
287:In the
136:Ball-up
81:faceoff
47:ball-up
31:Carlton
25:Umpire
944:Umpire
894:Banner
846:Behind
772:Tackle
669:Skills
919:Names
882:Other
685:Kick
352:(PDF)
123:Rules
59:rucks
53:) in
49:(pl.
914:Laws
858:Goal
741:Mark
721:snap
713:punt
606:2021
580:2021
518:2021
474:2014
387:2017
360:2021
109:ruck
39:2011
33:and
335:ABC
83:or
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