Australian Rules Football in Australia

• Basically the game is played on an oval shaped pitch with 4 posts at each end.
• There are 18 players for each side on the ground at any time and another 4 reserves on the bench who can be exchanged at any time.
• The game begins with a bounce in the centre square by one of the 3 umpires, and the object is to get the ball from the centre to between the two middle posts at the end the team is kicking at the time. The middle posts earn 1 goal or 6 points. If the kick is off line and passes between the outer posts, or hits one of the middle posts, it counts only as a behind, or 1 point.
• A ball hitting the outer posts, or crossing the boundary line anywhere on the ground, is deemed 'out-of-bounds' and is thrown in to a ruck contest.
• Scores of over 100 points are frequent, and there is rarely a drawn game. From the centre bounce the ball can be moved forward by hand-balling (punching the ball while holding or supporting it in the other hand), kicking the ball, or even soccering it along the ground. The ball must never be thrown.
• To score a goal the ball must pass between the centre post directly from a kick without being touched or interfered with by any other player. Practiced performers can do this from up to 65 metres from the goals with great accuracy.
• If a ball travels more than 10 metres directly from a players foot and is cleanly caught (marked) by a player of either team, a mark is paid which allows the player to move backwards from where they marked the ball and kick the ball forward from that position without interference.
• Marking contests among players attempting to catch the ball provide spectacular contests with players soaring to great heights in their attempts to gain the ball cleanly.