Some questions have been raised recently by players and coaching staff about umpires paying free kicks for what is deemed ‘deliberate out of bounds’.
Please note the following from the current Law Book.
15.6 Free Kicks — Relating to Out of Bounds
15.6.1 W hen Awarded
A Free Kick shall be awarded against a Player who:
(a) Kicks the football Out of Bounds on the Full;
(b) In the act of bringing the football back into play after a Behind has been scored, Kicks the football over the Boundary Line without the football first being touched by another Player;
(c) Intentionally Kicks, Handballs or forces the football over the Boundary Line without the football being touched by another Player;
(d) having taken the football over the Boundary Line, fails to immediately hand the football to the boundary Umpire or drop the football directly to the ground;
(e) Touches the football after the boundary Umpire has signaled that the football is Out of Bounds, except for a Player who has carried the football over the Boundary Line under this Law 15.6.1 or a Player awarded a Free Kick under these Laws; or
(f) Hits the football Out of Bounds on the Full from a boundary throw or a field bounce or throw by a field Umpire.
I would like everyone to note part (f) of the Law. On a number of occasions, in both Leagues this season, we have been ‘abused’ by players when this situation has occurred. Quite rightly as a follow up to the abuse (because of the free kick!), the Field Umpires have then awarded a 50m penalty for the abuse. This will continue to happen until players (and coaches) acknowledge the Law and change their actions!
A question was raised about this law at the ‘Meet the Coaches’ night earlier in the season, yet we have still had instances of players carrying out the action. Sorry folks but the law stands – players and coaches should take note!
I’ve also highlighted part (c) of the law as umpires have also been abused by players and coaches, when this decision has been given. A players intent can be argued until the cows come home – how did you know what the players intent was? Fair call I say, because some players can ‘disguise’ their actions cleverly. I’ve noted on an odd occasion a player keep the ball in play (that’s the whole object of the game isn’t it?), by knocking it back towards the field of play and have the ball cannon off of an opposition players’ leg (below the knee), which in turn has seen the ball cross the boundary line, on the full – free kick!
But if a player is on his own and under no (or little) pressure and decides he is either going to kick or handball towards the boundary line, then perhaps they should be re-thinking their actions – or suffer the penalty!
Last Modified on 19/07/2011 00:11