Discussed tonight On The Couch the inconsistency with the 5m zone when a mark or free kick is paid. Is it worth contemplating an "offside" rule such as rugby whereby any opposition player who is within, or goes within the restricted zone (such as when following an opposition player) is ruled offside, and is not able to affect the natural course of play until they have removed themselves from the offside area? No penalty is paid while they are in the area unless they impact the play. Should they impact the play, a 50 would be paid as it currently is.
Essentially, players are not required to be 5m away from the player with the mark/free kick, but would not be able to impact play until they have moved out of that area . A player takes a mark, moves back two or three steps, and there are generally a couple of opposition players that do not move away from their initial position in the contest - they are not penalised for not moving, but are not able to tackle or smother the marking player when he plays on until they have moved out of the restricted area. The opposition players have a carrot to move out of the area ASAP, as they are not able to impact play until they have moved out of the area even if the marking player plays on.
I envisage any such rule would have an interpretation for the umpire of whether an opposition player has tried to move out of the restricted area. For example, a player would not be able to attract a 50m penalty through marking and directly kicking it at an opposition player who hasn't yet cleared the area, as the umpire would rule that they have not had a reasonable amount of time to move out. If an opposition dawdles they could conceivably lose that protection (similiar in principle to an opposition runner guarding space).
Pros - No 50m penalties for movements within the "area" that don't impact the play. Reasonably easy to transfer to lower levels of football.
Cons - More grey areas for the umps to control. Changing rules again. More requirement for umps to communicate with players (Number 21 - you are still offside!)
Essentially, players are not required to be 5m away from the player with the mark/free kick, but would not be able to impact play until they have moved out of that area . A player takes a mark, moves back two or three steps, and there are generally a couple of opposition players that do not move away from their initial position in the contest - they are not penalised for not moving, but are not able to tackle or smother the marking player when he plays on until they have moved out of the restricted area. The opposition players have a carrot to move out of the area ASAP, as they are not able to impact play until they have moved out of the area even if the marking player plays on.
I envisage any such rule would have an interpretation for the umpire of whether an opposition player has tried to move out of the restricted area. For example, a player would not be able to attract a 50m penalty through marking and directly kicking it at an opposition player who hasn't yet cleared the area, as the umpire would rule that they have not had a reasonable amount of time to move out. If an opposition dawdles they could conceivably lose that protection (similiar in principle to an opposition runner guarding space).
Pros - No 50m penalties for movements within the "area" that don't impact the play. Reasonably easy to transfer to lower levels of football.
Cons - More grey areas for the umps to control. Changing rules again. More requirement for umps to communicate with players (Number 21 - you are still offside!)
