Worst Rule in World Sport

[Spurk]

I don't see a problem with deliberately putting the ball out of bounds in those other sports as the opposition gain possession automatically when this happens. Its only AFL that the ball is thrown in to a contested situation hence they had to bring in the deliberate rule in AFL to penalise players taking advantage of this anomoly.

Deliberately putting it out, is a get out, a soft release for pressure.

Lessens excitement, contest and generally makes for a watered down spectacle.

 

[Underdog]

Watch top netball on the tv sometime - the umps are always calling out 'infringement (eg contact, off-side), advantage' but not blowing the whistle. Play goes on, the players know the umpire saw it, and everyone understands.
In junior netball (up to about U15) they don't play the advantage because the game is much slower.

In rugby and soccer the ref will deliberately call 'play on' when an advantage is being played - this telss the players he saw the infringement and either thaoght it wasn't a penalty or he is playing advantage - either way, you don't stop.

There is a substantial difference between the speeds of those sports and AFL. They are also non-contact sports.

 

[Spadge]

i rate the Holding the Ball rule and the 50m penalty rule worse by a long shot

how many sports in the world does the only player making a play for the ball who gets instantly tackled by 3 guys who are sweating off him get penalised?

and the 50m penalty has just become out and out ridiculous...

these 2 rules alone are ruining AFL footy

 

[borgsta2006]

I think the advantage rule could be very much simplified by the umpire calling out Advantage and the team who is getting the free kick, the players continue as normal, then if there is no clear advantage, the umpire pays a free kick and blows the whistle. Such an easy thing, but the AFL seem like they don;t want to know about it.

 

[Spanish_Fly]

Deliberately putting it out, is a get out, a soft release for pressure.

Lessens excitement, contest and generally makes for a watered down spectacle.

Sounds to me like your describing being able to rush the ball through the goals in AFL, not clearing the ball away from goals as the other sports have to. If you think it is a soft get out for other sports to put it over the touchline then how bad must it look to you when AFL players can deliberately put the ball through the oppositions goal to release pressure.

Imagine if soccer players could just put the ball in thier own net without a goal getting paid, that would be a soft way out. As with a lot of rules the afl differs from most sports. We have the only sport in the world where the ball is 5m out from goal and the defenders are scrambling to put the ball through the goals and the forwards are trying to keep it out.

 

[rgill]

I am researching the AFL umpires and our perceptions of their performance.

Would very much appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete this voluntary survey (link below). Rest assured your answers will remain completely anonymous.

http://opinio.online.swin.edu.au/s?s=AFL_Umpires_2010

Please feel free to pass it on to any friends and associates who might like to have their say!

Thanks
Rob Gill
Swinburne University of Technology

 

[Spurk]

* Change the interpretation of the deliberate rushed behind to what the rules are, not just what the commentators say -- *Player needs to be in a contested situation, not just "under pressure".

* Scrap the 'no angle' when marking in the goal square.

* 30 metre penalty for over stepping the mark etc. 50 metres for Collingwood players obviously who will exploit that rule and wreck it for everyone.

* Bounce the ball at CHF after a player over steps the line when kicking out.
Bouncing at the top of the goal square is no reward or punishment to anyone.

* Allow players to run 20 metres without bouncing.

* 16 per side

* Cap interchange at 60 per game.

* Might adjust that bounce to 25 metres out instead of CHF.

As well as:

* Goal umpires to immediately acknowledge the ball has hit the post. Doesn't have to be much, just immediate.

* If a player comes off the ground after kicking a goal, the coach gets a fine.

* Make Collingwood use an away jumper.

* Footy on Good Friday.

* Retire Robert Walls.

 

[JimDocker]

The Advantage rule as it stands has to be the worst rule in world Sport.

I don't know of any other sport where the umpire has to blow the whistle to tell everyone he is not going to pay a free kick.

Whistle should not be blown, and this should be for all decisions, if the umps see a free kick, wait 2-3 seconds, watch the play unfold, if they need to still pay the free kick, blow your whistle, if not let the game flow. Pretty simple and in line with every other sport in the world.

Spot on Spanish Fly. It has irked me for years. Simply do not blow the whistle, just call out advantage and give it a couple of seconds. With the 50m penalty being so severe. Players are in a no win situation when the whistle goes. They have to play to the whistle, but the if they stop, the other team takes advantage of them. Dumb, dumb rule that needs the slightest change to work.

With all of the changes to interpretation and changes to rules. How this obvious one is always ignored is beyond me.

You make some good points. However, AFL is more similar to netball than say the Rugby's and Soccer, in that there are a significant amount of free kicks payed and possession is in dispute a lot longer. Letting play go on without a whistle will just cause a heartache of confusion unlike Rugby, where play is in the same direction and significantly slower in ball movement so it is easy to see when there is no advantage and when to bring it back. Soccer has far less players around the ball and advantage can quickly be assessed.

I think the problem lies with whistle happy umpires that are too quick to pay the 50 meter penalty. Umpires need to asses players intent when awarding 50's rather than putting their chest out over every tiny incident with those 'hey look at me' statements..."you touched him after the marking contest.....lets go fellas". It's getting beyond the joke. the worst part is when THEY make the mistake, and then pay a 50 for something soft like "demonstrative" behaviour or some bullsh*t...They're so precious these days.

Disagree with this one. No matter how annoying the umpires are. They have to be able to make decisions without petulant behaviour from players.

 

[eaglesnutcase]

The advantage rule is complicated by the man on the mark getting no leeway.If a player takes a mark on the run and goes 5mtrs over the mark you cant tackle or pull him up,You basically have to wait and see if he plays on and then try to tackle him ;of course hes gone by then.If a player goes over the mark the marker should be able to push him back over the mark.Surely the umpire can see if hes held too long THEN give 50.

 

[kosifantutti]

Agree entirely with the OP. One of the few things that is done better in soccer.

What really annoys me is that the player who ends up with the ball has to make a decision on whether the free went to his team mate or an opponent. The umpire will often pay a 50m penalty against the guy who kicks the ball and say "it was obviously against you". WTF. The players have to be umpires as well.

 

[CQTiger]

I think the advantage rule could be very much simplified by the umpire calling out Advantage and the team who is getting the free kick, the players continue as normal, then if there is no clear advantage, the umpire pays a free kick and blows the whistle. Such an easy thing, but the AFL seem like they don;t want to know about it.

I totally agree with you but why do you think the AFL is so against it Borgsta.
It is a blight on the game and can be improved so easily.
It is worse in local leagues where "smart" players anticipating a whistle on play for a free for their side grab the ball and take off while everyone else comes to a standstill and alot of umpires feel obliged to pay advantage when in reality this should not be given as play has basically stopped.

 

[samwise]

Agree one of the worst rules in sport. So unfair.
They did bring in that rule where the team chooses to have the advantage in the NAB cup this year I think? Gives some hope. Always just a goal here or there though so it doesn't get enough discussion.

 

[ocat1979]

Only the player who was infringed against should be allowed to play advantage, if any other player becomes involved in the play, the umpire should bring it back. I feel if we took away the advantage rule totally it would cause a lot of "professional" free kicks committed, where a team would deliberately give away a free kick to stop the opposition getting an easy run through the middle of the ground or an open goal.