Free kick (Australian rules football)
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A free kick in Australian rules football is a penalty awarded by a field umpire to a player who marks a ball (catches a kick that travels 15 metres) or has been infringed by an opponent.
When a free kick is paid, the player's opponent must "stand the mark" (stand on the spot where the umpire indicates that the free kick was paid) and the player is supposed to go back and kick over the mark.
A player receiving a free kick is not restricted to kicking the ball; he can play on by handballing to another player, or run around the mark where the free kick has been paid.
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[edit] Examples of free kicks
Free kicks are commonly paid for:
- Holding the ball: when the player with the ball is tackled and cannot dispose of the ball legally despite having had a prior opportunity to do so; or when a player lying on the ground drags the ball underneath his body and does not attempt to dispose of it.
- Holding the ball/Running too far: when the player runs with the ball for more than 15 metres but does not bounce it or touch it on the ground, or dispose of it.
- High tackle/high contact: when the tackler makes contact above a player's shoulders.
- Holding the man: holding or tackling a player that doesn't have the ball.
- Tripping: when the player is tackled below the knees.
- Push in the back: pushing a player in the back is not allowed (e.g. in a marking contest).
- Out on the full: when the ball is kicked and travels over the boundary line before bouncing or being touched by another player.
- Throwing the ball: when the ball is thrown rather than handballed.
This list is by no means exhaustive.
[edit] Downfield
If a free kick is awarded to a player that does not have the ball, and the ball is downfield (closer to that player's attacking goal), then the free kick may be paid downfield where the ball is rather than where the infringement occurred, as that is a greater penalty to the infringing team. Examples of downfield free kicks are when a player has been hit behind play, or when a player has kicked the ball downfield and is bumped some time later (when contact could have been avoided).
[edit] Advantage
Players may ignore the whistle that indicates a free kick has been awarded, and play on. If stopping play is disadvantageous to the team receiving the free kick, then advantage is paid to that team. An example of this is when a player tackles his opponent, the ball spills free and is collected by a player on the tackler's team, and the ball is moved downfield. In this case, stopping the game for the free kick would penalise the team that earns the free kick, hence advantage is paid. If allowing play to continue is not advantageous to the team earning the free kick, then the umpire will stop play and call for a free kick to be taken at the place of the infringement.
[edit] 50-metre penalty
If play has stopped, and a second infringement occurs before the free kick has been taken, then a 50-metre penalty is awarded (the free kick is taken 50 metres closer to goal). A 50-metre penalty may also be awarded if a defensive player runs across the imaginary line between the man on the mark and the man taking the kick. Attacking players may run through the mark as often as they like, but defensive players may not do so at any time- even if they are following their direct opponent.
