Indoor Rules

Indoor Rules is a sport invented by Graham Rickman, who is a Perth based Australian entrepreneur. The game is an indoor based version of Australian Rules Football and is aimed at making AFL more accessible and social for casual players. Teams play with seven players on the field at a time and during four nine minute quarters. The game is also known as Indoor Football or Indoor AFL.
Rules of the game
The Basics
A team consists of seven players on the field at a time. All teams are permitted a maximum of five interchange players on the bench.
The game duration is 40 minutes consisting of 4 x 9 minute quarters with a 1 minute break.
Substitutions are unlimited, however all substitutions must be authorized by the umpire. No substitute of the full forward or the full back can be made during play of the game. You can only substitute the full forward or full back at the end of each quarter.
The Game
The game starts from the centre ball up. On each quarter, the team scored against re-starts the game from the centre ball up. The playing field consists of the entire pitch. Rebounding off the side & front netting is allowed. Hence the ball is never out of play.
All ruck contests must face their full back and they have to tap the ball out, they can't grab the ball out of the contest.
The onballer player to kick the ball to full forward should be at least three (3) meters away for it to be a mark.
Every kickout from the full back, the full forward must stand out of the way in the square for the full back to kickout.
If the full back steps out of the box when he kicks it out, it is a free kick to the opposition.
No substitute of the full forward or the full back during play of the game. You can only substitute the full forward or full back at the end of each quarter.
When the full forward marks the ball and takes a set shot at goal, it will be awarded eight (8) points, but if he plays on, it's only worth six (6) points.
In order for a goal to count, a shot must be taken over the half way line. Any player who tries to score a goal from behind the half way line - its no score and the ball is dead. The opposite sides full back must kick the ball back into play. Any player who marks the ball over the half way line can go back and kick a goal.
Any free kicks over the half way line - can go back and kick a goal.
Any player who marks the ball or gets awarded a free in their forward half, and do a drop kick to score a goal, they will be awarded nine (9) points instead of six (6) points.
Free Kicks
Free kicks can be awarded during a game for breaking any of the following rules:
• Players must be three (3) meters away from the ball at a free kick.
• Pushing in the back
• Charging
• Bouncing the ball
• Taking more than four (4) steps
• Side bumps
• Using the elbow
• Fighting
• Holding the ball for more than five (5) seconds
• Any tackles
• Body on the ground and knees
• Onballers entering the full forward or the full back square
• Full back stepping out of the square when kicking out
• Abusiveness towards the umpire
• The full back or the full forward stepping over the half way line
• Grabbing the ball out of the ruck contest
• Any touching of players
Disciplinary
A player shall be sent off the ground if, in the opinion of the umpire, they:
a) are guilty of serious foul play;
b) are guilty of violent conduct;
c) use foul language (to the umpire or to another person);
d) are guilty for the second time of a cautionable offence.

The following serious infractions may result in game suspensions and/or immediate dismissal of any coach, spectator, parent or player for the remainder of an Indoor Rules Season:
a) Fighting will get red carded and one (1) weeks suspension.
b) Foul language directed at any umpire, coach, spectator, parent or player will get a red card and two (2) weeks suspension.
c) A direct attempt to injure another player will get a red card and three (3) weeks suspension.
Repeated excessive roughness or foul and abusive language will get a red card and one (1) week suspension.
The Card System
GREEN CARD - Warning
YELLOW CARD - Three (3) minutes send off
RED CARD - one (1) to three (3) weeks suspension

Pushing or charging another player into the net is a free kick and a green card warning. A second offence will be a yellow card and a three (3) minute send off and a free kick will be awarded.

A team receiving four (4) yellow cards in either the first half or the second half of the game will immediately forfeit the game.

If a player receives a red card he will sit out the remainder of the game and his team will play a person down. A team receiving two (2) red cards during the game will immediately forfeit the game.
Facilities
There are currently three indoor complexes in Victoria, Australia that offer Indoor Rules as a game for patrons to play. The centres are; Knox Indoor Sports Centres in Knoxfields, Leisure City Indoor Complex in Epping and the Westgate Fitness Centre in Altona.

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