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An Australian rules football playing field is a venue where
A top-level Australian rules football ground has the following markings:
*Two goal-lines, one at each end of the field, which are straight and long, and contain the goal posts and behind posts. This the area through which points are scored.
*Two boundary lines, which are curved around the edge of the field and connect the two goal-lines. Together, the boundary-lines and the goal-lines mark out the playing area, in a slightly truncated oval.
*Two goal squares, one at each end of the field, which are in front of each goal-face. The line parallel to the goal line is called the kick-off line. This marks out the area from which a kick-in is taken.
*The imaginary continuation of the kick-off line in both directions is called the nine-metre line; it is not marked, but radial markings outside the boundary line, two at each end of the ground, indicate where the nine-metre line crosses the boundary line. The position of a mark or free kick taken on the defensive side of this line is always advanced to it.
*Two blue dots, in front of the centre of each kick-off line, indicating where the man on the mark stands for a kick-in.
*The centre square, which is in the centre of the ground. This square dictates how many midfielders can be present at a centre bounce.
*The centre circles: two concentric circles of and diameter, with a line bisecting them running wing-to-wing. These markings dictate where the ruckmen and other midfielders can stand during a centre bounce.
*Two fifty-metre arcs: a circular arc at each end of the field drawn between the boundary lines at a distance of from the centre of the goal-line, one red-and-white, and one blue-and-white. Originally introduced as a visual indicator of distance only, these markings now dictate starting positions for forwards and defenders at a centre bounce. Some competitions and exhibition games also allow for super goals, which score more points for a goal kicked from long range.
*Interchange gates: a series of yellow and white markings on the boundary line near the teams' interchange benches, which dictate where players may enter and exit the ground for interchanges.
Grounds at lower or junior levels will lack many of these markings, or paint them in lower detail.
At each end of the ground there are two goal posts, spaced apart; these are conventionally painted white. A further on either side of these are behind posts; the behind posts are shorter than the goal posts; additionally, in South Australia it is customary for behind posts to be painted red, in height. All posts are typically padded with
Australian rules football
Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
is played.
The playing field is typically a large oval-shaped grass
Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns a ...
surface, usually a modified cricket field
A cricket field is a large grass field on which the game of cricket is played. Although generally oval in shape, there is a wide variety within this: some are almost perfect circles, some elongated ovals and some entirely irregular shapes with l ...
. These fields may vary especially for variations of the game. However, for official Australian Football League
The Australian Football League (AFL) is the only fully professional sports, professional competition of Australian rules football. Through the AFL Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport's governing body and is responsible for controlling ...
matches, strict requirement specifications must be met for stadiums.
Standard specifications
Ground dimensions
Australian rules football grounds, even at the highest level of the game, have no fixed dimensions. For senior football, the playing field is an oval, typically between long goal-to-goal and wide wing-to-wing. Grounds can vary from long and narrow to almost circular, and are not necessarily symmetrical, depending upon how and where the field was constructed. At least of space between the boundary line and any fence is required for safety. Smaller fields are generally used for junior football; some are purpose-built, and some are temporarily marked out within the confines of full-sized oval; as for a senior match, there are no fixed dimensions for a junior-sized field. The Western Australian Football Commission advises that a good rule of thumb is to set the length of the field equivalent to times the length of an average kick of the age group playing.Ground markings
A top-level Australian rules football ground has the following markings:
*Two goal-lines, one at each end of the field, which are straight and long, and contain the goal posts and behind posts. This the area through which points are scored.
*Two boundary lines, which are curved around the edge of the field and connect the two goal-lines. Together, the boundary-lines and the goal-lines mark out the playing area, in a slightly truncated oval.
*Two goal squares, one at each end of the field, which are in front of each goal-face. The line parallel to the goal line is called the kick-off line. This marks out the area from which a kick-in is taken.
*The imaginary continuation of the kick-off line in both directions is called the nine-metre line; it is not marked, but radial markings outside the boundary line, two at each end of the ground, indicate where the nine-metre line crosses the boundary line. The position of a mark or free kick taken on the defensive side of this line is always advanced to it.
*Two blue dots, in front of the centre of each kick-off line, indicating where the man on the mark stands for a kick-in.
*The centre square, which is in the centre of the ground. This square dictates how many midfielders can be present at a centre bounce.
*The centre circles: two concentric circles of and diameter, with a line bisecting them running wing-to-wing. These markings dictate where the ruckmen and other midfielders can stand during a centre bounce.
*Two fifty-metre arcs: a circular arc at each end of the field drawn between the boundary lines at a distance of from the centre of the goal-line, one red-and-white, and one blue-and-white. Originally introduced as a visual indicator of distance only, these markings now dictate starting positions for forwards and defenders at a centre bounce. Some competitions and exhibition games also allow for super goals, which score more points for a goal kicked from long range.
*Interchange gates: a series of yellow and white markings on the boundary line near the teams' interchange benches, which dictate where players may enter and exit the ground for interchanges.
Grounds at lower or junior levels will lack many of these markings, or paint them in lower detail.
Goal posts
At each end of the ground there are two goal posts, spaced apart; these are conventionally painted white. A further on either side of these are behind posts; the behind posts are shorter than the goal posts; additionally, in South Australia it is customary for behind posts to be painted red, in height. All posts are typically padded with wall padding
Wall padding may go by a variety of names, including; Softwall, Wainscott, Cushion Wall, Safety Padding, and more.
Purpose
The primary purpose of wall padding is to provide a safe level of absorption for an individual making impact with an esta ...
to minimise injury due to players colliding with them.
Surface
Due to possible injuries caused to players moving at high speed by marking, jumping, turning and being tackled without protective padding, the playing field standards imply use oflawn
A lawn is an area of soil-covered land planted with grasses and other durable plants such as clover which are maintained at a short height with a lawnmower (or sometimes grazing animals) and used for aesthetic and recreational purposes. ...
as a surface.
Purpose-built stadiums
Almost all Australian rules football fields are of a suitable size and shape for cricket; and in the majority of cases, the fields are used for cricket in the summer and Australian rules football in the winter, a seasonal strategy which is part of the history of Australian sport. As a consequence of this, there are very few fields which were purpose-built for and used by Australian rules football to the exclusion of cricket and all other sports. However, there are many grounds – particularly those built more recently – which were built with Australian rules football as the primary intended purpose, but upon which other sports, including cricket, have been played.Variations
Variations of the standard field dimensions and layout exist. For junior levels, smaller fields are often used. Rectangular fields have also been used in the past in Australia and also overseas, as well as adapted fields from other sports such asAssociation Football
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
and American Football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
.
References
{{reflist Sports venues by type * Sports rules and regulations Grass field surfaces