Nine-a-side football is a

sport Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, ...

based on Australian rules football played informally by Aussie rules clubs but not yet an official sport in its own right. 9-a-side games are sometimes played on half size fields that are typically rectangular or more commonly rugby or soccer fields, with 9 players on the field at any one time, typically consisting of 3 forwards, 3 backs and 3 centre players. Often two games are played at the same time on a single Australian Rules or

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by str ...

pitch. Other times, 9-a-side makes use of the full space of the field when a full complement of players is not available. This variety is a more open, running variety of Australian rules.

Rules

The following rules apply in 9-a-side football as played by Aussie Rules UK:Aussie Rules UK
Definition of rules for use in UK league * Up to 9 players on each team, with 3 players each designated as forwards, centres and backs * After each goal the players must be in their respective third of the pitch but may rove freely after the ball-up * Goals and behinds may only be scored from within the forward zone * Players may bounce the ball only once before disposing of it * If the ball goes out of play (whether on the full or not) the nearest opponent shall kick the ball back into play All other rules remain unchanged. www.9asidefootball.com

Advantages

Australian Rules football has struggled to develop outside Australia partly because the game is highly resource intensive. A game requires the use of a large cricket oval, many players (40 including interchanges) and several officials. The adaptation of the game to rugby fields requires far fewer players and a pitch that is more readily available, and as a result, many more people are being introduced to the game outside Australia.

9-a-side football international

Examples of official tournaments held under these rules include: * The EU Cup * Bali Nines * Aussie Rules UK National League and India

Existing formats

* AFL 9s, sanctioned by the Australian Football League is the non-contact game replacing the earlier

Rec Footy Recreational Football (also known as ''Rec Footy'' or ''Recreational Footy'') was a non-contact version of the Australian rules football game first played in 2003 and later sanctioned by the Australian Football League's game development arm, it ...

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Touch Aussie Rules Variations of Australian rules football are games or activities based on or similar to the game of Australian rules football, in which the player uses common Australian rules football skills. They range in player numbers from 2 (in the case of k ...

, sanctioned by Aussie Rules UK is the non-contact game played in the UK. *

Metro Footy Variations of Australian rules football are games or activities based on or similar to the game of Australian rules football, in which the player uses common Australian rules football skills. They range in player numbers from 2 (in the case of k ...

is a 9-a-side game played on gridiron fields in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

References

{{Team Sport Variations of Australian rules football Sports originating in Australia

Rules

Advantages

9-a-side football international

Existing formats

See also

References