Welcome to R40s Summer 2015 - Umpires addition

Hi All,
Welcome back to another season of R40s AFL9s. A big welcome also to the new teams who are participating for the first time. 
Our umpires got together last Tuesday to thrash out some ideas and options on how we can better umpire the game and reduce some frustration from both player and umpire. Attached below is the minutes of that Meeting. Please read  as it will assist in smoother running of our competitions.

All umpires were encouraged to focus on contact early in the game to set a precedence for the rest of the match. Most of our player are there to play a completely non contact social game  so it is up to the umpires to police even minor contact, including

• Off the ball contact, Blocking, shepherding  and grabbing player or shirts are all unacceptable and a free kick needs to be awarded. 
• Players Backing back will be free kicked against  if they make contact with stationary player. If the player is moving they are deemed to have initiated contact and the free kick will go to the man in front.(moving Back)
• Midfielders need to remove the tag of the player clearing the ball from the ruck, all to often they are being tackled or contacted in some way. If there is not a clear exit from the ruck free needs to be paid.
• Ruck contact continues to be a problem each player must start foot side by side and a Bball tip off is required (any leaning in is Penalised.) 
• Ruckman must tap the ball backwards to his on ballers standing 2 meters away. (Trial Rule)
•  The cleaner we get it out of the middle the more the game opens up. 

Local Rules

• When clearing the ball from the centre the midfielder has 3 seconds from taking possession of the ball regardless of whether he has been tagged or not. Eg… A Mid receiving the ball from the ruck he then has 3 seconds to get rid of the ball if after this time he is tagged then a free kick is paid. On the other hand if he is tagged immediately after he grabs the ball he is then given 3 seconds.
  
• Anywhere else on the ground other than the mid field a free kick will be awarded if the tag is removed with the player in possession, no prior is given.  
• Player must kick out from the imaginary goal square rather than behind the line.
• Ball is to be brought back through the goals if out of bounds close to goal.
• Players must start 2 metres back from the ruck contest and may only move fwd once ruck man makes contact with ball tapping it backwards. 
• Minimum kicking distance approx 5 metres
• No Running with the flight of the ball (Mackintosh Rule)
• Max. of 2 under 35s allowed on field at any time. (must be separate zones)

Reports, Warnings and Send off - New Rules

• For minor indiscretions,  e.g. Swearing, unsportsman like behaviour, Wreckless contact and umpire abuse.. players will be given an official warning, if a 2nd indiscretion occurs the player will be sent off . 
• All players sent off will not be allowed to return for the rest of the Match and the team will not be able to replace them.
• In serious cases a warning (umpires discretion) may not be given and a player sent off.
• If a player refuses to leave the field the game will stop until he has left the field.
• An umpire may deem that a serious indiscretion has taken place and a player may be put on Report. He must then leave the playing field for the remainder of the game. Over the course of the following week the incident will be reviewed by the competition co-ordinators and a decision will be made. Co-ordinators decision is final. Penalties will fall in line with AFL9s standards.
• 15m penalties will now be applied at the umpires discretion.

Umpire assistance 

• An umpire may at any time  call on the competition co-ordinator to assist on any dispute. 
• An umpire must report any serious injury to the Comp Co-ordinaters ASAP.
• Comp co-ordinators will now be available for each game. (Macca and I, will be free to complain to.)

I hope that this clears up any questions that anyone has. There is a Chat room set up on the app if you have any questions for the umpires. Keep it nice.

That's all for now good luck for monday night above all enjoy yourself,
As always Watch your contact,

R40s