Nine-a-side football is a

sport Sport is a physical activity or game, often Competition, competitive and organization, organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The numbe ...

based on

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 Australian rules football playing field, oval field, often a modified ...

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 games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...

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.

Competitions

Examples of official tournaments held under these rules include: * The EU Cup * European leagues: Australian Rules Football League of Ireland, Scottish Australian Rules Football League, Welsh Australian Rules Football League * Haggis Cup * Bali Nines * Aussie Rules UK National League and India

Existing formats

* AFL 9s, sanctioned by the

Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the pre-eminent professional sports, professional competition of Australian rules football. It was originally named the Victorian Football League (VFL) and was founded in 1896 as a breakaway competition ...

is the non-contact game replacing the earlier Rec Footy. * Touch Aussie Rules, 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.

References

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

Rules

Advantages

Competitions

Existing formats

See also

References