USAFL Rules for 2009

The USAFL Executive Board has approved the following rules/laws for all USAFL clubs to adopt during the 2009 USAFL Season.

The USAFL Rules Committee look at all rules/laws of our game during the off-season to ensure we are keeping up with current AFL Laws and applying appropriate amendments & adjustments to those Laws that serve as practical interpretations for USAFL games. We also have established a set of our own unique USAFL rules/laws to better serve the development of the game here in the USA.

1. The 50/50 participation rule.
- The Rule will apply for all divisions at the 2009 USAFL Nationals:
- Clubs are encouraged to use the 50/50 rule in all games during the year but it is not mandatory.Clubs should establish if the rule is to be used prior to playing any game.
- The 50/50 participation rule is now changed from “can not play more than 9 Australians on the field” to “can not play more than 9 NON-NATIONALS on the field”.
- A “Non-National” player for a USAFL team is anyone that is not deemed an American.
- A “Non-National” for a Canadian team is anyone that is not deemed a Canadian.
- Nationality ruling to be determined by country of birth on passport.
- If you play an Australian, an Irishmen, or a New Zealander for example….all these nationalities are all deemed “Non-Nationals” and you can not play more than 9 of these players on the field at any one time.
- Therefore Clubs will need to have a minimum of "9 Nationals" on the field at all times.
- If a player cannot prove "National Status" that player will be deemed a "Non-National". If you area an American or a Canadian, the onus will be on you to prove that status. If you cannot prove that status you will be deemed a "Non-National"
- 3 Point qualification system for eligibility to play at USAFL Nationals is to remain in place for all divisions.
- Exemptions can still be applied for.
 

2. Eligibility to play at USAFL Nationals based on players city of residence v's players previous city (or cities) of residence.
- Once you play your first organized inter-city game with a sanctioned USAFL club that is the only club you are deemed to be eligible to play for at Nationals.
- A player can play a Metro or intra-club game and this does not bind you to that club for Nationals.
- The rule only applies to inter-city games.
- Exemptions can still be applied for.

3. Kicking in after a behind is scored
- USAFL clubs generally don’t have the capacity to adopt the new AFL rule that allows players to kick tehball back in before teh goal upmire waves his flags after a behind is scored.
- We are sticking to the old rule where players can not kick in until the flags are waved.

4. Center circle
- We will adopt the AFL rule where only the ruckmen can be inside the (2nd) 10 m circle at a center bounce ruck contest.

5. Keeping "time on"
- USAFL Clubs don’t have the capacity to add time on for stoppages.
- Games will continue to be played without "time on".

6. Send Off Rule
- If a player receives a Yellow card he or she is sent off for 15 minutes and can be replaced on the field.
- If a player receives a Red card he or she is sent off for remainder of that game and cannot return to the field that day. The player will also be subjected to an automatic tribunal appearance.

If you have any questions please contact James Waddell, USAFL Office Manager, at officemanager@usfooty.com or on 720-530-5894 (cell). People umpiring USAFL games would be best served contacting USAFL National Umpires Director, Seth McElvaney at umpiredirector@usfooty.com or on 919.217.4632 (cell)

- USAFL Rules Committee & USAFL