• Download 2013 Laws of the Game
• Laws of the Game videos - 2013

The AFL Commission approved several changes to the Laws of the Game for the 2013 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, which will apply in the NAB Cup.
 
The key changes that now apply to the game are:

• Forceful Contact Below the Knees – A free kick will now be awarded against any player under existing Law 15.4.5 a (ii) Prohibited Contact, who makes forceful contact below the knees of an opponent (this does not apply to smothers with the hands or arms)
• Throw Ball Up Around the Ground - The bounce will continue to be used at the start of each quarter, and after goals, but umpires will now throw the ball up for all field stoppages during the game
• Ruckmen At Stoppages - Separation of ruckmen at stoppages, with no contact permitted until the ball has left the umpire's hand, to allow for a greater likelihood of the ball being cleared

The free kick for forceful contact below the knees was aimed to protect players from serious lower limb injuries such as broken legs, ankles and knee ACL injuries. The change to throw the ball up around the ground at stoppages has been introduced to help alleviate congestion by enabling play to be re-started more quickly.
 
The following rule interpretations have also been tightened to help alleviate congestion and encourage quick ball movement and genuine marking contests:

• Stricter enforcement of protected area around the player with the ball –
  • a) if in protected area, opposition player must remain passive and
  • b) can only enter protected area if within two metres of opponent (amended from five metres)
• Protect ball player by awarding a free kick for in the back or high contact against a player who sits or lies on top of a tackled opponent (having an arm across is permitted)
• Stricter interpretation of holding the ball where a player is tackled but doesn’t make a genuine attempt to kick or handball (including throwing/dropping/placing the ball)
• Free kick against a player for dragging or pushing the ball back under their opponent (as per previous NAB Cup trials)
• Paying free kicks for blocking infringements that interfere with marking contests and umpires to review their positioning to achieve a better balance between detecting infringements at stoppages and infringements occurring within the end zones
• Reduce time allowed for kick ins to five to six seconds (from when flags are waved) to be consistent with kicks around the ground

Help Topics

• 50m Penalties
• Deliberate Out of Bounds
• Holding the Ball
• Marking Contests
• Ruck Contests

Video examples

These videos provide examples of umpires in action and interpreting the laws.  Each example is accompanied by coaching points. 

Quit It's Your Call - 2012 - Jeff Gieschen (AFL Umpires' Manager) reviews several umpiring decisions from each round of the 2012 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

QAFL - 50m Penalty Umpiring Scenarios - Eight video clips and coaching notes have been provided by the AFLQ Umpiring Department. The clips review various umpiring scenarios relating to 50m penalties and include:

1. Encroaching the mark
2. Incorrect ball return
3. High contact
4. Entering the 5m protected area
5. Secondary free kick for prohibited contact

VFL - Video Review and Notes - 2010 - Eight videos and coaching notes from the VFL Umpiring Department. Umpiring scenarios include:

1. Holding the Man off the ball at a stoppage
2. Holding the Man by not releasing the tackle
3. Holding The Ball
4. Throw (scoop)
5. Incorrect Disposal 
6. Push in the Back
7. High Tackle and 50m penalty
8. Ruck contest

AFL Sydney - Video Review and Notes - 2010 - Five videos and coaching notes from AFL Sydney Umpiring Group. Umpiring scenarios include:

1. Awarding a free kick after a disposal
2. Deliberately rushed behind
3. Holding the ball
4. Fair bump - play on
5. No advantage

AFL Tasmania State League - Video Coaching Examples - 2010 - Videos from the AFL Tasmania Wrest Point State League match between Lauderdale and Hobart. Each clip focuses on a specific umpiring situation.