Bendigo Umpires Association director of coaching Dean Goodridge has urged players, coaches and supporters to have patience with umpires as they transition to the new rules for 2019.
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The Bendigo, Heathcote District, Loddon Valley and North Central football leagues will implement seven of the AFL’s nine rules and interpretation changes for the 2019 season.
"Footy is one of the most complicated sports in the world, so having seven interpretation changes doesn't make our life any easier,'' Goodridge said.
"The rationale behind them is to make Aussie Rules a better game to watch and faster scoring game, so I respect that.
"We want to get out to training at clubs and communicate these new rules as soon as possible and make the transition as smooth as possible.
"The contact below the knee rule change and protection zone rule change last year took umpires and players some time to get used. This year won't be any different."
The AFL's controversial six, six, six centre bounce set-up won't be introduced nor will the new rule governing the use of team runners and water carriers.
Under AFL rules for 2019, the team runners may only enter the playing surface after a goal has been kicked, while water carriers are not permitted to enter the ground during live play.
That rule won't be introduced at regional level and runners/water carriers will have the same access to the playing field as they have in recent seasons.
The rules and umpire interpretations that will change for the BFNL, HDFNL, LVFNL and NCFL centre around kick-ins, kicking for goal after the siren, 50m penalties, marks/free kicks deep in defensive 50, ruck contests, umpire contact and marking contests.
At kick-ins, the player with the ball will no longer need to kick the ball to himself to play on from the goalsquare, while the man on the mark will be 10m out from the goalsquare instead of the traditional five metres.
A player who has a kick for goal after the siren has sounded will be able to kick across their body using a snap or banana kick, but the player must kick the ball directly in line with the man on the mark and the goal.
When a 50m penalty is awarded the player with the ball will be able to pay on while the penalty is being measured out.
Defenders will be given more space to kick the ball when a mark or free kick is awarded wihtin nine metres of their own goal. The man on the mark will be brought in line with the top of the goalsquare.
The prior opportunity rule for ruckmen has changed.
A ruckman who takes direct possession of the ball from a bounce, throw-up or boundary throw-in will no longer be regarded as having had prior opportunity.
At centre bounces, players will not be allowed to set up behind the controlling umpire.
In marking contests, the hands in the back interpretation has been changed.
A player can place his hands on the back of his opponent to protect his position in a marking contest provided he does not push his opponent in the back.
Goodridge said the upcoming series of practice matches in March would be of great benefit to umpires and players.
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