AFANA Footy BBS

This will probably be posted too late for this week's game however, next time you watch Highlights in your area, don't watch it at home.

Instead, go to a local bar, better yet, a sports bar and ask to have it put on just before the game, usually at 5PM on Friday. Every time I do this I find an instant interest in that TV screen.

Americans seem to really love the game, (for one thing they love large scores as opposed to the small ones in Hockey and soccer)

But of course, most Americans don't understand it. Explaining some of the basics to them may take a little away from your own enjoyment of the game, but you can always set your VCR at home to record it before you leave.
And you can refer them to the Afana FAQ or print it out. However, for a first time fan, I'd tell them to skip the first few sections on field size, ball description, etc.

Another thing to do is contact your local sports page editors, many of them have never seen a game. Tell them they can find the rules at AFANA.com FAQ. If sports editors like it they may help put the pressure on TV networks.

http://www.angelfire.com/folk/irishcelts

> This will probably be posted too late for this week's game however, next time you
> watch Highlights in your area, don't watch it at home.

> Instead, go to a local bar, better yet, a sports bar and ask to have it put on just
> before the game, usually at 5PM on Friday. Every time I do this I find an instant
> interest in that TV screen.

Great suggestion... though fair warning to other readers... see the AFANA TV page. It's probably not at 5 PM on Fox Sports Net any longer in your area. Massive schedule mayhem on FSN.

> Another thing to do is contact your local sports page editors, many of them have
> never seen a game. Tell them they can find the rules at AFANA.com FAQ. If sports
> editors like it they may help put the pressure on TV networks.

Using our FAQ is always good. There are some sports writers and editors around here so maybe one of them can chime in with further suggestions.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA home page

> But of course, most Americans don't understand it. Explaining some of the basics to
> them may take a little away from your own enjoyment of the game, but you can always
> set your VCR at home to record it before you leave.
> And you can refer them to the Afana FAQ or print it out. However, for a first time
> fan, I'd tell them to skip the first few sections on field size, ball description,
> etc.

When I explain footy to somebody, I always give them my "3-2-1 Footy", and then tell them to ask me when they want to know more:

• THREE ways to move the ball:
  • Run with it, but every half dozen steps or so the ball must touch the ground. Pantomine a description of a good player flipping the ball in front of them and catching the rebound, and a weaker player bending over to touch the ball as they run. Done well, it will get you a laugh and secure their attention.
  • Handball, where you hold the ball in one hand and punch it out with the other.
  • Kicks, and if you catch it after it goes 15 metres you can play on or take a free kick on the spot.
• TWO ways to score:
  • Six points for a goal if the ball is kicked between the center posts, on the fly, on the bounce, or on the roll.
  • One point if it goes anywhere else between the outer posts, hits the inner posts, somebody touches a kicked ball, or somebody runs over the line.
• ONE rule of tackling:
  • For the defense, it is you can only grab the ball carrier from the waist to shoulders.
  • For the ball carrier, you've got to try and get rid of the ball as soon as they grab you.

    -- RW "KC Swan" Lipp

Thanks to some great work by Paat Kelly, we have a short PDF guide to footy you can download and use at your GF party. It's now part of our Footy FAQ. The link to download is below.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA Aussie Football Guide (PDF)

> Thanks to some great work by Paat Kelly, we have a short PDF guide to footy
> you can download and use at your GF party. It's now part of our Footy FAQ.

Great work Paat, but I think I spotted one small mistake for version 2. Doesn't a kick now have to go 15m for a mark? Or did they change that rule back?

Looking around, the USFooty web site has a 2001 rule book that says 10m. But the AFL web site, on a page updated in 2002, says 15m. Or did they change it back?

       -- RW "KC Swan" Lipp

Marking The Football

> I think I spotted one small mistake for version 2. Doesn't a
> kick now have to go 15m for a mark?

Yes, I believe you are correct, KC. We'll get that fixed.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA Aussie Football Guide (PDF)

> Yes, I believe you are correct, KC. We'll get that fixed.

Thanks KC, thanks Rob. Nice catch. I'll make the changes.

The guide was designed to put into those clear plastic info holders in bars and restaurants. I've been using it for a few months now and it seems to answer most of the questions people new to the sport have. I've worked a deal with five area bars to put them out when the Highlight Show is on and they tell me that the feedback they've received is all positive. Now if only we could have had a consistent schedule on FSN it might have made a stronger impact, but there is always next year.

Enjoy the Grand Final! I won't be rooting for a team, only for a close, rough game that is a thrill a minute. There will be a lot of people that have not seen a game at my house for the final and I want to hook some new fans.

> Yes, I believe you are correct, KC. We'll get that fixed.

It's supposed to be 15, but it seems the officials' meters are sometimes shorter than the average person's.

> It's supposed to be 15, but it seems the officials' meters are sometimes
> shorter than the average person's.

Perhaps so, but all the distance missing from a kicked meter is more than made up in the definition of a running meter. I mean, how big can the field really be if a player can run end-to-end on three bounces?

      -- RW "KC Swan" Lipp 

It's all on a single page just perfect for passing around in a bar and it's simple.

For someone who is brand new to the game, you don't want to clutter their heads up with too much information, or they lose interest.

Later on we can refer them to this website or give them the more detailed rules.

> Perhaps so, but all the distance missing from a kicked meter is
> more than made up in the definition of a running meter. I mean, how big can the
> field really be if a player can run end-to-end on three bounces?
>

Actually I was thinking the same thing. I remember one game where Winston Abraham ran half the field on (I think) two bounces. So I guess it all evens out.