WAFL Tightens Holding the Ball Rule and Punishes Delaying Tactics

The WAFL will crackdown on holding the ball interpretations this season, along with applying stricter penalties for delay of game tactics by players for both WAFL and WAFLW competitions.

WAFL and WAFLW Umpiring Operations Manager Dean Margetts points out these are not new laws, more an alignment as to how the rules should be officiated.

“This season umpires will be less lenient on players who’ve had prior opportunity and don’t immediately and correctly dispose of the football.

The stricter holding the ball interpretation includes a focus on players ducking into tackles, with clubs warned that anyone who ducks their head prior to being legally tackled will be penalised more stringently,” Margetts said.

The former AFL umpire says the WAFL is also set to place more scrutiny on delaying tactics this season.

“Clubs have been told that umpires will be less lenient towards players who deliberately delay play after free kicks or 50 metre penalties.

Players will no longer be given a warning before being penalised for delaying play, with umpires instructed to punish conduct which impedes, or delays play,” Margetts said.

As in previous seasons, the WAFC Umpiring Team will assist players with the new interpretations as part of the annual club visit program before the start of the 2022 season.

The tightening of the existing rules comes after the AFL identified trends in the way the game was being played and umpired at the top level.

The WAFL, where possible, aims to align with the AFL when it comes to law amendments and interpretational changes.