Footy 9s

The traditional 18-a-side version of Australian rules football provides significant participatory barriers to entry outside of Australia.

These include a lack of access to suitably sized fields, significant infrastructure in the form of goal and behind posts, line marking and the number of players required to field two teams.

Footy 9s has been created by Australian Football International to allow Australian rules football to be played on smaller playing fields, both in Australia and internationally.

The rules of Footy 9s differ from Australian rules football in some significant ways. The game is played on a rectangular field, allowing matches to be hosted by stadiums that usually lack the suitable field dimensions for Australian rules football.

• Played on a rectangular field, which can be either a soccer, rugby or American football field.
• Each team consists of 9 players – 3 forwards, 3 midfielders and 3 backs.
• The game starts with a jump ball in the middle of the field, and after each goal.
• A goal is scored when the ball is kicked into the net (soccer fields) or through the posts (rugby and American football fields).
• There are no behind posts.
• The ball is moved around the field by either a kick or handball. No kicking off the ground is permitted.
• Players can go anywhere on the field and there is no off-side rule.
• As in basketball, players must bounce the ball when they run.

The inaugural AFI World 9s tournament was held at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on 16 February 2019.

• Official Footy 9s Website
• Playing Rules
• Official Video