30 second rule

[sue 9,193]

In the article about Jamar on the MFC site he says:

“Dunny (Lynden Dunn) came over to me and said ‘take your full 30 seconds and kick a snap’. So I said ‘no worries’ and took my time. I didn’t put the ball on the ground and I tried to drain the clock a bit."

I'm obviously losing touch with the rules - what's wrong with putting the ball on the ground? Surely 30 seconds is 30 seconds whether or not you stand on your head while juggling the ball with your feet and singing God Save the Queen?

If there is a rule against it, what if you wanted to do a place kick?

[The Chazz 4,077]

Just another example of Dunn's leadership qualities, that I for one didn't know existed.

Probably common sense for a player to do what he did, but he was the only one that did it.

[jnrmac 20,276]

The ump will blow time on.

And btw its only a 5 second rule if you drop your toast......

[John Dee 445]

Putting the ball on the ground results in the umpire signalling time off.

[Machsy 2,858]

Yes, putting the ball down will mean the umpire signals to stop the clock and will only restart it when you are ready to kick, then give you maybe 10 seconds max before calling 'play on', as you are already set.

Net result, maximum 10 seconds wasted off the clock.

Keeping the ball in hand and taking time to steady, check the wind, throw some grass, etc will see the clock keep ticking and you'll be able to milk a full 30 seconds off the clock.

[sue 9,193]

Thanks, that explains it. But why is the rule as it is? I can imagine that in days of yore putting it down was a way to waste time, but if there is time limit now, what does it matter what you do with it during that time?

[jazza 1,323]

Thanks, that explains it. But why is the rule as it is? I can imagine that in days of yore putting it down was a way to waste time, but if there is time limit now, what does it matter what you do with it during that time?

mystery is gonna brew from this.

after the siren goes,there is NO set limit on how long a player takes to have a kick at goal.

but in theory there MUST be some sort of limit ,it hasnt been abused by players as yet.

[Machsy 2,858]

Thanks, that explains it. But why is the rule as it is? I can imagine that in days of yore putting it down was a way to waste time, but if there is time limit now, what does it matter what you do with it during that time?

If the ball is put on the ground, the umpire stops the clock so no time is wasted.

It's seen as a time-wasting tactic in days gone by and is now used as a cue for umpires to stop the clock, because with the ball out of hand, you can't do anything with it.

Once the clock is stopped, it won't be re-started until you have the ball in hand and you're ready to take your kick, and since you are ready to kick, you're generally given a lot less leniency from the umpire to waste time by settling yourself for a shot, or looking for another option if you're far enough out for it to be a realistic decision.

Really the player should be given a full 30 seconds, but in trying to speed up the game, that's highly unlikely.

In keeping the ball in hand, you could at any moment decide to kick, to pass it off to a leading option, to play in and run around the mark, so the umpire won't stop the clock, as it usually would mean having to call the ball back after the player starts play again too quickly (this is especially ugly when a player kicks a goal, the ball is called back, and on the 2nd attempt achieves a different result).

At the same time, when within range of goal, umpires generally allow approximately 30 seconds to settle down, get your angle and kicking distance right, assess your options, and then execute, before "play on" is called.

Really it's a product of conflicting objectives: preventing players from timewasting; speeding up the game; and simultaneously preventing a player from bringing the ball back into play, only to have the umpire have not yet blown "time on" and as a result calling the ball back.

Edited May 5, 2014 by Machsy

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

thought this was going to be a complaint about how Podsiadly gets 45 seconds to take his shot on goal but tommy mac gets 10 seconds at best when he receives a chip in the back pocket

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Thanks, that explains it. But why is the rule as it is? I can imagine that in days of yore putting it down was a way to waste time, but if there is time limit now, what does it matter what you do with it during that time?

Jetta popped the ball down in the same game when he got a cramp and needed to stretch it out.

On a side note that occurred just after Jetta marked the ball when Betts clearly pushed him in the back and made no attempt to mark the ball himself...

[monoccular 17,642]

The 30 second "Matthew Lloyd rule" was a typical knee jerk reaction by the rules committee maybe just wondering which rule to change in whatever year it was.

It was NOT enforced in respect to the player who bears its acronym, and is still enforced in a very much ad hoc manner.

IF the powers that be are serious then they need a countdown clock to appear on the scoreboard immediately a player who should have to nominate that he will be kicking for goal.

As it stands the maggot totally randomly says "15 seconds" at some time between 10 and 30 seconds depending on how much overload his mini brain has been suffering in the preceding moments.

Either get it right or scrap it (a bit like the half cocked goal line reviews without a goal line camera)!

[sue 9,193]

thanks for the explanation Maschy.

Another thing for umps to deal with is how far out can you be and still ask for your 30 seconds. With 30 seconds to go I can imagine a player with his team 1 point up and 65 meters out saying he is going to have a shot even if he regularly has trouble kicking 40 metres. Whereas another player may have a good chance. We can't have the umps deciding how long kick a player 'usually' is.

[jnrmac 20,276]

thanks for the explanation Maschy.

Another thing for umps to deal with is how far out can you be and still ask for your 30 seconds. With 30 seconds to go I can imagine a player with his team 1 point up and 65 meters out saying he is going to have a shot even if he regularly has trouble kicking 40 metres. Whereas another player may have a good chance. We can't have the umps deciding how long kick a player 'usually' is.

You didn't like my explanation?

[sue 9,193]

You didn't like my explanation?

sorry jnrmac, but maschy did go into a tiny bit more detail....

[Deestroy All 14,266]

Dunn told Watts the same thing as he took the kick that resulted in the Jamar mark.

Watching the replay, the whole reaction to that mark was pretty funny. Dawsey celebrated with a fist pump, Jacobs' facial reaction in slow-mo, and for the lip readers Sanderson's "what the f[censored]" in the coaches box.

[low flying Robbo 979]

Whats the actual rule with time for kicking at goal? 30 seconds, but all good if you've started your run-up (walk in most cases) towards goal?

If i was on the mark for a notorious time-waster with goal kicking i would be counting in the umpires ear as soon as the mark or free kick is paid.... This would catch them out a fair bit i believe

[jnrmac 20,276]

sorry jnrmac, but maschy did go into a tiny bit more detail....

OK Sue. For you, next time, I will recite the magna carter