Arucian football
 | |
| Highest governing body | Association Arucien de Football (AAF) |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Chausse Football Chausse football |
| First played | 19th century, Sainte-Chloé |
| Clubs | 2,500 |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Limited |
| Team members | 11 per team |
| Mixed gender | Separate competitions |
| Type | Team sport Outdoor |
| Equipment | Arucian football |
| Venue | Arucian football field |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Asterias (especially in the Arucian nations) |
Arucian football, also called Chausse football, or more simply football or Chausse (IPA: [ʃosə]) in Gaullican, is a contact sport played between two teams of 11 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score by catching the ball close to the opposing team's goal, or by kicking the ball into it, which both score 6 points.
During general play, players may position themselves anywhere on the field and use any part of their bodies to move the ball. Kicking and passing the ball are the primary method. The catch is the main method of scoring due to the relatively high risk of earning a lower score when attempting a goal. The rules limit how the ball can be handled during play; for example, players cannot run with the ball or pick the ball off the ground. A distinctive feature of the game is soloing, when a player continually bounces the football off their foot as they move. Outside of scoring, the ball going out of bounds, marks, and penalty kicks, possession of the ball is in play at all times. Players can tackle using their hands or use their whole body to obstruct opponents. The game features strategic use of marks, fast paced gameplay, and high scoring.
The sport's origin can be traced to football matches played at the University of Sainte-Chloé in the 1860s, although the exact origins of the sport is unknown. As part of the Holistique movement, university staff used the game to promote exercise and team building skills for students. In response to the growing popularity of the sport, officials at Sainte-Chloé published the first Arucian football code in 1871. The game spread throughout the Gaullician colonies in the Asterias in the following decades.
Arucian football is predominantly played in the Asterias, especially in the countries of the Arucian Sea. It is widely played and watched sport in Sainte-Chloé, Carucere, Imagua and the Assimas, Île d'Émeraude, Bonaventura, Satucin, Ardesia, and Eldmark. The sport is governed by the AAF Commission of the Arucian Football Association. It runs the Arucian Cup, the premier professional international competition for Arucian football, which consist of eligible teams from domestic professional leagues across the Arucian.
Etymology
Due to the geographical breadth of the sport across multiple countries speaking several different languages, the sport is known by different terms. Chausse, the Gaullican term for the sport, originally meant to kick with a foot before it was applied to a kicking game. The term is derived from the Solarian word calx ("ankle" or "heel"). This term and its creole derivatives, are most commonly used across the Gaullophone Arucian. In Estmerish, Chausse is usually translated as football, but in order to differentiate the sport from association football or other codes of football, it is usually referred to as Arucian football or Chausse football. These terms are most commonly used outside of the Gaullophone Arucian. In addition, Football arucien is sometimes used to refer to the sport in Gaullican, using the Estmerish loanword.
History
General play
Arucian football is played according to the Rules of the Game. The game is played using a ball of 68–70 cm (27–28 in) circumference, known as the football. Two teams of eleven players each compete to get the ball to score points by either kicking the ball into the other team's goal (between the posts and under the bar) scoring a goal or catching the ball near the other team's goal, known as a catch. The team that has scored the most points at the end of the game is the winner; if both teams have scored an equal number of points then the game, then overtime is played.
Play begins when umpire throws it into the air, and two players contest for the ball in the air on its way back down. This is known as the ball-up. Only one player from each team may attempt to catch the ball; all other players must line up away from the ball-up until it hits the ground or a player gains possession. Certain disputes during play may also be settled with a ball-up from the point of contention. A player gains possession of the ball if the ball is caught or the ball is solo'd once. A team loses possession of the ball if the opposing team gains possession or they kick the ball three times. After a score, the scoring team kicks the ball from their 25 meter line to the opposing team.
Players advance the football up the field by kicking and passing the ball to teammates or soloing the ball. Players solo the ball continually bouncing the ball off their foot or leg. Players cannot run with the ball and must drop the ball to solo or pass another teammate after four steps. A player can catch the ball again after soloing it, but they must continue to solo it every four steps. Opposing players may try to regain control of the ball by various methods such as intercepting a pass, swiping the ball away during a solo, or through tackling the opponent in possession of the ball.
Contact is allowed between players, but the level of contact allowed varies on the circumstances. Only shoulder-to-shoulder contact is permitted with players who are in possession of the ball with their feet; laxer contact rules are enforced during marking competitions.
Mark
If a player catches a ball that was kicked over 10 meters away without touching the ground, a mark may be called. The catch must be cleanly taken, or deemed by the umpire to have involved control of the ball for sufficient time. A "self mark", where the ball is caught by the same person that kicked it is allowed, provided that the ball travels 10 meters. The player that called a mark is then awarded an uncontested free kick. Alternatively the player may pass the ball to another teammate. If they so choose, they may continue to "play on" forfeiting the mark; then normal play resumes and opponents can contest the ball again.
If the catch was made within the outer goal zone, it is called a mark-at-goal; then the player is placed at the mark-line perpendicular to where the catch was made; then the player is allowed a free kick at the goal and the goalie is only allowed to defend. If the mark was made in the inner goal zone, a "mark goal" is automatically scored.
When a player is attempting to mark the ball, opposing players are allowed to "spoil" the mark, by knocking the ball away just before the opposing player has caught the ball in their hands. A higher amount of contact is allowed to contest the catch, but players are not allowed to push other players out of marking contests, make forceful contact above the shoulder, or make forceful front on contact with an opponent in a marking contest, if they are not simultaneously attempting to mark or spoil the ball.
Rules
Field
Arucian football playing fields at the professional level are rectangular shaped and are typically 100 meters long and 60 meters wide. Lines are marked at distances of near mid field and 10 meters from each goal line. There are goalposts at each end, formed by two posts set 10 m (32 ft) apart, and connected 2.5 m (8.2 ft) above the ground by a crossbar. A net extending behind the goal is attached to the crossbar and goal posts. The outer goal zone is marked by a semi-circle with a diameter of 15 meters from the goal. The inner goal zone a box drawn 3 meters form the goal line on both sides of the field. The mark line is drawn 10 meters from each goal line at both ends of the field.
Match duration
The game lasts for 60 minutes, divided into two halves of 30 minutes with a half-time intermission from 5 to 15 minutes. Draws are or by playing 20 minutes of extra time with two halves of 10 minutes. Championship matches have a 30-minute intermission. Referees officiates the time by stopping the clock for instances such as scores, the ball going out of bounds or at the umpire's discretion, such as for serious injury. Time resumes when the referee signals time-on or when the ball is brought into play.
Teams
Teams consist of eleven players plus up to fifteen substitutes, of which six may be used. There are a variety of positions on players can be positioned, but these positions are not defined or required by the rules of the game. Certain players are generally assigned to defensive roles; the goalkeeper is the most important and specialized position in the sport. Outside of the goalkeeper, the typical positions are backs, the forwards and the wings. There are two wings who are specialized in producing marks. A limited number of players may be replaced by substitutes during the course of the game, but substitutions cannot be used to hold up the game.
Scoring
Scoring in Arucian football is divided into primary scoring and secondary scoring. The main way to score is a goal, although this can be achieved by two methods; a goal is scored when the football is hit through the goal posts and under the crossbar or when a mark is made within the inner goal area which scores six points. After a score, the teams scored against will restart play with a kick-off from mid field. Singles are scored when the ball passes through the goal line outside of the goal, which scores one point. After a single, play restarts with a kick-off 10 yards perpendicular to the spot the ball crossed the goal line.