Arucian football

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)

Chausse (IPA: [ʃosə]) in Gaullican, commonly known as Arucian football in Estmerish, 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

In its native Gaullican, the sport is known as Chausse. It 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. Due to the geographical breadth of the sport across multiple countries speaking several different languages, it sport is known by different terms. 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. These terms are most commonly used outside of the Gaullophone Arucian.

Rules

Field

Diagram of a Arucian football pitch

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.

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.

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.

Gameplay

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.

The ball can be propelled by any part of the body, mainly by way of a foot, with exception that it cannot be thrown under any circumstances. If a player is penalized for "throwing" the ball is turned over to the other team.

A player may run with the ball, but it must solo the ball every ten meters. Players solo the ball continually bouncing the ball off their foot or leg. 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. A player gains possession of the ball if it 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.

Contact is allowed between players, but the level of contact allowed varies on the circumstances. Opposition players may bump or tackle the a player in possession of the ball to obtain it; when tackled, the player must dispose of the ball cleanly or risk being penalized for holding the ball. The ball carrier may only be tackled between the shoulders and knees. 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.

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. 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. 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.

Scoring

Scoring in Arucian football is divided into a mark, goal, or single. A mark or a mark in goal, worth six points, is scored when an eligible mark is made within 10 meters of the goal. A goal or a full goal, worth 6 points, is scored when the football is propelled through the goal posts below the crossbar by way of a kick from the attacking team. It may fly through "on the full" (without touching the ground) or bounce through, but must not have been touched by any player from either team or a goalpost before it goes in. Thus a goal cannot be scored by a defending player. After a mark or goal, the teams scored against will restart play with a kick-off from mid field.

A single is scored if ball passes between the goalposts above the crossbar, it touches any player before passing between the goalposts below the crossbar, or the ball is knocked in by means other than a kick. After a single, play restarts with a kick-off 10 yards perpendicular to the spot the ball crossed the goal line. The goal is guarded by a goalkeeper.