The boundary umpire shall, when directed by the field umpire, throw the ball in without waiting for the players to take up positions, at the spot where the ball crossed the boundary line. The boundary umpire should stand on the boundary line with their back to the arena and throw the ball in over their head towards the centre of the ground. The ball should be thrown in to a distance of between 10-15 metres and not less than 3 metres high.

If the ball is not thrown in to a reasonable height and distance, the field umpire may stop play and request that the ball be thrown in again. The boundary umpire must not climb over the fence to retrieve the ball. If necessary, they will request players or officials in the vicinity to retrieve it. (Seek assistance from the field umpire if required).

Running

There are times during the game when the boundary umpire needs to alter their running form. Performances are enhanced by changing speed where the need arises.

Acceleration Points - when to sprint/increase your pace:

• Set shot for goal - When a player is having a set shot at goal, it is necessary to sprint to the behind post to assist the goal umpire. Watch player with ball at all times, run backwards if necessary.
• Ball Up/Throw-in in the vicinity of goals - Sprint to behind post to assist goal umpire.
• Relaying the ball back to centre after a goal - Both boundary umpires must sprint whilst relaying the ball back to the centre.
• Around the ground/general play - Boundary umpires will often need to accelerate in order to keep correct position, i.e. 'staying up with the play', e.g. a quick passage of play.

Whistle

How and when the boundary umpire uses the whistle will be an indicator as to the quality of their performance.

It is highly recommended that two new whistles be purchased each season. They wear out with use.

They should be looked after and maintained in good condition in the manner that any proud sportsperson would look after their equipment.

The finger clips are normally covered with soft plastic sleeves. If not, they should be wrapped with water proof adhesive tape. The steel clips will lacerate fingers; plastic sleeves, or alternatively, wrapping with tape, will prevent such laceration.

After use, the whistle should be washed in hot water, then soaked in boiling water containing a disinfectant (such as Pine-O-Clean).

If possible, it is wise to soak the whistle in hot water prior to a match, this causes the pea to expand which results in a louder sound.

It is recommended that the whistle be smeared with a lubricant jelly (such as Vaseline) or taped (to minimise the risk of chipping teeth) prior to the match. This will help prevent the umpires; lips from sticking to the whistle when blowing it. Tearing the skin off the lips is very painful. Many umpires smear their lips with Vaseline as extra protection.

Boundary umpires should always carry a spare whistle during a match which is prepared and ready for use. Whistles have been known to fly off the fingers, or break off the finger clips, or the pea split.

The whistle is worn on the back of the first and second fingers leaving the plam free for ball handling.

The whistle should always be blown strongly - a strong, long whistle reflects confidence. Short, sharp, soft, weak whistles can be indicative of a lack of confidence in the decision, or of hesitancy or uncertainty. A motto which emphasises this is:

"If you have to blow it - blow it strong and long".

Indications

When the ball goes out of bounds the boundary umpire will blow his whistle and give the appropriate signal. However, it is the boundary umpire's responsibility to recognise when potentially volatile situations exist at or near the point where the ball went out of bounds and to keep their eyes on the relevant players long enough to either see that no reportable offence occurs or to detect any reportable offence occuring in relation to that act of play, before turning towards the field umpire to obtain confirmation of the out of bounds signal.

Out of Bounds

When the ball goes outside the boundary line after having touched the ground or having been touched by a player (out of bounds) the boundary umpire shall blow their whistle loudly and extend one arm straight up with an open hand.

Should the ball be touched prior to going out of bounds on the full, the boundary umpire shall blow their whistle loudly and indicate as above, then tap the back of their open hand in the upright position three times.

The boundary umpire shall face the field umpire until the field umpire indicates that the ball should be thrown in (or pays an overriding decision).

Upon receiving confirmation from the field umpire, the boundary umpire will then retrieve the ball and throw it in from where the ball crossed the line.

Out of Bounds on the Full

When the ball goes outside the boundary line on the full directly from a kick and not having been touched by a player (out of bounds on the full) the boundary umpire shall blow his whistle loudly and extend both arms horizontally straight out from the shoulder with open hands, parallel to the boundary line.

The boundary umpire shall face the field umpire until the field umpire confirms the free kick (or pays an overriding decision). Where appropriate, the boundary umpire will then indicate, by pointing to the spot, where the ball crossed the line prior to moving to position for the resultant free kick.

The boundary umpire shall indicate the spot where the ball crossed the line whenever he is within 15 metres, and when the ball has been kicked along the boundary line for some distance.

Out of Bounds Directly From Kick Off Line After a Behind has been Scored

When the ball goes outside the boundary line from a kick off after a behind has been scored and without having been touched by a player, the boundary umpire shall blow his whistle loudly and signal out of bounds on the full.

The boundary umpire will face the field umpire until the field umpire acknowledges the signal. The boundary umpire will then indicate where the ball crossed the line prior to moving to position for the resultant free kick.

Returning the Ball to the Centre Square

After a goal has been scored, it is the boundary umpire's responsibility to retrieve the ball and return it to the field umpire in the centre square as quickly as possible.

The Boundary Umpire must not climb over the fence to retrieve the ball. If necessary he will request players/officials in the vicinity to retrieve it. (Seek assistance from the Field Umpire if required.)

The boundary umpires decide who will retrieve the ball (usually the boundary umpire closest to the ball). The other boundary umpire will indicate to the field umpire which side of the oval the ball is to be returned and then position himself approximately half way between the goal line and the end of the centre square.

The boundary umpire who retrieves the ball will run to the second boundary umpire who will, by then, be running at the same pace, and on reaching him, will relay the ball then sprint to the nearest corner of the centre square on his side of the ground. The second boundary umpire will relay the ball to the field umpire and continue on to the far corner of the square on his side of the oval with the last five paces being run backwards into the point of the square.

Boundary umpires are to remain on the same side of the oval throughout each quarter.

Responsibilities of Boundary Umpires re Kicks From Outside the Boundary Line

Player taking a kick from outside the Boundary Line

A player who takes a kick from outside the boundary line must bring the ball into play from, or behind, the spot where the mark or free kick was awarded.

If a player goes back to take their kick from outside the boundary line and:

(a) Kicks or handballs the ball which does not cross the line into play, the boundary umpire will signal the ball out of bounds and the field umpire will direct that the ball be thrown in by the boundary umpire from the spot the kick or handball had been taken.

(b) The player 'plays on' or attempts to 'play on' outside the boundary line (between the fence and the man on the mark) the field umpire shall call 'play on'. Immediately the play on call is heard the boundary umpire shall signal the ball out of bounds and throw the ball in as directed by the field umpire.

(c) The player 'plays on' by heading into the playing area, the boundary umpire shall not signal out of bounds.

(d) If a player on the defending team takes a kick beyond the goal or behind line and the ball hits either the goal or behind post, another kick will be taken. The boundary umpire will blow his whistle and tell the field umpire what has happened.

If any portion of the ball is on or above the boundary line, it is regarded as having been brought into play even though the ball may pass back outside the boundary line. In such a case, the player would be penalised by a free kick if the ball passed back outside the line on the full. A player may handball instead of kicking it from outside the boundary line.

Player outside the Boundary Line

Although a player who has possession of the ball may be outside the boundary line, the ball is not out of bounds unless the ball is completely outside the boundary line.

A mark shall be awarded to a player who is outside the boundary line but marks the ball before it has passed completely outside the boundary line. The boundary umpire should assist the field umpire by facing him and nodding his head as an indication that the ball had been marked, then move to a position for the next act of play.

If the field umpire is in doubt as to whether the ball had been marked before it passed completely outside the boundary line, they should consult the boundary umpire only after the boundary umpire has blown his whistle and given the touched out of bounds signal.

Out of Bounds Signal not seen by the Field Umpire

If the boundary umpire signals the ball out of bounds and the signal is not seen or heard by the field umpire and play goes on, the boundary umpire should run after the field umpire blowing their whistle and notify them that the ball has crossed the boundary line.
On receipt of the boundary umpire's advice, the field umpire would order the ball to be thrown in, or award a free kick if the ball has been kicked out on the full, unless in the meantime they had awarded a free kick, for a breach of the laws or imposed a 50 metre penalty. In such case the out of bounds decision lapses.
If the boundary umpire observes the field umpire award a free kick or 50 metre penalty, they should immediately resume their normal duties.

Relationships / Responsibilities Between Boundary & Goal Umpires

Boundary Umpire is the sole judge (but cooperation is important)

The boundary umpire is the sole judge when the ball is out of bounds, except when:

• The field umpire awards a mark before the ball passes completely outside the boundary line or awards a free kick.
• A goal umpire overrules the boundary umpire in relation to a score.
• The ball hits or goes directly over the behind post. In this case, the goal umpire directs the boundary umpire that the ball is out of bounds.

The goal umpire may overrule the boundary umpire if:

• He considers that the ball has passed across the goal or behind line and the boundary umpire signals the ball out of bounds.
• The goal umpire considers that the ball has not passed across the goal or behind line and the boundary umpire is of the opinion that it has.

Ball crosses Goal / Behind Line

In instances where the boundary umpire has been positioned behind the behind post, he must wait until the goal umpire has given his decision before moving away.

When the boundary umpire is at the behind post and a score has been made or the ball has gone out of bounds, verbal communication only is allowed, i.e. "yours" or "mine". Hand signals are not permitted.

Goal Umpire assists the Boundary Umpire

When a goal umpire gives a signal to assist a boundary umpire, it is important to remember that the decision is still the boundary umpire's responsibility. However, when caught behind play or out of position, the boundary umpire should look to the goal umpire for assistance.

Where the goal umpire is giving assistance regarding a normal out of bounds signal (not hitting the behind post) he will not persist in giving the signal if not acknowledged. If the boundary umpire does not see the signal, or chooses to ignore it, the goal umpire is to resume normal position.

If the ball goes outside the boundary line near the behind post and the boundary umpire appears to be 'out of position', the goal umpire is required to assist the boundary umpire by indicating as follows:

Goal Umpire assists ball out of bounds on the full

When the goal umpire is to give an out of bounds on the full indication, he will face the boundary umpire and extend his outside arm straight and level with the shoulder with his fist clenched.

Goal Umpire assists ball out of bounds having touched the ground or being touched by a player

When the goal umpire is to give an out of bounds indication, he will face the boundary umpire and raise his outside arm vertically above his head.

When the boundary umpire is caught some distance behind play and a behind has been scored, the goal umpire will tap his chest three times. This will inform the boundary umpire a behind has been scored. The boundary umpire will then run to the boundary line to position himself for the kick off.

Goal Umpire directs the Boundary Umpire

Ball hits the behind post on the full

When the ball hits the behind post on the full or goes directly over the behind post from a kick without having been touched by a player, the goal umpire shall give the out of bounds on the full indication until acknowledged by the boundary umpire. If the ball hit the post, the goal umpire will hit the inside of the behind post three times with his hand.

(When the Boundary Umpire is stationed at the behind post for a set shot and the ball hits the behind post on the full, the Boundary Umpire will tap the post three times after signalling out of bounds on the full).

Ball hits the behind post having first touched the ground or being touched by a Player

When the ball hits or goes over the behind post, after having been touched by a player, the goal umpire shall give the out of bounds indication until acknowledged by the boundary umpire. If the ball hit the behind post, the goal umpire will then hit the behind post three times.