Holding the Ball rule - Never dive or drag it in

[TigerLand]

Something we've tried at local footy that's working well is kicking the ball off the ground or slapping the ball defensive side of a pack and never taking possession unless your standing up. Or if in doubt let opposition take possession and tackle immediately.

Goes against what we've all grown up doing but it's been quiet effective.

Every team is getting pinged multiple times for diving on the footy.

Keep you're feet and pick it up or kick it forward or knock it defensive side. Be interested if any AFL team starts doing this and see if its effective at the top level.

[mightytiges]

The new interpretations encourage what I call vulture footy where in certain congested situations it's better to wait for an opponent to dive on the loose ball and then everyone else dives on top and keeps the ball from escaping so it's paid holding the ball. It's already happening at AFL level. It was pretty clear yesterday about four Melbourne players at a time would jump on top of a Richmond player so the ball couldn't spill out and they'd get the free. Lesson 1: Don't dive on the footy nor go to ground. 

[Owl]

yep, used to be kicking in danger rule would be paid for this all the time never see it anymore, in fact I have seen afl players have their head kicked, hands kicked and its play on....

[eliminator]

Houli was letting his opponent grab the ball first and then he would tackle locking it in