17 Mark
Principle
A means of stopping play within a player’s own 22 by directly catching an opponent’s kick.
Claiming a mark
17.1 To claim a mark, a player must:
a. Have at least one foot on or behind their own 22-metre line when catching the ball or when landing having caught it in the air; and
b. Catch a ball that has reached the plane of the 22-metre line directly from an opponent’s kick before it touches the ground or another player; and
c. Simultaneously call “mark”.
17.2 A player may claim a mark even if the ball hits a goal post or crossbar before being caught.
17.3 When a mark is called correctly, the referee immediately stops the game and awards a free-kick to the team in possession.
17.4 A mark may not be claimed from a kick-off or a restart kick after a score.
Restarting play after a mark
17.5 The player who claimed the mark takes the free-kick (in accordance with Law 20).
17.6 If the player is injured in the act of claiming a Mark, and is unable to take the free-kick within one minute, a team-mate may take the free-kick.
17.7 The free-kick is taken at the following locations:
| Place of the mark | Location of free-kick |
|---|---|
| Within the 22 | At the place of the mark but at least five metres from the goal line, in line with the place of the mark. |
| Within the in-goal | On the five-metre line in line with the place of the mark. |