28 February 2024
Contact below the knees (CBK) is a type of Rough Conduct free kick, and is paid when:
· a player makes forceful contact below the knees of an opponent, or
· uses a forceful action towards the lower leg that causes an opponent to take evasive action. This means that if CBK would have occurred, except the opponent jumps out of the way to avoid it, the free kick should still be paid.
Cues for this free kick include:
· player goes to ground
· “bowling Ball’ type action
· movement into the opposition player’s legs
· forceful contact (may cause player to fall over)
The free kick should NOT be paid when the player:
· is genuinely attempting to mark the ball
· is already on the ground, and makes contact while reaching out to contest the ball
· is pushed, bumped or tackled to the ground
· smothers, or is attempting to smother, an opponent’s kick (including a kick off the ground) when the contact is made with the hands or arms.
Examples (click ‘VIEW FORM EXTERNALLY’)
https://www.loom.com/share/4a4751278a2b41778a3e289e13e8f543?sid=51fb8c66-ea14-4435-affa-bb1ff1aa2641
1. The Pearcedale player elects to go to ground whilst the Seaford player is contesting the ball. The Seaford player has his legs taken out, creating a “bowling ball” type effect. A correct free kick for Contact Below the knees is paid.
2. The Rye player forcefully slides in to contest the ball taking the legs of the Chelsea player causing him to take evasive action. A correct free kick is paid to Chelsea.
3. Whilst little (or no) contact was made in this instance to the legs of the YCW player, the fact that he had to take evasive action due to the forceful action of the Dromana player means that the correct free kick for FCBK (tripping signal) is paid.
4. The Sorrento player goes to ground to contest the ball causing him to contact the legs of the Red Hill player which causes him (RH) to go to ground. A correct FK is paid.
5. The Sorrento player elects to go to ground and although not in a sliding motion moves into the legs of the oncoming YCW player causing him to also go to ground. The correct FK is paid.
6. The classic bowling ball motion. The Richmond player is correctly awarded the FK as the St.Kilda player dives to the ground forcibly taking the legs of the Richmond player out.