English Exercises: Australian Football: reading, questions, wordsearch

Australians are proud of a popular national winter sport fondly referred to as Aussie Rules but also known as Australian football, Australian rules football, football and footy. Since the earliest known football matches held in the 1800s this popular spectator sport is now played in more than thirty countries around the world including Japan, Argentina, Spain, South Africa, Pakistan, Indonesia, France, India, China, Canada, North America, Britain, Sweden and Germany.

It is a fast paced contact sport whereby two opposing teams, playing on an oval shaped grass field, score goals and points by passing the ball between four posts at either end of the field.� With no offside rules players can go anywhere on the field and propel the ball in any direction.� Each team of eighteen players uses a variety of kicking, handball and running strategies to score goals between the middle posts and points between a goal post and a smaller post known as the behind post.� Each goal is worth 6 points and the combined goals and points make up the final score.

Australians love watching their footy.� The crowd goes crazy when players show skill and talent in taking possession of the ball and scoring.� Although it is a contact sport dangerous play is not allowed and usually results in free kicks to the opposing team, penalties or suspension.�

Many teams have their own song however one well known footy song, Up There Cazaly, is often played during national grand final games.� Recorded in 1979 it was based on the catch cry of a fellow team mate of whom the song was named after, the great Roy Cazaly.� It is also interesting to note that �Up There Cazaly� was also a cry used by Australian soldiers during the second world war.

Cazaly is a former champion football player from the early twentieth century who was famous for his �marks� which is where a player catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than fifteen metres without touching the ground or being touched by any other players.� A good player will take several marks every game.� There are several different types of �marks� including the �Spectacular Mark� (also known as a �speccy�, �screamer� and �hangar�) which involves catching the ball whilst jumping in the air.� The best mark of the season is awarded with a special �Mark of the Year�.

Aussie Rules is an exciting sport to watch and play whether it is a school match, a local community match or a larger game.� Watch out for details of your nearest footy games and learn more about this popular national sport.

travelled more than fifteen metres without touching the ground or being touched by any other players�

travelled less than fifteen metres without touching the ground or being touched by any other players�