A ball-up (pl. ball-ups) in Australian rules football is the method by which the field umpire restarts play at a neutral contest after a stoppage within the field of play.[1] It involves the throwing or bouncing of the ball up between two players, known as rucks, who then attempt to win possession for their teams.
A related type of contest, the boundary throw-in, occurs to restart play after the ball has gone out of bounds. It is governed by similar rules, although is not itself known as a ball-up.
Ball-ups have been part of the Laws of the Game since 1872. Ball-ups are the equivalent of a jump ball, faceoff or dropped-ball from other team sports.
- ^ "Introduction to Aussie Rules Football". USAFL. 23 March 2010.