For players aged 16 and over in the Toyota AFL Open wheelchair football championships, 2026 AFL Open: Wheelchair By-Laws. Covers eligibility, classification points, positions and zones, match length, disposal and scoring, bouncing, tackling, cards and wheelchair rules.
The Open is governed by the AFL and provides footballers with a physical disability the opportunity to play Australian football at an elite level. Each team also needs a head coach and assistant coach who have completed the All Play coaching modules, a team manager, a first aider and two water carriers.
Yes. The By-Laws say the Open caters for players with varying levels of disability as well as non-disabled players. Every player, including non-disabled players, must be classified before the Open starts, and each class carries points that count towards the team point ceiling. An AFL article on the launch of the sport says it is open to everyone whether or not they have a disability.
Before the Open, every player is classified into one of four classes based on their level of impairment and how it affects wheelchair movement, handballing, passing, marking, catching and reacting to contact. Each class carries points:
Female players and players under 18 receive a one point concession. You can only use one concession, so a female player under 18 still gets just one.
The points of the five players on court must never exceed the team point ceiling: 16 for state and territory teams, and 20 for RSL Active.
If a captain suspects the opposition is over the ceiling, only the captain may tell the umpire. The clock stops and the match manager reviews the classification of the opposition's players on court. If a team is found over the ceiling, or falsely accused the other team of it, one goal (six points) is added to the other team's score and that team starts with the ball in the centre.
A team lists 5 to 10 players for each match (more than 10 needs written approval from the AFL) and always has five on the playing surface: two forwards, two defenders and one centre. Matches are played on an indoor basketball or netball court divided into forward, centre and back zones, with a size 5 synthetic Sherrin.
| Position | Wristband | Where they can play |
|---|---|---|
| Forward (x2) | Blue | Forward and centre zones |
| Defender (x2) | Red | Centre and back zones |
| Centre (x1) | Yellow | All zones |
The clock stops only:
Interchange is allowed at any time with no limit, through the interchange gates in the centre zone. The incoming player waits until the exiting player is completely outside the boundary line.
The Open follows the Laws of Australian Football with adaptations.
Disposal
Marks: a mark is paid for a handball that has travelled at least three metres without being touched in transit.
Scoring
Mercy rule: when a team leads by 50 points or more, a point by the leader means the trailing team kicks out from the half back line. A goal by the leader means the trailing team takes possession in the centre circle with no ball up. The rule switches off if the margin falls below 50.
While in possession you must bounce the ball after three pushes or changes of direction of your wheelchair, or once every ten metres, whichever comes first. There is no limit on the number of bounces you can take before disposing of the ball.
You can either bounce or tap the ball on the ground in the traditional way, or touch the ball on top of the wheel of your wheelchair. You are deemed to be in possession while you dispose of the ball to yourself and regain it without it touching the ground.
A traditional tackle is prohibited. Instead a player "tackles" by touching the player in possession with one or two hands, and the umpire calls "tackle". Grabbing an opposition player or their wheelchair is a free kick.
Time to dispose of the ball:
Tackling is by touch only, and the By-Laws restrict contact between wheelchairs as follows:
You can shepherd a player in possession within two metres, but you must not bring them to a complete stop, which counts as blocking.
All sports wheelchairs must be approved by the state or territory representative at team selection, and an AFL representative inspects every chair before its first game. A chair that does not meet the specifications cannot be used in a match. The chair must:
In play, it is a free kick if your backside rises from the seat or your feet are not on the footplate behind the footbar. You may strap your feet down but you do not have to.
Eight teams play in the 2026 Toyota AFL Open: New South Wales/ACT, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and RSL Active.
State and territory teams pick their squads from players registered in a league affiliated in that state or territory, or players who permanently live there.