What contact between wheelchairs is allowed?
Rule- Australia
- AFL
- Wheelchair football
- Toyota AFL Open
- Ages 16+
- 2026
- Players
Tackling is by touch only, and the By-Laws restrict contact between wheelchairs as follows:
- Grabbing or holding: grabbing an opponent or their wheelchair is a free kick. Holding includes pushing and pulling, and you may not hold another player with any part of your chair or body so that their movement is impeded.
- Double teaming: sandwiching an opponent between two wheelchairs so their position is locked down is not allowed.
- Charging and bumping: you cannot charge or bump a stationary player recklessly, you must avoid contact where possible when travelling at speed, and you can never bump a player in the rear axle of their wheelchair.
- Rotating a chair: you cannot contact an opponent's chair so it rotates in a way that puts their safety at risk.
- Ramming: a free kick is paid if you continuously pull your chair back and ram an opponent. Initial contact that is not reckless is allowed.
- Push in the back: pushing or bumping an opponent in the back, including the back of the wheelchair, is a free kick.
- Front on contact: forceful front on contact in a marking contest when you are not trying to mark or spoil the ball is not allowed.
- Arm chop: deliberately chopping the arms of an opponent who is marking or passing is a free kick.
- Duty of care: the player second to a contest must protect the hands and head of the player first to it, or a free kick is awarded against them.
You can shepherd a player in possession within two metres, but you must not bring them to a complete stop, which counts as blocking.
Updated 24 Oct 2026