Mark

Lets a player catch the ball inside their own 22 and call an immediate, uncontested stop in play.

What it says

A player who catches the ball directly from an opponent's kick, while standing inside their own 22-metre area or in-goal, can call mark and be awarded a free kick on the spot, with no opposition pressure allowed at the moment of the catch.

Why it exists

This exists to protect defending teams from being endlessly pressured by kicks into their own territory, giving them a safe, guaranteed way to reset play without needing to run the ball out under pressure every single time.

In practice

A player shouts mark the instant they catch the ball, arm raised, and the referee stops play immediately. From there the team can either take a quick free kick or set up a more considered attacking option, without the opposition able to charge in and contest it.

Common confusions

A mark only counts on a direct catch from an opponent's kick, not from a teammate's kick, and not if the ball's touched by anyone else first. It also has to happen inside the 22 or in-goal; the same catch anywhere else on the field doesn't qualify.

Last checked against the official law book: 2026-08-24