Updated for Season 2026
Australian Football in Switzerland is played under a modified 9-a-side format.
AFL Switzerland’s rules are based on the current AFL Europe 9-a-side framework, with local Swiss variations for domestic league matches, including match timing, squad sizes, mixed-gender football, top-up players, minimum age, medical substitutes and match-day procedures.
For the 2026 season, AFL Switzerland has issued a practical rules directive for players, coaches, umpires and club officials. This directive is intended to clarify the key Swiss exceptions and match-day interpretations. It does not replace the full laws of Australian Football, but should be used as the primary match-day guide for AFL Switzerland competitions.
2026 Rules Directive
This document includes guidance on:
- Switching teams
- AFL Switzerland rule hierarchy
- AFL 2026 rule changes and their Swiss application
- Playing surface, posts and match-day safety
- Match format, player numbers and team sheets
- Match timing
- Boundary restarts and deliberate out of bounds
- Kick-ins after a behind
- Protected area and standing the mark
- 25-metre penalties
- Holding the ball and high-contact interpretation
- Mixed competition tackling rules
- Top-up players, own players and forfeits
- Minimum age
- Umpires, goal umpires and officials
- Concussion and serious injury
- Reports, cards and respect for officials
Existing AFL Switzerland rules documents
The following documents remain part of AFL Switzerland’s rules framework, except where updated or clarified by the 2026 Rules Directive:
Reference documents
AFL Switzerland uses the AFL Europe 2024 Rules & Regulations as the main 9-a-side reference where Swiss rules are silent, adapted as necessary for domestic league conditions.
Where neither AFL Switzerland rules nor the AFL Europe 2024 framework provide specific guidance, the Laws of Australian Football apply, unless expressly varied by AFL Switzerland.
For questions about the application of these rules, please contact AFL Switzerland.
