So what exactly is footy, anyway?

This week, the Seattle Grizzles will begin preparation for another season of footy.

The club welcomes new recruits, regardless of skill level. More information can be found on www.seattlefooty.com or www.usfooty.com.

The Seattle Metro Footy League consists of the Seattle Grizzlies, Eastside Saints, Portland Power, Vancouver Cougars, Burnaby Eagles and Victoria Lions. The games are usually played at Manhattan Park in Burien. The season starts at the end of March, with games on weekends and, later in the season, on Thursdays.

When it comes to rules, there aren't many. There is no offside, no designation of forward, sideways or backward, no penalty for dropping the ball.

It is not that much of a simplification to say that the aim of the game is to kick the ball down one end and through the big sticks.

The ball is passed from player to player by either kicking or hand-passing. To handpass, or hand-ball, the player holds the ball in the open palm of one hand. The other hand, in a fist, punches the ball in an underarm throwing motion.

If a player catches a kick pass that has traveled more than 15 meters, it is called a mark, and the player is then immune from being tackled for several seconds while he or she figures out what to do next.

At each end of the playing field, there are four parallel posts. The middle two are taller, roughly the height and width of football posts, but running all the way to the ground. On either side of these central posts is a smaller post. If a player kicks the ball through the two central posts, it is a goal worth six points. If he or she misses and the ball passes inside the smaller posts, it is called a "behind" and worth one point.

Jake Lynch