Can you explain the overhead receive rule to me in detail please?

Can you explain the overhead receive rule to me in detail please?

As the receiving player, no other player is allowed within 1m whilst you are receiving (controlling) the ball back to the ground. It cannot be received in the circle - it must be received outside and then played in along the ground. Does this help?

Thank you Linda, but who is the receiving player? Who has preference if an attacker and defender are both under the ball? The one that calls? Must the one then retreat? 1m seems really like a small distance.

The overhead is thrown as an attacking tactic, so it is usual that the one receiving is an opposing defender. If that is the case then the onrushing attacker has to give that player a chance to control the ball down onto the playing surface. (By the way 1m does seem very close). The defender in this case is the receiver. Now if the attacker moves at pace and gets to the overhead before the defender, in the case that the overhead lands behind the back 4 or sweeper,or just into space, then I would expect the same rule to be applied.i.e the attacker has to bring the ball down and not play it forward in the air to any great extent. You can see what would happen if two players were going for the ball at the same time when it is in the air. Hope that helps

The receiving player is judged by the umpire to be the player nearest to where the ball is expected to land. Other players must retreat 5m (not 1m) and allow the receiving player to bring to ball under control before approaching to defend/tackle.

And it can be received in the circle. Umpires will often be more strict regarding dangerous play if the ball is played into the circle via an aerial pass. The rule is the same anywhere on the field, it's just that the circle is more likely to be crowded.

From the rule book (May 2009 to present):

9.10 Players must not approach within 5 metres of an opponent receiving a falling raised ball until it has been received, controlled and is on the ground.

(guidelines) The initial receiver has a right to the ball. If it is not clear which player is the initial receiver, the player of the team which raised the ball must allow the opponent to receive it.