Rule 9.6 bans backhand shot?

NicfromSweden 13
mani 8
bigmick 6
majwalrus 5
JiMMM 5
serbulator 4
silky 4
johncoxon 4
Gocu 4
kristof 3

 The Field Hockey Forum is the resource for players, coaches and umpires of Field Hockey. Join FHF now to have full access to all that we have to offer! Don't be satisfied with lurking when you can interact with thousands of other FHF’rs, take part in Competitions, win Prizes, download Coaching Papers, discover our vast Photo library and get rid of this message - Register Now!

[Ridgester]

Thank you guys so much!  I really trusted this ref because I know her personally and she is very highly respected in our league.  FIH rule wise it's legal.  Ok thank you again especially you keely

[keely]

Confusions happen, Ridgester. What you might want to do is refer the umpire to Steve Horgan, who is the official rules interpreter for USAFH. It would be beneficial for Steve to know that there's a problem that might not be isolated to just a couple of umpires.

[UmpireHockey.com]

Mr. Horgan has been very responsive to questions from our umpires and has had to send out 9 clarifications about the NCAA modifications to the Rules of Hockey (which should tell you a bit about the NCAA modifications) I think there are just about as many clarifications as there are modifications ----- sorry, some personal editorializing there!

So, obviously, there is a fair degree of confusion about this, that, and the other thing but Ridgester's post is the first I've heard of any umpires being confused about using the reverse stick/backhand on a hit. Given the amount of apparent confusion requiring 9 clarifications, however, one can't be surprised.

And, maybe someone did use a reverse sweep with the flat side down and when the ball popped up (having hit the round side of the stick), someone asked, "Isn't that legal?" and the umpire said, "No. You can't do that," AND another umpire thought that "you can't do that" meant you can't use a reverse stick hit if the ball goes up. So, Ridgester asks about a flat side up reverse stick hit because some umpire took what the other umpire said and passed it along...the call was right, what someone heard was miss-heard, and now a bunch of umpires and players have got it wrong....thinking all reverse stick hits that rise are illegal. I have seen how this stuff gets started.

USA Field Hockey and the NCAA have not made any regional modifications to the Rules of Hockey....or modifications to the modifications to the Rules of Hockey.

Is it any wonder why there's confusion?

Cheers...Cris

[Wassie]

It isnt surprising from me that the umpires in the USA are confused with this. They, as a generalised lot, have an interesting interpretation on many of the rules. Steve Horgan is now the rules interpreter for NCAA as well as USAFH. This is a positive move that will hopefully get a more consistent approach from umpires across the country. His rules clarifications allude to the previous problems in consistency of interpretations and the resultant frustrations of coaches.

[UmpireHockey.com]

It isnt surprising from me that the umpires in the USA are confused with this. They, as a generalised lot, have an interesting interpretation on many of the rules.

Yes, well, the MANY RULES also applies to the many SETS of rules we have to deal with.

His rules clarifications allude to the previous problems in consistency of interpretations and the resultant frustrations of coaches.

I don't think it is fair to say that the coaches are frustrated as a result of inconsistent interpretations --- as if this is something brought on by umpires.

The NCAA rules committee, I believe, is made up entirely of college coaches.

Steve Horgan is now the rules interpreter for NCAA as well as USAFH.

Yes. And the previous rules interpreters for the NCAA, since at least the 1980s when I started officiating college games, were ---- wait for it ---- college coaches.

The NCAA coaches should take a leadership role by eliminating the NCAA modifications related to the game. I understand why they need modifications regarding administrative details but, why --- as just one example --- allow substitutes during a penalty corner?!?

Eliminating the NCAA modifications would help advance our players and our umpires (and we'd be down to just two sets of rules --- one down, one to go).

In short, my feeling is that the coaches are the primary cause of their own frustrations because they are actively contributing to the problems that result from having three sets of rules.

Good games...Cris

[Wassie]

Thank you for your point of view.