Something new I saw today!

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[kristof]

More a query than anything else as in 14 years of playing I'd never seen this until today and I'd be interested to hear an umpires point of view.

Long corner, attacker positions himself about 2 yards in front of me and starts bouncing up and down, take a step sideways thinking he's had some sort of breakdown only to see him check and then move back in front of me and again start bouncing up and down again, clearly a bid to distract the keeper.

I'm just intrigued as to what an umpires view on this is as it seemed a bit daft to me.

[redumpire]

Don't see what's wrong with that kristof - he's not breaking any rules; just behaving like a jerk!

[foozbear]

there is no rule saying he cant do it.

it can be considered bad for the spirit of the game...but many umpires dont think of that nowadays.

rules are easy if you remember the spirit.....which is what annoies me by rules that are applied that arent in the rule book....oops worms get back in the can.

the only thing that can be derived by that is an obstruction if he deliberatly blocks YOUR line of sight to the ball....also it is quite dangerous as your the only one allowed to stand in front of raised shots on goal.

my views and I am entitled to change them at any time.

[deegum]

9.12 A player who runs in front of or blocks an opponent to stop them legitimately playing or attempting to play the ball is obstructing (this is third party or shadow obstruction).

Since it is clearly a deliberate blocking of the GK's view I'd think about applying this rule as soon as the ball is struck towards the goalie.
 Clearly you can't play a ball that the opponent deliberately stops you from seeing.

[foozbear]

though deegum...at 2 yards...the player is NOT actually stopping the goalie from playing the ball....they are merely stopping them from SEEING the ball.

ive yet to see an umpire call it being so far from the goalie...if they were on the feet...then yes I have blown for that....2 yards is a little harder to police.

[Grumpy]

Players stand in front of other players to prevent them seeing the ball. I ave seen a set up at an attacking free with thee attackers being lined up in front of gk and another 3 infront of the free 5 meteres away so the defence could not get a defensive block set up. They are all as a distraction for the opposition and it is not illegal.

I was talking to an ex international from the sixties about the spirit of the game and he said we are looking through rose tinted glasses as he said every match he played in that you did what you had to win and if it was not in the spirit of the game so be it.
Winning is winning and you have to do what you can have to do to win.
He said that every international team was the same that if a player needed stopped he was stopped legally or illegally.

i watched a match yesterday in which both teams played good hockey but one team broke down play, did off the ball obstructions and many things that are not in the spirit of the game.
But i know which team was the happiest at the end of the match.

[deegum]

though deegum...at 2 yards...the player is NOT actually stopping the goalie from playing the ball....they are merely stopping them from SEEING the ball

2 yards is within playing distance. Can you play a ball you can't see ? 

[keely]

I agree with Grumpy.

The spirit of the game does not include making up reasons to blow your whistle. Let the players compete and if an action's unfair, it's prohibited in the rules already. We are not here to police every aspect of player behaviour.

[justin]

As I have said many times on this subject, I often used to stand a metre or two in front f the keeper, with the intention of getting a tiny deflection on any shot directly at him. (scored quite a few that way )

IMO, absolutely nothing illegal or 'unsporting' about that, and I was never (IIRC) penalised for it, although some keepers did get irritated

Now, if the ball had come within playing distance and I had MOVED to block the keeper from playing it, that would have been obstruction.

On the subject of 'sportsmanship' I would not really expect that at the very highest levels of the game...as has been said they are there to WIN, and it's the umpires' responsibility to ensure they stay within the rules.

At all other levels, it would be nice if players were to remember that it is only a game, not WWIII, and just try to be reasonably courteous to one another

[redumpire]

Please show me a rule that says that a player has the right to a clear sight of the ball in this, or any other, situation.

[kristof]

I knew it was within the rules when he was doing it, it's more of a question of whether anyone has seen something this bizarre before or if they did what their reaction will be.

The whole situation on standing in front of the keeper is something that will debated as long as the game is played I feel, nothing much we can do other than question the players parentage and then play for the ball even if they happen to be in the way.

[redumpire]

nothing much we can do other than question the players parentage and then play for the ball even if they happen to be in the way.

And then sit and watch the next 5/10 minutes from the sideline if (if!) the umpires cotton on to what you're doing!   

[Kilmory]

nothing much we can do other than question the players parentage and then play for the ball even if they happen to be in the way.

And then sit and watch the next 5/10 minutes from the sideline if (if!) the umpires cotton on to what you're doing!   

Spoil sport! 

But I was going for the ball ump! 

[kristof]

nothing much we can do other than question the players parentage and then play for the ball even if they happen to be in the way.

And then sit and watch the next 5/10 minutes from the sideline if (if!) the umpires cotton on to what you're doing!   

Spoil sport! 

But I was going for the ball ump! 

Yeah he put himself there, he should know I'm coming through for the ball!

[zippytime]

And why didn't you ask me my opinion on sat in the club Kristoff    I'm most upset you obviously didn't want my opinion