Change to the new rule!!!

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[Paul Watts]

 

[kaiwawao]

Seems some of the counties have taken the initiative on this e.g.

Midlands Umpiring News pages have a link to the document and the UmpireHockey video and the East hae the briefing too under their handbook

However, NZ Hockey don't have that specific document immediately obvious but do have the briefing (ppt document). 

West have got the UH video too but no obvious briefing notes

Sadly it seems neither does Welsh Hockey nor the South Hockey

[Diligent]

Maybe not South, but Hampshire have it.

[deegum]

c when a free hit is awarded to the attack within the 23 metres area, all players other than the player taking the free hit must be at least 5 metres from the ball

The interpretation allowing for the attackers to be within 5m when the FH is taken is simply a defiance of the rule.

The attackers always gain  an advantage from breaching the rule, because it is taken before THEY are able to comply with  the conditions,-regardless of the reasons,- to the disadvantage of the defenders beyond that conferred by the rules.
in the case of playing on if a Defender is within 5,- and not bothering to hurry,  this is sensible and permissible because otherwise stalling is advantageous.

[Pepe]

The interpretation allowing for the attackers to be within 5m when the FH is taken is simply a defiance of the rule.

It may be in the strictest appliance of this rule, but the recommended interpretation makes sense against several principles which are being promoted through the game:

• The game should be free flowing
• We should discourage spoiling defensive play, which inevitably increases closer to the goal
• IMO, we should encourage attacking play and the rule which demands that the ball should be taken back 5m form the circle edge already unfortunately works against this, so to allow some leeway to the attack helps to redress the balance

There is precedent for this. The fact that we allow free hits to be taken from positions not exactly on the precise spot of the offence is a "defiance of the rules", but we don't let pedantry to get in the way of common sense.

[kaiwawao]

Pepe, just to play Devil's Advocate here a second:

We should discourage spoiling defensive play, which inevitably increases closer to the goal

----

Can you not say also:

We should discourage spoiling play by the attack, which inevitably increases closer to the goal

I.e. attackers using their position inside the 5m to block defenders, hide a run, cause an obstruction etc?

I believe that was what Deegum was getting at, not that we should be blowing every time an attacker is 4.5m away from the FH when taken.

[Pepe]

Pepe, just to play Devil's Advocate here a second:

We should discourage spoiling defensive play, which inevitably increases closer to the goal

----

Can you not say also:

We should discourage spoiling play by the attack, which inevitably increases closer to the goal

I.e. attackers using their position inside the 5m to block defenders, hide a run, cause an obstruction etc?

I believe that was what Deegum was getting at, not that we should be blowing every time an attacker is 4.5m away from the FH when taken.

If attackers are doing that kind of sneaky, pre-meditated activity, then I would agree and call foul. However, I have not experienced that in the last few weeks. I have, however, experienced attackers, who have just been fouled, hurrying back 5m away from the Circle edge and trying to take a FH as quickly as possible before the defence sets. Sometimes their attacking colleagues have not reacted quickly enough to get out of the 5m exclusion zone. I have read that as unintentional.

[deegum]

pepe  it may be unintentional . It is none the less a breach of the rules. And the breach gives advantage to the attackers- the defenders haven't had time either- and I doubt .

The rules allow the FH to be taken before Defenders are 5.- such exemption does not apply  to the attackers.
It is as much a requirement as the attackers being outside the circle before the PC is taken.

I suppose there could be situations where exceptions could be made.