From: md@ui.org (Mark Doran)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey.field
Subject: Re: Rule Interpretation
Keywords: Rules, Interpretation, Off-sides
Date: 29 Sep 92 15:26:38 GMT
Reply-To: md@ui.org (Mark Doran)
Organization: UNIX International

In article <Bv5pLp.LDH@news.fai.com>, pault@ossi.com (Paul Taylor) writes:
|> 
|> >Actually, I think the newly adjusted obstruction rule change has to take
|> >the prize
|> >for the most difficult to interpret and administer (for umpires).  Since
|> >there is
|> >relatively little experience amongst the players with this new rule
|> >(where I play
|> >anyway...) the similarly inexperienced umpires are having all kinds of
|> >nightmares
|> >working out what to whistle and what to let go...  Considering this new
|> >rule is so
|> >different in character, it's *really* galling to have the umpires
|> >association tell
|> >us that the new rule is actually just codifying what umpires have always
|> >actually
|> >done -- such rubbish! :-O ;-)
|> 
|> Could you post a description of how this rule works in practice.

Well, I'll try...  Basically as I understand it, you can now interpose your
body between the ball and an opponent provided:

	1) you keep moving
	2) the ball keeps moving
	3) you are not judged to be deliberately shielding the ball (like
	   backing into a defender dragging the ball behind you like a
	   soccer player)

In the play this seems to mean that if, for example, a right wing gets in
trouble and can't get through a defender for some reason, he now has the
option to turn the ball behind him towards the side line (thereby keeping
it out of the defender's reach) and running back to look for help inside.

Sounds screwy, eh??  You should see it in action!  :-)  It seems that
defenders can all but forget about "pushing up" to get an obstruction;
unless the attacker makes a mistake to lose control of the ball in some way,
the defender is more likely to be done for impeding the attacker than to 
be given the obstruction call.

In talking to people here who are trying to play this rule, it seems that
defenders hate it and attackers love it.  However, few teams have really had
enough practise with the rule (around NY anyway) to allow a worthwhile
assessment.

|> 
|> >
|> >Anyway, climbing down from my soapbox...you were actually talking about
|> >the offside
|> >rule and I have another alternative to offer you as a cure:
|> >
|> >Follow the example of NEFHA (North East [US] Field Hockey Asociation)
|> >and use the
|> >FIH experimental "no offside" rule!  We've just started using this here
|> >in the New
|> >York based league and I can tell you there are plenty of sweepers who
|> >are mighty
|> >confused but the umpires are making the right call every time!!
|> >
|> 
|> Which flavour of the month is this? I have lost track of where
|> FIH are with all these rule changes. At what point does no-offside
|> kick it, and what do you do about "goal hangers" ?

There really is NO offside at all -- you can park your CF on the goal line
behind the keeper if you want...  The umpire is required to make sure the CF
and goalie don't get into a punch up.  This, BTW, distracts them from watching
play at the "other end" and helping the other umpire thus reducing the quality
of umpiring [sigh].

In practise it seems, to our team anyway, that when attacking you play just as
before until you reach the 25 -- then you can get into positions behind the
defence and cause a little havoc with a quick short through ball -- goal
hanging in the hopes of a long through ball are just hopes on astro (unless
the defence is really incompetent that is).

|> I am not sure what can be done, but it would be nice if there was
|> some way to avoid PCs developing into homicide attempts on the
|> defensive line...

Good umpiring will help! :-)  Actually I suspect there's more danger at a
PC because of the ruling about the stop having to be outside the "D" and
the resulting roll-in by the stopper...  It may be all well and good for
the internationals to try this kind of move but at mere mortal level I have
already seen corner strikers taking huge "run-up and fly hack"s at the rolling
ball which go all over the place -- nasty stuff :-|

Cheers,

Mark.
--
Mark Doran                                     ATT:  +1 201 263 8400 x 265
Project Manager                                UUCP: m.doran@ui.org
UNIX International                             FAX:  +1 201 263 8401

Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey.field