Irish Hockey Umpires: Aerials 2022

Following updates by ‪@fihockey‬ over the summer to guidance on the interpretation of aerials, and given numerous queries regarding this rule from coaches, players and spectators, IHUA have put together this video to help your understanding of the rules regarding the aerial ball.
IHUA are responsible for managing umpiring in ‪@HockeyIrelandOfficial‬ competitions, and are proudly sponsored by ‪@OSGireland‬ .
The first step on the ladder of understanding is completing the Hockey Ireland Online Rules Test:
hockeyirelandh...
Both the outdoor and indoor FIH Umpires' Briefings can be found at the bottom of the page at the following:
www.fih.ch/insi...
The Rules of Hockey can be found here:
www.fih.ch/insi...

[@LSF_FSL]

Sorry but there is a clear definition (5:47) of playing distance in the FIH Rule book (pg 10) "Playing distance - The distance within which a player is capable of reaching the ball to play it."

[@Quentwo]

Thanks for that IHUA! You should advise your Belgian colleagues to do the same, everyone here need that :p

[@bavobruylandt2378]

very informative, thank you!

[@milesdavis5326]

at 10:00 the Scottish player has eyes only for the ball and makes a clean interception without endangering the NZ player. And both players cover an equal distance to make it to the landing zone. How can that be interpreted as intentional breakdown?

[@DwolfmanDG]

Good question. Remember that the NZ player is the clear receiver and the Scottish player encroached into the receiver's playing distance, making it a contested aerial. The defender encroached intentionally. She did not say he made a choice to break down the play, but he did make a choice to encroach on a ball in which he was never likely to be able to receive without making it a contested aerial.

[@stephendenman6339]

The distance the ball is travelling, you're juding it on almost instantanous clear receiver, which is clearly the NZ player.
The angle you don't see in this video but you can on the original match is from the goal camera - its almost physical contract between the two of them and very much in playing distance of the NZ player

[@nmanley72]

If the free hit is awarded against the team putting the ball into the air, the location of the hit should be where the ball was initially played shouldn't it? At the top level teams might prefer playing on quickly but lower down, a hit 50m further up the pitch would be preferred by many defending teams

[@noahkivett9162]

Only if the danger occurs when the ball is being raised (on the way up.) If the danger is where it is coming down, that is where you restart.

[@liambrown737]

Great video, thanks