Stating that defenders must not retreat in the direction in which a Self-pass taker wants to go (because that is influencing the play of the taker) is not part of the Rule, it is an umpire interpretation of unknown origin and no authority whatsoever. To state that a defender cannot retreat to cut off a pass towards another attacker that the taker might make is an absurd addition to this ''interpretation'. Subjective judgements of this sort must be made on a case by case basis, even the timing and speed of retreat will make a significant difference, direction is not the only factor. My opinion. It bewilders me that umpires have opted to make the Self-pass as complicated and as difficult to umpire as they have. It was intended that it would free the game up my removing the need for a team-mate to pass the ball to when an isolated player was awarded a free ball. Here (video Rule explanation) we have excellent reasons why these unnecessary and complicated 5m restrictions should be deleted along with the ridiculous prohibition on playing the ball directly into the circle from any free ball awarded in the opponent's 23m area. Only two distance restrictions are required when a free ball is awarded close to the circle. 1) to move it back 5m from the circle to a position just outside the hash circle - that's right - the only 5m restriction the FIH RC have removed since 2009 was (the only) sensible requirement imposed. 2) Require opponents (but not same team players in the 23m area) to move to get 5m from the ball as rapidly as is reasonably possible when a free ball is awarded (and card them when they don't). If a Self pass is taken before opponents have been given opportunity to retreat to be 5m from the ball then (in all parts of the pitch) the early taken Self pass should be considered to be an advantage played (why else would a taker take a self pass early?) and normal open play should resume immediately the ball is moved from its stationary position. The Self-pass does not require all the shackles that have restrained it since it was first adopted by the EHL in 2007 and it is not supposed to clog the game up and slow it down in a critical part of the pitch - quite the opposite.
There is no Rule requirement that when a free ball is taken outside the hasrh circle all defenders must move clear of the intended run path of a player taking a self-pass. This appears to have been an 'interpretation' invented by umpires (probably originating from an umpire manager) so it had no authority whatsoever. I use the past tense because this 'interpretation' has not been applied for at least two years, having been allowed to fade away. The prohibition on playing the ball directly into the opponent's circle from a free ball awarded in the opponent's 23m area is one of the worst impositions by the FIH Rules Committee in many years (exceeded only by the contradictory, and now withdrawn, 'own goal' Rule, which encouraged attackers to blast the ball as hard as they could into the circles in open play). The silly spins off's from this Rule, a number of different 5m restrictions imposed on attackers and defenders, are clogging and slowing the game in critical areas of the pitch - and making umpiring more difficult. A early taken self-pass, that is one taken before defenders, who ARE retreating, have been given opportunity to get 5m from the ball, should be treated as a advantage played and normal play should resume as soon a the ball has been moved by the taker. An early taken self-pass is reasonably viewed as an advantaged played, why else would a taker take a self pass early but to gain an advantage by doing so? I would also like to see a second whistle used (the first to stop play and indicate penalty) the second to be sounded the moment the ball is stationary and the umpire is satisfied with the positioning of it, to restart. (The should encourage the side awarded a free to comply as rapidly as possible with both of these free ball requirements.)
What if attacker moves the ball but then doesn't really travel 5 yards but kinda stays in one position how long does defender need to wait before tackling ?
Brilliant!! Clear concise and very important to the game being understood by all. Is there any chance you could do the same with what makes an obstruction in 1 on 1 situations. Especially with a player legally allowed to have their back to a player these days. For instance if a player has their back to me and indicates they are going to my left side. I sweep my reverse stick to tackle from the side and their leg stops my stick from getting to the reachable ball is that obstruction by them for blocking a reachable ball due to their body or me infringing on their running movement to that side?
When a free hit is awarded within the 5m area and time is stopped, why must the defender move back 5m and not wait on the edge of the cicle? Please mention the rule number from the FIH rule book in your answer.
Rule 13.2 “taking a free hit, centre pass, and putting the ball back into play after it has been outside the field of play” specifically answers this.. please see the section in bold below :-) Procedures for taking a free hit, centre pass and putting the ball back into play after it has been outside the field: All parts of this Rule apply as appropriate to a free hit, centre pass and putting the ball back into play after it has been outside the field. the ball must be stationary opponents must be at least 5 metres from the ball If an opponent is within 5 metres of the ball, they must not interfere with the taking of the free hit or must not play or attempt to play the ball. If this player is not playing the ball, attempting to play the ball or influencing play, the free hit need not be delayed. 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, except as specifically indicated below for attacking free hits awarded within 5 metres of the circle the ball is moved using a hit, push, flick or scoop the ball may be raised immediately using a push, flick or scoop but must not be raised intentionally using a hit from a free hit awarded to the attack within the 23 metres area, the ball must not be played into the circle until it has travelled at least 5 metres, not necessarily in a single direction, or has been touched by a player of the defending team If the player taking the free hit continues to play the ball (ie no defending player has yet touched it): that player may play the ball any number of times, but the ball must travel at least 5 metres, before that player plays the ball into the circle by hitting or pushing the ball again. Alternatively: after a defending player has touched the ball, it can be played into the circle by any other player including the player who took the free hit. At an attacking free hit awarded within 5 metres of the circle, the ball cannot be played into the circle until it has travelled at least 5 metres or it has been touched by a defending player. On this basis, defenders who are inside the circle within 5 metres of the free hit are therefore not interfering with play and may also shadow around the inside of the circle a player who takes a self-pass, provided that they do not play or attempt to play the ball or influence play until it has either travelled at least 5 metres or alternatively been touched by a defending player who can legitimately play the ball. Players inside or outside the circle who were 5 metres or more from the point of the free hit at its award are not allowed to move to and then remain in a stationary position within 5 metres of the ball as the free hit is taken. Other than as indicated above, any playing of the ball, attempting to play the ball or interference by a defender or an attacker who was not 5 metres from the ball, should be penalised accordingly. Following a time stoppage after the award of an attacking free hit inside the 23 metres area, upon the re-start all players other than the player taking the free hit must be at least 5 metres from the ball. It is permitted to play the ball high above the attacking circle so that it lands outside the circle subject to Rules related to dangerous play and that the ball is not legitimately playable inside or above the circle by another player during its flight.
This was a great video, again! It does seems contradictory to rule 13.2.b "If an opponent is within 5 metres of the ball, they must not interfere with the taking of the free hit or must not play or attempt to play the ball. If this player is not playing the ball, attempting to play the ball or influencing play, the free hit need not be delayed. " I suspect we are saying here they are not "influencing play" because the only legitimate play is along the outside of the circle. This is not umpired this way at anything but the most senior level was there specific briefings on this in 2016 season do you know? Does anyone know why some umpires blow for hitting directly into the circle from for example a long corner, as long as it went 5 metres I thought it was legal.
The ball has to travel 5 meters before it can be hit into the circle. So you can run for 5, pass to a team mate who is 5 (or a combination of the 2) or after a defender has taken control of the ball. If you take a free inside the 25 (this includes long corners) and hit straight into the circle, then the ball has not travelled 5 meters before the hit was taken. So it is not the distance the ball travelled before entering the circle, but the distance it travelled before being HIT TOWARD the circle.
Thanks MrGusman The video commentary of "free hits must go 5 metres before they enter the circle" was probably a comment on dribbling and isn't quite as correct as the rule is 13.2.f "the ball must not be !played! into the circle until it has travelled at least 5 metres or has been touched by a player of either team other than the player taking the free hit"
Stating that defenders must not retreat in the direction in which a Self-pass taker wants to go (because that is influencing the play of the taker) is not part of the Rule, it is an umpire interpretation of unknown origin and no authority whatsoever. To state that a defender cannot retreat to cut off a pass towards another attacker that the taker might make is an absurd addition to this ''interpretation'.
Subjective judgements of this sort must be made on a case by case basis, even the timing and speed of retreat will make a significant difference, direction is not the only factor.
My opinion.
It bewilders me that umpires have opted to make the Self-pass as complicated and as difficult to umpire as they have. It was intended that it would free the game up my removing the need for a team-mate to pass the ball to when an isolated player was awarded a free ball.
Here (video Rule explanation) we have excellent reasons why these unnecessary and complicated 5m restrictions should be deleted along with the ridiculous prohibition on playing the ball directly into the circle from any free ball awarded in the opponent's 23m area.
Only two distance restrictions are required when a free ball is awarded close to the circle. 1) to move it back 5m from the circle to a position just outside the hash circle - that's right - the only 5m restriction the FIH RC have removed since 2009 was (the only) sensible requirement imposed. 2) Require opponents (but not same team players in the 23m area) to move to get 5m from the ball as rapidly as is reasonably possible when a free ball is awarded (and card them when they don't).
If a Self pass is taken before opponents have been given opportunity to retreat to be 5m from the ball then (in all parts of the pitch) the early taken Self pass should be considered to be an advantage played (why else would a taker take a self pass early?) and normal open play should resume immediately the ball is moved from its stationary position. The Self-pass does not require all the shackles that have restrained it since it was first adopted by the EHL in 2007 and it is not supposed to clog the game up and slow it down in a critical part of the pitch - quite the opposite.
That music is annoying.
There is no Rule requirement that when a free ball is taken outside the hasrh circle all defenders must move clear of the intended run path of a player taking a self-pass. This appears to have been an 'interpretation' invented by umpires (probably originating from an umpire manager) so it had no authority whatsoever. I use the past tense because this 'interpretation' has not been applied for at least two years, having been allowed to fade away.
The prohibition on playing the ball directly into the opponent's circle from a free ball awarded in the opponent's 23m area is one of the worst impositions by the FIH Rules Committee in many years (exceeded only by the contradictory, and now withdrawn, 'own goal' Rule, which encouraged attackers to blast the ball as hard as they could into the circles in open play).
The silly spins off's from this Rule, a number of different 5m restrictions imposed on attackers and defenders, are clogging and slowing the game in critical areas of the pitch - and making umpiring more difficult.
A early taken self-pass, that is one taken before defenders, who ARE retreating, have been given opportunity to get 5m from the ball, should be treated as a advantage played and normal play should resume as soon a the ball has been moved by the taker. An early taken self-pass is reasonably viewed as an advantaged played, why else would a taker take a self pass early but to gain an advantage by doing so?
I would also like to see a second whistle used (the first to stop play and indicate penalty) the second to be sounded the moment the ball is stationary and the umpire is satisfied with the positioning of it, to restart. (The should encourage the side awarded a free to comply as rapidly as possible with both of these free ball requirements.)
What if attacker moves the ball but then doesn't really travel 5 yards but kinda stays in one position how long does defender need to wait before tackling ?
Brilliant!! Clear concise and very important to the game being understood by all. Is there any chance you could do the same with what makes an obstruction in 1 on 1 situations.
Especially with a player legally allowed to have their back to a player these days. For instance if a player has their back to me and indicates they are going to my left side. I sweep my reverse stick to tackle from the side and their leg stops my stick from getting to the reachable ball is that obstruction by them for blocking a reachable ball due to their body or me infringing on their running movement to that side?
Aleisha Neumann (Umpire) very good tips to Field Hockey
When a free hit is awarded within the 5m area and time is stopped, why must the defender move back 5m and not wait on the edge of the cicle? Please mention the rule number from the FIH rule book in your answer.
Rule 13.2 “taking a free hit, centre pass, and putting the ball back into play after it has been outside the field of play” specifically answers this.. please see the section in bold below :-)
Procedures for taking a free hit, centre pass and putting the ball back into play after it has been outside the field:
All parts of this Rule apply as appropriate to a free hit, centre pass and putting the ball back into play after it has been outside the field.
the ball must be stationary
opponents must be at least 5 metres from the ball
If an opponent is within 5 metres of the ball, they must not interfere with the taking of the free hit or must not play or attempt to play the ball. If this player is not playing the ball, attempting to play the ball or influencing play, the free hit need not be delayed.
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, except as specifically indicated below for attacking free hits awarded within 5 metres of the circle
the ball is moved using a hit, push, flick or scoop
the ball may be raised immediately using a push, flick or scoop but must not be raised intentionally using a hit
from a free hit awarded to the attack within the 23 metres area, the ball must not be played into the circle until it has travelled at least 5 metres, not necessarily in a single direction, or has been touched by a player of the defending team
If the player taking the free hit continues to play the ball (ie no defending player has yet touched it):
that player may play the ball any number of times, but
the ball must travel at least 5 metres, before
that player plays the ball into the circle by hitting or pushing the ball again.
Alternatively:
after a defending player has touched the ball, it can be played into the circle by any other player including the player who took the free hit.
At an attacking free hit awarded within 5 metres of the circle, the ball cannot be played into the circle until it has travelled at least 5 metres or it has been touched by a defending player. On this basis, defenders who are inside the circle within 5 metres of the free hit are therefore not interfering with play and may also shadow around the inside of the circle a player who takes a self-pass, provided that they do not play or attempt to play the ball or influence play until it has either travelled at least 5 metres or alternatively been touched by a defending player who can legitimately play the ball.
Players inside or outside the circle who were 5 metres or more from the point of the free hit at its award are not allowed to move to and then remain in a stationary position within 5 metres of the ball as the free hit is taken.
Other than as indicated above, any playing of the ball, attempting to play the ball or interference by a defender or an attacker who was not 5 metres from the ball, should be penalised accordingly.
Following a time stoppage after the award of an attacking free hit inside the 23 metres area, upon the re-start all players other than the player taking the free hit must be at least 5 metres from the ball.
It is permitted to play the ball high above the attacking circle so that it lands outside the circle subject to Rules related to dangerous play and that the ball is not legitimately playable inside or above the circle by another player during its flight.
Thanks for make crystal clear what the rules are in relation to hits close to the circle
very hard work Bernie!!! i am Pakistani
This was a great video, again!
It does seems contradictory to rule 13.2.b "If an opponent is within 5 metres of the ball, they must not interfere with the taking of the free hit or must not play or attempt to play the ball. If this player is not playing the ball, attempting to play the ball or
influencing play, the free hit need not be delayed. "
I suspect we are saying here they are not "influencing play" because the only legitimate play is along the outside of the circle.
This is not umpired this way at anything but the most senior level was there specific briefings on this in 2016 season do you know?
Does anyone know why some umpires blow for hitting directly into the circle from for example a long corner, as long as it went 5 metres I thought it was legal.
The ball has to travel 5 meters before it can be hit into the circle. So you can run for 5, pass to a team mate who is 5 (or a combination of the 2) or after a defender has taken control of the ball. If you take a free inside the 25 (this includes long corners) and hit straight into the circle, then the ball has not travelled 5 meters before the hit was taken. So it is not the distance the ball travelled before entering the circle, but the distance it travelled before being HIT TOWARD the circle.
Thanks MrGusman The video commentary of "free hits must go 5 metres before they enter the circle" was probably a comment on dribbling and isn't quite as correct as the rule is 13.2.f "the ball must not be !played! into the circle until it has travelled at least 5 metres or has been touched by a player of either team other than the player taking the free hit"
Love your wok Bernie. :)
I've got one question, after a time stoppage (2:30), can the attacker run straight into the circle or does it have to travel 5 first?
must go 5 first
Thanks!
The rule is in place for safety. Prevents a straight crash ball into the circle.