[Uwh-announce] Rule of the Week: Argy Bargy and Obstructionists

[Sinclair, Angus (DEDTA)]

Hi all,

This week we welcome WA. Hello to Margaret River.

QLD is quick off the blocks and has asked about a couple of plays that, well, drive most of us stir crazy, both in defence and attack. Up front, I'll use the term "impeded" instead of "obstructed" to make it a little less inflammatory. It's a lot like the difference between impeding and obstructing legislation-It's all about the journalist/politician, or in our case the player.

Scenario One: The awesome forward with the flick of their career, and the defender's butt.

So your strike goes forth, pings off an awesome flick, only to have the opposition player immediately turn and body check using their gluteus maximus.

Ping- infringement, right? Not necessarily. Its' not a case of the defenders stepping aside, line up rolling out a red carpet shouting "bravo, nice flick" accompanied by the prerequisite golf clap. As a defender, I'm not going to sit around and do the above, I generally swear in bubbles and spin flat out and chase the puck down. Now it's HOW I go about that spin and chase that makes ALL the difference:

1. Turn (tightly!) and chase the puck
Entirely legal, as long as you go directly for the puck, only the puck and nothing but the puck. So help me ref..........
Any watching referee has to decide that you didn't turn 'wide' to impede the flicker as they chase the puck. You will be in the hands of the ref and how they interpret the play, and this will depend on each and every ref.
2. Turn (tightly!) - and HOLD your position because you see that one of your players is behind you and now HAS the puck -(or is about to get it)
Usually legal - again, as long as the referee/s think you were not deliberately trying to obstruct by staying there. i.e. they have to agree with you that you were a legitimate (immediate) passing option for the player behind you who is now about to GET the puck (or has it)
This is based on the fact that you can't just disappear (see notes in Scenario 2 re Collins class subs-they too find it hard to disappear) when someone flicks behind you - and after all, they PUT it there!
3. Turn WIDE TO BLOCK the chaser as they go past
Nope, not on. If you do NOT turn and go directly for the puck and/or actively block the attacker, you will most likely enjoy your breather next to the deck ref, and shout team beers afterwards. If the attacker is worried about not getting the puck back because they flick behind the defender - flick further away to either side!!! That ought to draw the foul! :-) (Did I just say that?????)

Scenario Two: Someone deftly carries the puck under their body and spears into their opposition like skittles.
This one is pretty cut and dried. I hear discussions about the defender has to be stationary (I'm built like a Collins Class sub, if I start moving, it takes on average 3 nautical miles to pull me up), they have to make position first etc. Not relevant. The key here is whether the person in possession of the puck tucks up like iron man and proceeds to clear the decks at Mach 2. They cannot impede the defenders ability to get to the puck by actively using their body. It is at the very least an obstruction, and with the head down and hooves thumping, a barge as well. Also - the defender DOES need to be primarily in front of the person with the puck. If they are alongside and just reaching in - tough.

Scenario Three: The carefully placed body part "accidentally" impeding the player in possession as they sprint for the goal.

If you are chasing someone with the puck - don't touch them at ALL while chasing!!! The old dropped knee onto the shoulder in a melee, or the dropped body on the breakaway, or a braced arm along the wall. I won't mention any more, as it just gives you all too much to work with, and the refs a continuous nightmare.

So what's the problem here? The key word is accidental, because it is the difference between a 2 minute rest, or just an infringement. In all cases the sprinter has been impeded, and therefore wronged. Once the Ref decides you are slowing them down with ANY body contact - even if you are now TOUCHING the puck with your stick, they should be playing the advantage for the defender, because you ARE obstructing them!

An interesting aside, if the breakaway is mid court, and there is nobody else in defence following the impediment (sounds a bit condescending, really. Never thought of a defender as an "impediment") then it can be deemed an almost certain goal, and therefore a penalty goal awarded.

"But it's not in the D!!!" I hear you shout! Show me where in the rules where it states that an "almost certain goal" infringement has to start in the D, and I'll show you rule 17.9.1. As a ref, however, be VERY careful when assessing this one. But that's another "rule of the week"......

As always:
Regardless of what you think of the call, it's what it is. Live with it, and move on.

See you all poolside!

Angus Sinclair
Chief Referee, Tasmania Underwater Hockey

P 03 6237 6401 | F 03 6233 5800
M 0427 501 890
email:angus.sinclair at development.tas.gov.au<mailto:angus.sinclair at development.tas.gov.au>

PS. An addendum to the Stick rule- The best illegal stick I've seen was 1 m long. First we saw of it was when we looked up at the tray, to see nothing but stick. Yes it stopped a breakaway goal, which was awarded as a penalty goal due to an illegal play. It was similar to trying to score against an ice hockey goalie propped on the bottom of the pool..........



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