With the New Year beginning, USA Field Hockey is hopeful to get back to playing indoor field hockey and will look to post “Behind the Whistle” scenarios associated with indoor hockey in January and February. The popular “Behind the Whistle” feature is designed to help the entire field hockey community better understand rules and rule application. USA Field Hockey encourages anyone with an Indoor Rules question, video or scenario to please submit it to umpire@usafieldhockey.com. Submissions will be selected to be featured in upcoming “Behind the Whistle” postings.

Behind the Whistle Indoor Scenario: Ball Off the Pitch

On a penalty corner, the ball is inserted properly. The attacker at the top of the circle mis-traps the ball which raises off the pitch slightly. The ball does not raise above the sideboard height of 4 inches (10 cm). No opponent is within playing distance of the bobble. The umpire should:

The correct answer is “PLAY ON”.

FIH Indoor Rule 9.9…Players must not raise the ball off the pitch except for a shot at goal. It is not an offense if the ball rises unintentionally off the pitch by less than 100 mm unless an opponent is within playing distance of the ball. Note: A number of years ago this was expected to be an automatic violation of the rule because it was on a penalty corner. This myth is not correct. Only in the case where an opponent is within playing distance and would be disadvantaged should this be called. Keep in mind that bobbles that travel well above the allowable height (4 in. / 100cm) should this be called immediately.