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.
Remember to check out last week's indoor scenario,"Mask Left on Court" by clicking here.
Behind the Whistle Indoor Scenario: "You Make the Call" Shot on Goal
Look at the video closely. If you were the umpire in this situation what decision would you make?
Rule 9.8: Players must not play the ball dangerously or in a way which leads to dangerous play.
A ball is also considered dangerous when it causes legitimate evasive action by players of the opposition.
The penalty is awarded where the action causing the danger took place.
Guidance: As you will notice in the video, the defender in blue is playing a zone type defense and is sliding across with her stick on the floor. She in no way is attempting to act like a second goalkeeper. The attack has the responsibility to shoot the ball safely at the goal. The defender was playing legitimate defense and did nothing wrong to warrant any penalty. The attack does not have the right to shoot dangerously into a proper defender. Thus a free push to the defense for danger against the attack player. Properly called by the umpire in the video.