Rules of Hockey. First Shot at Penalty Corner

Amended 7nd April, 2013.

Rules of Hockey. Penalty corner. First Shot at the goal.

A point arising from Loopy Vicious Circles. http://wp.me/pKOEk-VF

Question around 13.3 l

Discussion in ‘Umpiring Corner’ started by Cookie,Mar 6, 2013.

Cookie

I have a feeling this may have been discussed but i couldn’t find it.

In the guidance to 13.3l it talks about if a defender is within 5m of the first shot at a PC and is hit below the knee its another PC and if above the knee its FHD.

My question is whether that is really meant to cover the runner at the top of the circle – or does it apply to the first shot if it is less than 5m from goal.

So I actually had the scenario on Saturday where a scrappy PC resulted in the first shot being a flick from about 4 yards out which hit a defender in his midriff. He was just off the line and so i am asking should that be FHD under the guidance or PS?

Similarly had it hit him below the knee then a strict reading of the guidance would suggest its a PC and not a PS – which surely can’t be intended.

 jayjay

yes, this is really meant to be in reference to the first runner, though you are right that that isn’t actually specifically said. the idea behind this guidance is that a ball which strikes someone above the knees who is closer than 5 metres to the taker is supposedly going over the goal, rather than travelling on a path that would score a goal. 

in your situation you should simply consider danger. and the guidance of one rule does not overrule the text of the rule of another. so if it hit his feet on the line and stopped the probable scoring (or actually the certain scoring of a goal, barring a dog materialising out of thin air on the line) of a goal, that that should be a PS, in accordance with 12.4 a. no doubt the usual suspects will tell you to simply “play on” as the person didnt stop the ball with their body “voluntarily”. just apply common sense to the situation and you’ll be fine.

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I am not one of the usual suspects, I am guilty as charged, but not only would I say that there was no offence by the defender, if  the contact was not made “voluntarily”, I would also say the first instance described was in any event a dangerous play offence by the attacker. I would add that in the case of a hit below the knee, even thought there is a very obvious benefit gained by the defender for his team – i.e. preventing the ball entering the goal,  it is not now possible to invoke the ‘gained benefit exception to “not done voluntarily” because that exception has been deleted.

There should of course be a ‘gains unfair advantage exception’ when a  shot is not dangerous according to Rule 13.3.l. or Rules 9.8 and 9.9 – but there isn’t – “them’s the Rules as they are written  in 2013″.  ”Disadvantaged opponents” is of course only applicable when there has been an offence, the competitors in a hockey match spend the entire game legitimately trying to disadvantage each other. Disadvantaging an opponent is not of it self either a breach of Rule or an offence.

The assertion that Rule 13.3.l is meant to be in reference only to a ball propelled at a first runner must be rejected. There is no freedom for the attackers in Rule 13,3,k to strike a first hit shot as high as they wish if it is not struck at or past an out-running defender – a pass to the injector does not free the injector to then make an above knee height hit shot – why should the Rules that pertain in the penalty corner situation be any different for a first shot that is flicked if it is not flicked immediately from the top of the circle but taken closer to the goal and then flicked?

The second incident in the clip below is fairly similar to the one described in the opening post. The shot is made from around 4m and hits the defender just below the throat. Fortunately it was not made at the maximum velocity the shooter was capable of, because it was made off the front foot, and the defender was not injured, but the shot was certainly contrary to the Rules of Hockey – within 5m and raised to above knee height at an opponent. I strongly dispute the assertion or assumption made, that  Rule 13.3.l applies only when a ball is propelled at an out-runner near the top of the circle. Penalising an above knee height flick made from within 5m of an opponent is also completely compatible with the Guidance given in Rule 9.9. concerning the raising of the ball with a flick at a player within 5m in any phase of play (no height limit given)  - so one way or another,  raising the ball at an opponent who is within 5m is, by Rule, considered dangerous play.

The incident in the International Match is a lot more difficult. The shot is legal in that it is made from beyond 5m – so no height limit is aplicable. The defender tries to play the ball with his stick. I see no evidence that he played it with his body intentionally, but voluntarily? Who knows? I am uneasy when I see a penalty stroke given when the circumstances and reasons for awarding it are less than completely clear and the actions of the player hit are not very obviously contrary to Rule. It should be noted that the Australians asked for a video referral citing a dangerously played shot.   If it were a Rule, that an on target shot at goal could not be dangerous, the match umpire could not reasonably have put the question to the video umpire ( unnecessarily delaying the game) when the answer would have been a foregone conclusion.

The first incident on the video clip, the international Match, is an example where the playing of the ball at an opponent at above elbow height being considered a dangerous play offence  would make the task of the umpire easier and the application of Rule fairer. Should the shot be too high and of a velocity that could injure anyone hit with it, it is penalised, if it is not above elbow height (sternum) and is prevented from entering the goal by a field player other than with the stick – penalty stroke.

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shipstontkd I take this guidance to mean any runners or defenders in the D, however a defender on the line is a completely different kettle of fish. He/she knows the risks they are taking being on the line and would suggest that they would expect the ps in most cases. As a matter of interest what was your call on Sat?

DavidBurns

shipstontkd said: I take this guidance to mean any runners or defenders in the D, however a defender on the line is a completely different kettle of fish.

So you dont take the guidance to mean ANY runner or defender in the D, a defender on the line is still a defender in the circle.

 DavidBurns

jayjay said: yes, this is really meant to be in reference to the first runner,

Do you use this for strikes at goal or just dragflicks?

A hit striking someone just below the knee at 4.5m would more than likely be passing the line above bb height. would you still apply the guidance or blow it for the hit being too high?

Resslys Agent likes this.

Diligent

Blow it: would be too high if it had reached the goal line.

jayjay

DavidBurns: as you can see, this guidance is in regards to rule 13.3 l, thus does not apply to the first shot at goal if this is a hit, that’s covered by 13.3 k. while you could therefore apply it to subsequent shots at goal that are hits, i think the guidance really is only truly useful when applied to the first shot that isnt a hit when a defender is charging it down at the top of the D. for all other situations you can simply use your common sense to apply the danger rule.

DavidBurns

Ta much

 deegum

JJ said: no doubt the usual suspects will tell you to  simply “play on” as the person didn’t stop the ball with their body “voluntarily”.

This suspect won’t this time.

JayJay said: in your situation you should simply consider danger……,

And

as you can see, this guidance is in regards to rule 13.3 l, thus does not apply to the first shot at goal if this is a hit

 JayJay, may I, very politely, with no hostility etc., say you are simply wrong in this case.: 

If a defender is within 5m of the first shot, and is struck by the ball, no goal can be scored. regardless of how long after the ball is injected it is taken, or the type of stroke, or from how far out from goal, or how hard, or soft, or how high, or low, the contact is. [Retake PC or FHD are the options]

13.3.l lf a defender is within five metres of the first shot at goal during the taking of a penalty corner and is struck by the ball below the knee…

Plain unambiguous statement that could hardly be any clearer, a statement that in no way modifies the requirements or Guidance of 13.3.k

From the OP

first shot being a flick from about 4 yards out which hit a defender in his midriff.

There’s also rule 9.9

Players are permitted to raise the ball with a flick or scoop provided it is not dangerous. A flick or scoop towards an opponent within 5 metres is considered dangerous

Multiple posts merged  by moderator – Deegum please try to sort out your browser problem.

Resslys Agent

Going against guidance and using triganometry, if it hits below shin pad within 5 from a at the top of the D from a shot that is hit, then chances are it is going above the 18 inches of the backboard!

However, as we can’t always determine speed which will affect balls trajectory then we should use the guidance.

Diligent

Just as plain and unambiguous a statement is the note  to 13.3k: 

If the first shot at goal is a hit and the ball is, or will be, too high crossing the goal line it must be penalised… 
It might strike a defender below the knee, but if it was rising to cross the line above 460mm, that’s a FHD.

deegum 

Sorry about the ” multiple posts” folks.  They didn’t show up at my end, simply disappeared into the ether, I didn’t know I had that particular problem.

jayjay

deegum, i was simply making the point that if its a hit, we apply the guidance for what happens when the first shot at goal at a PC is a hit, and when its a flick, we apply the guidance of what happens when the first shot at goal at a PC is a flick. seemed simple enough to me.

you’ll  find i was in no way making a reference towards the scenario in the OP, as i had already said, regard danger.

*********************

The two questions:-

He was just off the line and so i am asking should that be FHD under the guidance or PS?  

Answer Free ball to defence for dangerous play, there is  no justification whatsoever for a penalty stroke.

Similarly had it hit him below the knee then a strict reading of the guidance would suggest its a PC and not a PS – which surely can’t be intended.

Answer.  During a penalty corner the Rules clearly mandate the award of another penalty corner if a defender is hit below the knee with a shot taken from less than 5m.

In open play “Play on” – there are reasonable grounds to penalise when the shot is a second or subsequent shot or is made in open play, even when the ball/body contact was accidental and unavoidable by the defender, a goal has been prevented by illicit means (an action that would be an offence if done intentionally), but in the absence of intention and of a gains benefit exception to the ‘voluntarily’ Guidance, there no longer exists a Rule justification to do so.  Someone ought to inform the FIH RC: perhaps a National Umpiring Association should do that. It is not reasonable for umpires to be substituting their ‘common sense’ for Rule six years after a deletion has thrown up such a frequently occurring problem. But the last thing wanted is a return to the ‘blanket’ “gained benefit” where every ball/body contact is assumed to be of benefit or to disadvantage opponents and therefore open to penalty – in fact it would be better not to penalise foot/ball contact at all than to return to a situation where an umpire can find reason to penalise all such contacts, because many would do just that – some still do  - thus encouraging attackers to force such contacts  (especially as there is now no Rule which specifically forbids the forcing of a ball/body contact onto an opponent if the ball is not played in a dangerous way i.e. the ball is played into an opponent’s feet).

It is fair that the forcing of a ball/foot contact be no longer regarded as an offence if – and only if – foot/ball contact be no longer regarded as an offence.  This arrangement makes intent irrelevant. That might be workable with a ‘gained unfair advantage exception’, applicable only when a certain goal was prevented after a legal (non dangerous) shot or a player in possession of the ball made foot contact with it.  Dangerous play that results in ball/body contact by an opponent should of course be penalised as dangerous play – that is not happening at the moment when the dangerous play (a raised ball) is a shot at (or ‘through’) field-players defending their own goal, often not even, as can be seen in the video example,  when the criterion – above knee height at an opponent within 5m – clearly applies.

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Link to Index of Rules http://wp.me/p3tNmd-3

Field Hockey Rules: Penalty Power Play

Edited January 2013.

The penalty corner was introduced into field hockey the early 1900′s, to replace a bully on the 25 yard line following an offence by a defender. Very soon after an amendment to the rule made it compulsory to stop the ball (at the time within the circle), for safety reasons, before a shot at the goal (then not height restricted if hit), could be taken. Since then the rule clauses relating to the penalty corner have had more additions and amendments than any other rule, probably more than all the other rules put together, and it is still unsatisfactory. I think its introduction was a mistake and I believe that if at present we did not have a penalty corner no-one would seriously consider introducing it in its present form to the modern game. We still have it because no suitable alternative has been suggested (or at least none accepted).

I think we might however adopt from ice-hockey the concept of the power-play and use it as a time limited penalty in place of the penalty corner. Below is set out what I think is a workable replacement , which would be conducted as a small open play game , without the shooting restrictions of the penalty corner, but with a dangerously lifted ball or dangerous shot at the goal; that being  being one that is 1) lifted at an opponent 2) above elbow height  3) with a velocity sufficient to force an opponent to self-defence (play the ball or evade it) to avoid injury. (The current at an opponent at above knee height from within 5m remains in place - but see post on lifted ball suggesting that 3m is here sufficient)

The penalty-play I suggest is a time limited 5 v 4 power-play. Five attackers, four defenders. It is based on the present penalty corner format, that is a ball inserted into play from the back-line by an individual attacker to other attackers (limited to four) positioned behind a line a given distance from the goal (the 23m line instead of the circle line) who will then, together with the insert attacker, try to score a goal in the time allowed, which is half a minute (trial needed to see if this time is suitable). The defenders are initially positioned as in the present penalty corner.

Penalty-play.

1 Positioning.

a. The ball is placed on the back-line inside the circle, at least 10 metres from the nearest goal-post, on whichever side of the goal the attacking team prefers.

b. Four other attackers must be on the field, beyond the nearest 23m line with sticks, hands and feet not touching the ground inside the 23m before the ball is inserted.

c. The remaining attackers and defenders must be positioned behind the centre-line when the ball is inserted.

d. Not more than four defenders, including the goalkeeper, if there is one, must be positioned behind the goal-line or back-line with their sticks, hands and feet not touching the ground inside the field.

If the team defending a penalty play has chosen to play with field players only, none of the four defenders involved in the penalty-play has goalkeeping privileges.

e. No defender is permitted to be within five meters of the ball when the push or hit is taken by the attacker on the back-line.

2 Procedure.

a. The attacking team have thirty seconds from the moment of ‘insert’ of the ball to complete their attack. If the ball is still in play after that period  ‘stop time’ is blown (table or trailing umpire timing) and a 15m awarded to the defending team from in line with the goalpost they choose. (Game restated with whistle).  An alternative would be for normal open play to resume, but a signal other than an umpire’s whistle would be required to indicate ‘time up’ and allow the remaining players to engage (perhaps an air-horn used by a ‘timing official’ pitch-side).

b. Game time is stopped when a penalty-play is awarded and is restarted as the ball is inserted. Timing of the penalty-play begins simultaneously with the restart of game timing.

c. The umpire blows a whistle to signal the commencement of the penalty-play and the ball may then be ‘inserted’ into play by an attacker, from the chosen 10m mark and towards the 23m line, where four more attackers have taken up positions of their choosing.

d. Defenders behind the goal-line or back-line are permitted to cross the back-line immediately the ball is played by the ‘insert’ attacker.

e. The involved attackers, initially positioned directly behind the 23m area, may move across the 23m line as soon as the ball is ‘inserted’.

f. Until the ball is inserted no attacker is permitted to enter the the 23m area (the insert player excepted because he may have one foot and possibly both in the circle if he uses a drag stroke to ‘insert’ the ball – the requirement to have one foot outside the pitch being deleted)

g. Attackers and defenders who are not initially involved are to be positioned behind the centre-line but may move up to the 23m line as soon as the ball has been played back into the 23m area. They must however remain outside the 23m area during the penalty-play and may not physically interfere with the playing of it. (Calling instructions to team-mates would not be regarded as interference but obstruction, impeding or attempting to play the ball would be)

h. After playing the ball, the attacker taking the push or hit from the back-line must not play the ball again or approach within playing distance of it until it has been played by another player

i. The ball may be played by a second attacker (the first being the insert player) before it crosses the 23m, line but a goal cannot be scored until the ball has crossed out of the 23m area and has then been reinserted  into the penalty-play area (the 23m area) by one of the four attackers initially behind the 23m line,

j. Hitting the ball directly into the circle from beyond the 23m line or dribbling of the ball into the 23m area and then hitting it directly into the circle is prohibited: the ball must be played into the circle from within the 23m area after a third attacker, to whom the ball is passed by the initial receiver, has played it. (The insert player being the first player, the receiver behind the 23 line the second and a second receiver within the 23m area the third. The initial receiver may pass the ball to any one of the other four involved attackers, receive the ball a second time, and then play it into the circle.) The purpose of this compulsory pass is to prevent an immediate hard hit into the circle for the insert player to deflect into the goal before defenders can adopt marking positions. The aim is to make a penalty power play as close as possible to an open play situation, but with the advantage of a ‘man over’ and a play plan.

k. If an attacker, who was not one of the initial four between the 23m line and the centre-line at the commencement of the power play, crosses into the 23m area before the time limit of the corner has expired, a free-pass will be awarded to the defence on the 23m line at a place of their choosing. (the trailing umpire will watch for this offence)

l. If a defender, who was behind the centre-line at the commencement of the power play, crosses into the 23m area before the time limit of the corner has expired another penalty-play (and a personal penalty) may be awarded.

m. If a yellow or red card is issued to any defender during a penalty-play (including those behind the centre-line at commencement) and another penalty-play is awarded the subsequent penalty-play will be with three defenders only (and so on to two etc.).  If the goalkeeper is guilty of an infraction that should result in being sent to the half-line, another defending player may be nominated to retire during the subsequent penalty power.

3 Completion.

The penalty-play is completed when:

a. a goal is scored

b. an attacker involved in the penalty commits an offence (free-pass at place of offence or 15m if closer to back-line)

c the ball is played over a side-line.

d. the ball is played over the 23m line for a second time but does not go out of play (normal play resumes)

e. the ball is played over the back-line. (intentionally playing the ball over the back-line by a defender will result in a normal play corner, not another penalty-play).

f. a penalty stroke is awarded.

g. there is a no offence stoppage which would normal play result in a bully (another penalty play will be awarded – but see article suggesting an alternative penalty  http://wp.me/pKOEk-Kd

h.  the time limit expires. (15m free-pass for defence) or as a trial alternative (normal play resumes).

4. Retakes

a. If a defender commits an offence, which disadvantages the attacking side sufficiently for the umpire to stop play, another penalty-play will be awarded – unless a penalty stoke has been awarded.
b. If play is stopped during the taking of a penalty-play because of an injury or for any other reason and a bully would otherwise be awarded, the penalty-play must be taken again – but see           http://wp.me/pKOEk-Kd

c. If one or more of the defenders positioned behind the goal-line or back-line breaks early, that is before the insert player has played the ball, a caution will be issued and the penalty-play reset. (Persistent breaking in this way – that is once again after a warning has been issued – may be penalised with a reduction in the number of defenders and on the third occasion with a penalty stroke.)

5. Substitutions

a. Except in case of injury (see below) there will be no substitutions between the time a penalty play is awarded and the whistle to commence it is blown.  Once the whistle to commence is blown the players not directly involved in the penalty-play (any player initially beyond the centre-line before commencement) may be substituted.

b. If a player is injured during a penalty-play and another penalty-play is awarded the injured player may be substituted before the subsequent penalty-play commences.

c. Neither the defenders or the attackers involved in a penalty-play are confined the 23m area while it is ongoing but the initial four from each team cannot exchange place with team-mates not in the initial line-up for each penalty-play.(It may be necessary for those nominated to take part in a penalty-play to wear a distinctive article of clothing such as an arm-band)

d. If a fully kitted goalkeeper is suspended during a penalty-play he may be replaced with another player in goalkeeping kit from within the on-field players or from the bench. If he is replaced from the bench the captain must nominate one of the players involved in the penalty-play to leave the pitch (which could be himself). Should the goalkeeper be awarded a red card he or she must leave the pitch area immediately but may be replaced and another defender nominated to retire to the half-line if another power play is awarded.
6. Overtime.

a. The match is prolonged at half-time and full-time to allow completion of a penalty-play or any subsequent penalty-play awarded or a penalty stroke awarded during the penalty-play.

There could of course be an immediate dip in the number of goals scored from this penalty (which is intermediate between a free-pass and a penalty stroke) because passing drills that will create opportunity for a scoring shot will have to be worked out, but teams should soon become as proficient at that as the small group setting up a drag-flicker are now. Ah yes, the drag-flick, won’t be required.

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Link to Index of Rules http://wp.me/p3tNmd-3