Umpires TEAM Briefing EuroNations Championships

London (ENG)22nd-29th August, 2015

Umpire Manager’sPeter von Reth (NED) & Ged Curran (SCO)

Our AIMTO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE

Support a great spectacle for the Hockey World and deliver a high quality product through:

Protecting skill

Encouraging meaningful flow

Eliminate dangerous play

The promotion of our game

Set Standards Early Get direct and strong messages across early in the game

Communication is important but CONNECTING IS THE KEY

The Free Hit, Self-Pass and 5 metres

Make sure the free-hit / self-pass is taken in the correct place with a ’close to motionless’ ball...but be PROACTIVE without being SILLY

Don’t interfere unless the player(s) within 5 metres are affecting the game...both defenders and attackers...this is especially important just outside the circle

Be aware of situations where the attacker restarts with a quick freehit and chooses a path into defenders within 5 metres

The Free Hit Outside The CircleCommentary and additional guidance:

The intention of the Rule change is to assist game flow, such that the attack is able to take a quick free hit from the point of the offence, rather than have to take the ball back to the dotted 5 metres line.

All players other than the player taking the free hit should be at least 5 metres from the ball. If a player 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.

A player within 5 metres of the ball at the taking of the free hit is not allowed to engage with play prior to the ball having travelled at least 5 metres.

The Free Hit Outside The CircleCommentary and additional guidance:

However, at a free hit the ball cannot enter the circle until it has travelled at least 5 metres if the same player continues to play the ball or it has been touched by another player of either team.

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 influenceplay until it has either travelled at least 5 metres or alternatively has been touched by another player of either team who can legitimately play the ball.

Players inside the circle who were 5 metres or more from the point of the free hit are not allowed to move and remain in a ‘set’ position within 5 metres of the ball when the free hit is taken.

Other than 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.

Breakdowns

Be aware of when and where this happens:

WHEN? Fast breaks – Turnovers

WHERE? Often just outside the attacking 23m area

This needs cut out of the game to protect skill:

CONNECT with this early to stop it

Obstruction

This still exists!

Be aware of when, where and how this happens:

WHEN...players are confined or trapped in a tight space

WHERE...on the sidelines / backlines

HOW...using the leading foot

This is a lack of skill...frustrates players...and should not be rewarded

Playing the ball after the whistle

This is a tactic designed to gain an advantage

When and where does it happen?

Who does it?

Why don’t we always see it when it happens?

Team or personal penalty? We need to get this correct...every time

Physical play and sliding tackles

We need to cut these tackles out

Sliding tackles that takes out the player

Cynical physical fouls which grounds a player

Playing the ball with the body

High Risk = High Gain...or High Penalty

Other Stuff

Crowding the umpire

THIS IS NOT FOOTBALL!!

2 is company...you and one player...3 is a crowd!

It would be reasonable however...and sensible...to allow a captain to join

It is not acceptable for this to happen...or to allow this to happen

Penalty Corner Line Breaks If a defender breaks at PC – he must go to the halfway line and

cannot be replaced by another defender

If a GK breaks at PC – another defender must go to the halfway line and cannot be replaced by another defender

If an attacker enters circle before injection – he must go to to the halfway line but can be replaced by another attacker

If an injector feints an injection – he must be replaced by another attacker