For field hockey umpires, by field hockey umpires
A defender moves early into tackling position and makes a block tackle from a stationary position. As she’s deflecting the ball out of bounds, the attacker is unable to adjust her running path and collides with the defender. Had the ball stayed in play and disadvantage occurred, a free hit would normally be awarded to…
A shot taken on the penalty corner goes between the post player’s legs, strikes the post and on its way out, hits his back heel. The correct decision here is another penalty corner rather than a stroke because the foot didn’t prevent the ball from going in the goal.
A ball is raised into the circle off a reverse sweep hit, rising dangerously past one defender and heading for a set of opposing players where the defender is marking very tightly. Either for the legitimate evasive action by the first defender or the ball arriving in an area where it was likely to lead…
This green card for a 5m infringement has two interesting aspects. First, note the frustration of the NED player when he doesn’t earn the call he believes he’s entitled to on the immediately preceding play. Frustrated players can take the emotional stance where “if the umpire isn’t going to call that, they aren’t going to call THIS!”…
Not every free push taken away from the spot of the foul requires intervention in indoor. However, when the team in possession gains an unfair advantage by cutting out non-fouling defenders as happens here, the umpire should intervene as early as possible and prevent the free push from being taken before the adjustment is made….
As an outnumbered counterattack flows into the circle, the deflected crossing attempt is deflected high off the goalkeeper’s stick. It then strikes his defending teammate in the chest and slowly bounces into the goal. This double-advantage may feel harsh but it’s the right decision according to the Golden Rule of Hockey. When it comes to…
