For field hockey umpires, by field hockey umpires
A green card is awarded for a breakdown tackle which is made immediately after the attacker is successfully tackled at the top of the circle, stopping a counter down the centre channel. A team that …
Continue Reading about NZLvESP GC for breakdown immediately after turnover →
With 3m left in Q4 and the attacking team up a goal, an attacker who has just turned over the ball on a stick obstruction foul pushes the ball away from the defender and prevents a quick outlet. …
Continue Reading about BLRvNED GC for playing ball after whistle →
Two instances within 45s of the same team playing the ball after the whistle and breaking down play. In both examples, the fouling player subtly moves the ball further away from the spot of the foul …
Continue Reading about AUSvNED GCx2 playing ball after whistle →
This is the first time a player has played the ball after the whistle in this game but, given the number of seconds left in the half, the effectiveness of this misconduct to prevent any last-second …
Continue Reading about AUSvNED Playing ball after whistle warning →
A reading of this play is that the whistle was blown for the free hit after the defender bumped the ball carrier and ran across his path, but it wasn’t heeded by the ARG attacker who preferred the …
Continue Reading about ARGvESP GC missed and free hit not taken →
This high-risk tackle could go either way. If you focus on the movement of the defender, they are basically set in position as the ball carrier comes in. They take a very low body position, and the …
Continue Reading about CHNvBEL Long barrier or good tackle →
Two separate elements can be highlighted in this passage of play. First, after the ball is rolled in from the ball patrol on a 9m free push, the defender puts the ball into play without making a …
The attacker receives a ball in the bottom left corner and attempts to send a hard pass across the circle to a teammate. A defender is set at a close and near to 3m distance, and the ball is sent …
On the free hit, the attacker pushes the ball from the stationary position and moves it slightly closer to the defender, while the defender is moving backwards away from the free hit. These two …
A foul is upgraded just outside the circle to a penalty corner when the defender clearly uses his shoulder to push the ball carrier. Look for defenders who actively try to prevent attackers from …
After the ball goes off his foot and both whistles have sounded, the BEL player continues to play the ball and passes the ball away. This breaks down a potential quick counterattack and is met with a …
Continue Reading about INDvBEL GC playing ball after whistle →
The ball carrier dribbles into trouble and ends up in a stalemate with one opposing defender. When the ball doesn’t move, the umpire calls a bully for the no-fault obstruction and it takes two tries …
Although it’s ideal to be welcoming the play coming towards you from a relatively still position on the field, there will be times in fast, open games where the attack will move towards your end over …
Continue Reading about ARGvBEL Transitioning from forward running to backpedalling →
After a turnover, the intercepted (now) defender breaks play down with a failed tackle from behind. The umpire indicates she’s going to come back to the breakdown by continuing to signal the …
Continue Reading about NZLvUSA GC for double breakdown and advantage →
A lengthy advantage is played after a collision between two players. Although this is clearly a 50/50 ball that the IND captain wins the battle for, there is a little extra afterwards that shows a …
Continue Reading about INDvAUS GC after long advantage for dangerous play →
Another big decision on a goal in this game as the clock is ticking down. The turning moment here is the diving deflection from the top of the circle, and the question is whether that player had three …
A penalty corner upgrade is awarded when a defender hits the ball away from the spot of the foul given on the edge of the circle. To access this content, you must purchase FHU3T Green, …
Continue Reading about NZLvGBR PC upgrade hitting ball away →
When an attacker breaks away via the through pass, the goalkeeper leaves his circle and plays the ball away legally with his stick. Given that goalkeepers are a bigger, more heavily-equipped player, …
Continue Reading about ARGvNED Breakaway positioning and GK outside circle →
When a raised shot at goal strikes a defender who is 5m or fewer from the ball, the rule requires us to examine the height. Had this shot struck the runner below the knee, it is not considered …
The attacker on the free hit elects to take a self-pass that moves the ball back and forth—every umpire’s worst nightmare.Let’s do some maths: a stick length is just shy of 1 metre. The free hit …
After a turnover deep in the ARG defensive end, an unexpected amount of space has opened up after the ball crosses the centre line. Although the chasing defender has a teammate in front of the ball …
Continue Reading about ESPvARG GC Breakdown body obstruction →
Reading the structure and tactics of the teams is crucial when adjusting your positioning. ESP (red) is committing to an aggressive press, which should be accommodated by moving back behind the last …
Continue Reading about ESPvGER Positioning for the press of the 15m FH →
A breakdown tackle is rewarded with a green card just as the tempers start to rise in this game. It’s difficult to see exactly what occurred due to the players’ body positions and the distant camera …
After the penalty corner breaks down and a free hit defence is awarded for a dangerous ball inside the circle, the ball drifts to the opposite side of the circle and a (former) defender attempts to …
While playing the rebound on a penalty corner, the attacker’s shot raises into the defender’s upper body from very close range. The goalkeeper is behind him and on the ground. After consulting with …
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 …
Continue Reading about INDvNED Green card for 5m infringement →
This is a highly complex shootout attempt. The first issue you may see is that the attacker backs into the goalkeeper, knocking him off-balance. Then, the goalkeeper attempts a poke tackle between the …
Although the defender was arguably within 5m of the quick self-pass as it was taken, he takes a jog of a step backwards to complete the 5m distance and then engages with the attacker. A good play on …
Continue Reading about ESPvBEL 5m from free hit around circle →
An attacker picks up the ball on a 3D dribble and goes straight at the upright defender, without making any attempt to go around. The umpire correctly calls this as dangerous. Switch your focus to the …
Early in a match is a great time to set your standards for ball placement. When advantage doesn’t accrue after this stick obstruction foul, the umpire steps in with a clear double-whistle and …
Continue Reading about GERvAUT No advantage ball placement →
The second green card of the game, first to this team, comes after the ball carrier is dispossessed. She chases back and attempts a shave tackle, which results in a stick obstruction. A long advantage …
Continue Reading about NZLvBEL GC for breakdown from behind long advantage →
A video referral for a foot is not normally noteworthy, but what is interesting about this is the communication between the pitch umpires and the video umpire. It’s incredibly refreshing for the …
After the goal was awarded, the defending team asked for a video review for danger before the goal was scored. The ball was crossed in from the right side and played towards the goal in a slow, high …
Continue Reading about BELvAUS VR for danger in the circle before goal →
Each time the ball is turned over, it’s important to prepare for the team who gave away possession to attempt to break the play down and allow their teammates a chance to get numbers and structure in …
Continue Reading about GBRvNZL Green card for breakdown after turnover of possession →
An aerial is launched into the circle safely over the heads of the players with established positions, falling into a landing area where only a solitary attacker was making a great cut for the ball. …
An upgrade penalty corner is awarded on this last-ditch desperation tackle, a classic example of attempting to stop the play with no real opportunity on the ball. To access this content, …
A green card is awarded after a late stick trips up the ball carrier. To ensure you get this call right too, make sure you’re creating an angle off the sideline that keeps you from getting “caught in …
Continue Reading about AUSvNED GC for breakdown tackle trip →
Late in the game, the fouling team is up a single goal. After turning over the ball outside their 23m line, an attacker is able to beat a tackle. That tackler puts his shoulder in to interrupt the run …
Continue Reading about GBRvNZL Yellow card for breakdown in Q4 stepping in with shoulder →
For a goal to be scored, an attacker must touch the ball inside the circle before it crosses the goal line. There was no touch by an attacker here, and also no defender, so the correct decision is a …
Continue Reading about NZLvBEL No attacker touch inside the circle before crossing the goal line →
After creating body contact with an attempted tackle and the whistle sounding for the attacking free hit, the defender continues his attempts at the ball and knocks it away from the ball carrier, who …
In his attempt to chase down the ball, the attacker slightly trips up and pushes his opponent as they compete for position. Note the stick position which isn’t being used in an attempt to reach the …
Continue Reading about INDvBEL Obstruction on chasing tackle →
It’s also a heart-in-mouth moment when you get caught supporting near the centre line on the penalty corner and a rebound and quick break fly by you. This umpire does the right thing by running back …
Continue Reading about CHNvNED Recovery from support on PC →
A ball sent into the circle deflects high off a defender’s stick, striking the next attacker in the arm, where the umpire is unsighted. Rather than attempting to play on from a poor angle, the …
Continue Reading about GBRvAUS VR danger can’t play advantage →
A defender makes a great save on the goal line, hitting away a deflection made by an attacker from her knees. Although the ball could have been seen as dangerous, the attacker had put herself in that …
Description to follow …
Continue Reading about NEDvGER VR PC stick shield obstruction →
This is a fairly standard movement pattern, keeping in mind that NZL is at the moment pressing BEL very intensely. What if at the moment when the ball is played backwards to the deepest defender, …
Continue Reading about NZLvBEL Positioning – alternative movement pattern →
A scramble in front of the prone goalkeeper sees no foul awarded. Despite not moving the ball constructively for a long period of time, the attacker didn’t make the mistake of pushing the ball at the …
Continue Reading about NZLvGBR GK scramble and off end line →
The ball carrier is called for shielding as she carries the ball on her left side down the left sideline. The first defender isn’t in a front-on position but is parallel, while the ball carrier has …
If a player sets up a free hit inside the 23m line that should be taken outside and is looking to pass backwards, should the umpire interrupt play to move the hit outside the 23m, even if that …
Continue Reading about CHNvNED Ball placement moving outside the 23m →
