The camera work on this goal is poor but it appears that the attacker used her right hand to stabilize her body as she took a very low position and spin to deflect this ball into the goal. Note that …
ARGvNED Breakaway positioning and GK outside circle
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 →
ARGvESP GC missed and free hit not taken
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 →
INDvBEL PC upgrade inside 23m
This tackle is upgraded to a penalty corner as a second defender comes in to bail out his teammate after a dangerous turnover. The extra shove off the ball with the elbow is spotted and the …
NZLvARG VR not available
One for the video referral nerds out there: after ARG concedes a goal, they attempt to refer a free hit decision outside their attacking circle at the other end. This decision isn’t referrable because …
BELvAUS GC breakdown tackle 2
This was a reckless tackle attempt by the Australian defender. She reached in from behind the ball carrier who was breaking through the middle and approaching the 23-metre line. The low chance of …
NZLvGBR Advantage goal
A terrific advantage goal from the foot. Well-signalled, and well taken. Take a wide view of the play and be aware of where attackers are cutting and who is open. The umpire’s awareness of the left …
GERvAUT Advantage for attack then FHD rolling ball
Several issues of note in this passage of play: The umpire plays an advantage off the stick tackle along the side-boards. The attacker has good options available to him, including the immediate 2v1 …
Continue Reading about GERvAUT Advantage for attack then FHD rolling ball →
NZLvBEL PC upgrades
Upgrades are given during these sequences of play. What are you looking for in these situations, and when would you upgrade or not? Is the defender tackling from behind the ball? Does the defender …
ESPvARG Extreme set of quick decisions and shots on the penalty corner and management
In this extraordinary sequence there are several shots, saves and near fouls. Notice the initial position of the umpire on the penalty corner injection, which is close to the end line; this serves him …
ARGvNED Obstruction kicking stick away
This is an excellent pick by the umpire of an obstruction that goes unpenalized too often. As the attacker carries the ball towards the baseline, she kicks the stick of the defender away from the only …
Continue Reading about ARGvNED Obstruction kicking stick away →
NZLvARG Hand on back no call
Does the hand in the back on this tackle make a difference? Pay attention to the defender’s stick, the contact made with the ball and the feet of the ball carrier. How would you put these factors …
NZLvUSA YC after long advantage
A yellow card is shown after a long advantage was played. Note the communication between the two umpires as the trail confirms over the radio they should as a team come back for the card. The trail …
INDvNED Green card for 5m infringement
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 →
NZLvGBR Stick obstruction
The defender attempts a tackle from behind the ball carrier. He misses the ball and strikes the attacker’s stick, but the attacker is able to retain possession of the ball and has an opportunity to …
NZLvBEL GC for reckless tackle from behind
The attacker makes a good reception under tight marking and releases down the sideline. Her defender chases from the left side but is significantly behind. The ball is being carried well out in front …
Continue Reading about NZLvBEL GC for reckless tackle from behind →
BLRvNED Goal disallowed for hit
Big decisions require clarity, timing and a strong presentation. In disallowing this goal, the umpire is looking at the size of the backswing of this hit. Although the stick remains on the court …
ESPvARG GC Breakdown body obstruction
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 →
ARGvNED YC physical breakdown
A yellow card is given for this breakdown tackle after green cards have already been awarded (one to each team), and a warning to the captains for physical play. The level of physical recklessness is …
NZLvBEL PC upgrade 2
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 …
GBRvNZL Green card for breakdown after turnover of possession
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 →
NZLvGBR GC physical play
A green card is awarded after the turnover in the circle leads an attacker to use her arm to push against the defender in possession. It’s a small bit of physical play properly dealt with. …
NZLvESP Aerial attacker no control
On the aerial reception, the initial receiver isn’t given 5m to control a difficult aerial coming from overhead. The defender infringes the 5m immediately after the first touch, resulting in a quick …
NZLvUSA Ball placement accuracy and flow
The umpire corrects the ball placement after the free hit had been taken, forcing the ball to be replaced and flow is broken. Also of note is reading whether the potentially incorrect ball placement …
Continue Reading about NZLvUSA Ball placement accuracy and flow →
ARGvUSA PC injector goes before whistle
The injector is sent to the centre line for a feint (rule 13.6(a)) because she did not wait for the whistle to restart time and the penalty corner to proceed. The penalty corner is reset with a …
Continue Reading about ARGvUSA PC injector goes before whistle →
AUSvGBR First shot sweep hit too high on PC
On this penalty corner, the sweep hit crosses the goal line at a height over the top of the backboard. Because the sweep hit involves a backswing, it meets the definition of a hit under the rules and …
Continue Reading about AUSvGBR First shot sweep hit too high on PC →
GBRvNZL Advantage played on breakdown tackle inside the circle return for the green card
The umpire plays advantage after a defender lunges for a tackle inside the circle, and then returns to the defender for the green card after the next foul is called. To sell the sequence more …
ESPvBEL No goal PC first shot hit high
On this penalty corner, the insertion isn't cleanly trapped and needs to be brought outside the circle by the flicker. He then drags the ball inside the circle and releases it towards the goal, but …
Continue Reading about ESPvBEL No goal PC first shot hit high →
NZLvESP Aerial not given for initial receiver
There are several moving pieces in this aerial, and shows the difficulty in parsing out exactly 5m of clear space for an initial receiver. In tracking the reception area prior to the ball arriving, …
Continue Reading about NZLvESP Aerial not given for initial receiver →
NZLvGBR Danger on deflected shot off turf
An unusual circumstance where the ball is hit with pace onto the turf and deflects high into the defender. The general principle is that from close proximity and at that height, a defender isn’t in a …
Continue Reading about NZLvGBR Danger on deflected shot off turf →
ARGvBEL GC for body obstruction breakdown
As of the beginning of 2020, the FIH Rules Committee has confirmed that this interpretation can no longer be implemented, and if a personal penalty is given within the 23m area, it must be accompanied …
Continue Reading about ARGvBEL GC for body obstruction breakdown →
NZLvUSA GC reckless stick
On this attempted tackle, the defender recklessly uses her stick and strikes that of the ball carrier. A green card is awarded. To access this content, you must purchase FHU3T Green, FHU3T …
UKRvAUS Drilling or penalty corner
This ball is forced into a fairly set defender from close range and should be considered dangerous. To access this content, you must purchase FHU3T Green, FHU3T Green 365, FHU3T Yellow 365 …
BELvNZL Intentional off end line or misplayed
The defender gains possession of the ball and, after a short adjustment, plays it towards her teammate who is completely unprepared for the pass and actually picks up her feet to get out of the way, …
Continue Reading about BELvNZL Intentional off end line or misplayed →
NZLvUSA VR PS for intentional stick obstruction
This penalty stroke decision is referred to the video umpire to downgrade it to a penalty corner. The defender reached in from behind and obstructed by briefly hooking the attacker’s stick, preventing …
Continue Reading about NZLvUSA VR PS for intentional stick obstruction →
ESPvGER Use of body after shot hits post
When a shot at goal does not touch a defender before careening off a goalpost or crossbar, the danger is the responsibility of the shooter and therefore deemed created by the attack. The goalkeeper …
Continue Reading about ESPvGER Use of body after shot hits post →
NZLvGBR Breakdown missed
A subtle but physical breakdown foul is missed on the near sideline in front of the 23m line. The umpire is running the outside line with her head turned, making it difficult to see the push in the …
AUSvNED GCx2 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 →
NZLvESP YC after advantage for trip behind play
A defender commits a great block tackle and the dispossessed attacker goes over his back. As the attacker is getting up, the defender trips him with his stick and puts him back down again, which is …
Continue Reading about NZLvESP YC after advantage for trip behind play →
MASvIND First green card for breakdown tackle just inside the 23m line
Early in Q1, the attack is full steam ahead down the dangerous middle of the pitch when this late tackle comes in around the attacker’s shins. What would you look for to upgrade this free hit to a …
Continue Reading about MASvIND First green card for breakdown tackle just inside the 23m line →
NEDvBEL Penalty corner upgrade
This is the third breakdown foul by this team so far in the game, and the two previous had been met with green cards. However, the reason this seemingly innocuous stick tackle is penalized this …
INDvAUS GC after long advantage for dangerous play
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 →
GBRvAUS Rolling ball on free hit reversed
The attacker is awarded a free hit a few metres inside the sideline, also inside the 23m area. She retrieves the ball which is rolling towards the sideline, and continues the roll without any change …
Continue Reading about GBRvAUS Rolling ball on free hit reversed →
GBRvAUS VR danger can’t play advantage
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 →
USAvNED VR no goal 5m before entering circle
This goal is referred by USA for not going 5m before it enters the circle. It’s difficult to see from the limited angles and resolution available to us, but here are some considerations to have in …
Continue Reading about USAvNED VR no goal 5m before entering circle →
AUSvNED Advantage and breakdown warning
In the first passage of play, the far side umpire plays an advantage from a foot foul as the ball pops into a lovely bit of central space where the attacker has the opportunity to control positively. …
Continue Reading about AUSvNED Advantage and breakdown warning →
ESPvARG GC 5m free hit management
A stick obstruction is called and the fouling team attempts to take the free hit quickly. The umpire whistles the correction, and an attacker takes the self-pass quickly from the point of the initial …
AUSvNED Sideline ball management
There are times when an imprecisely-placed sideline ball is no issue at all, and then there are times like this. It’s unclear to everyone, including the defender, as to whether the self-pass was taken …
AUSvARG Physical tackle warning whistle
Early in the game we see the first signs of what may turn into a physical battle as the defender here makes good contact with the ball but comes through the back of the attacker recklessly. The umpire …
Continue Reading about AUSvARG Physical tackle warning whistle →
AUSvBEL Dangerous 3D skills in circle
Accepting the pass inside the circle, the BEL attacker picks the ball up to make a 3D manoeuvre but in mid-air takes the ball very close to a defender. Had the ball been taken away from the defender, …
Continue Reading about AUSvBEL Dangerous 3D skills in circle →
