For field hockey umpires, by field hockey umpires
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 →
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 →
After video referral, a penalty stroke is awarded on this play. Although we don’t hear a full explanation from the video umpire as to which stick obstruction was deemed the intentional foul (or both), …
An attacker is sprung free entering the top of the circle. A chasing defender collides with her, taking herself to the ground and committing a stick obstruction in the process. This is clearly an …
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 →
After committing the foul, the GBR player clearly hits the ball away from the spot of the foul. Green card is awarded. To access this content, you must purchase FHu3t Green, FHu3t Green …
After a couple of free hits are awarded around the circle, the attacker fails to move the ball 5m before carrying the ball into the circle. To access this content, you must purchase FHu3t …
Continue Reading about NZLvGBR Ball played into circle before 5m →
The ball carrier is at full stretch and easily works through the two fouls committed on her. The umpire fails to play advantage and the player has to bring the ball back 10m from where the is when the …
An aerial ball is sent to a space occupied by an opposing player. A teammate of the passer starts behind the initial receiver and begins to close. At this level, is it a disadvantage for a receiver to …
Continue Reading about NZLvGBR Aerial pressure from behind →
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 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 aerial is mistrapped but the opposition wasn’t 5 metres. Advantage didn’t accrue so the whistle was blown a little on the later side by the trailing umpire. Knowing your responsibilities is …
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 …
The umpire stops time to send a calming message to the player that when he’s unsighted, it’ll take a moment to get the message through the radio to get to the correct decision. The game had been …
Knocking the ball away after the whistle leads to a certain yellow card at this stage of the match (and after a few cards had already been given). In addition, this same player had committed a …
Continue Reading about ARGvESP YC playing ball after whistle 2nd card →
The umpire takes a self-referral as to whether the ball leaves the circle on this bobbled penalty corner reception which leads to a goal. The number of angles that give us different views and show how …
Continue Reading about ARGvESP Self VR for ball outside the circle on a PC →
The defending team requests a video referral after a penalty corner is awarded after a foot is given just inside the circle on the basis that there was a foot by an attacker immediately before. The …
Continue Reading about ARGvESP VR for foot outside circle – NAP →
A rare angle on an aerial ball shows us the defender encroaching towards the potential receiving area of the pass where the passer’s teammate is waiting as the initial receiver. This is closer to the …
Continue Reading about ARGvESP 5m infringement aerial vertical view →
A crucial read on the advantage allows an exciting goal opportunity to develop in the central channel. If you are looking ahead to where the ball should go next, you can properly and quickly assess …
Continue Reading about ARGvESP Advantage recognizing space →
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 …
The ARG defender comes rushing in at speed, commits one rash stick obstruction and then takes another bite at the ball and breaks the play down by hooking the ball carrier’s stick. The reckless nature …
Continue Reading about ARGvESP GC breakdown stick tackle 2 →
The ball is struck with a hit from the top of the circle flat on the ground. A deflection, whether it came from the defender or attacker’s stick, raises the ball over the height of the backboard as …
Continue Reading about ARGvUSA Deflection of first shot as a hit on PC →
The difficulty in detecting third-party obstruction on the penalty corner attack is that you’re concerned with whether the ball has left the circle and defenders being struck with the initial shot, …
Continue Reading about ARGvUSA Third party obstruction on PC →
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 →
Right at the 23m line (and arguably over it), the attacker plays the ball into the feet of the defender, who then clearly pushes the ball away in order to prevent the attacker from taking a quick …
Continue Reading about NZLvBEL GC playing ball after whistle →
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 →
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 →
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 …
This scenario shows the difficulty in balancing the need for flow and penalizing players who breach the rules. A free hit is awarded to the attack 1-2m outside the circle and inside the 5m dotted …
Continue Reading about NZLvBEL Not 5m from free hit inside dotted line →
Very similar to the play in Q2, a free hit awarded right on the circle edge has a delay before the play can be restarted. This time, the umpire ensures the defenders stay 5m from the spot of the foul …
Continue Reading about NZLvBEL 5m from free hit inside dotted line →
As this penalty corner is being injected, the far right-side attacker breaks early into the circle. The supporting umpire communicates this to the controlling umpire over the radios and the penalty …
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 →
An upgraded penalty corner is awarded by the umpire after two loud stick tackles. The decision is referred to the video umpire, who determines that on the first tackle attempt, the ball carrier …
Continue Reading about NZLvBEL VR PC stick block by attack →
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 …
An attempted aerial pass is called for danger on the way up as a defender was able to close within 5m and had to take legitimate evasive action from the ball. The free hit is awarded where the danger …
Notice the area of the pitch where this defender chooses to commit a lazy, “oops sorry” stick tackle from behind. Although innocent in appearance, the break stops what was a productive run by the …
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 …
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, …
The umpire takes an opportunity early in this game to set the standard for communication from the players. After the message isn’t received as well as he would like, the umpire formally stops time and …
Watch the path of movement of the goalkeeper’s arm as she attempts the clearance, which travels too directly off the end line. This is deemed intentional by the umpire and play is restarted with …
Continue Reading about AUSvGBR GK clearance intentional off end line →
A green card is given for playing the ball away after the whistle.Be aware of players frustrated by a non-call. A loss of composure earlier in the sequence often results in a lashing out at the next …
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 →
The timing of the umpire’s movement here is a bit off and in the end, has her running inside her circle as the ball is moving around. When the attacker picks up her dribble, the umpire pauses and …
Continue Reading about AUSvGBR Positioning staying ahead of play →
Two things to look at: what attempts did the attackers make to move the ball out of the goalkeeper’s pads on each engagement, and did they push the ball back under the goalkeeper at any point? The …
Continue Reading about AUSvGBR Ball not trapped under no danger at GK →
Within the last minute or so of the game, there are two examples where being overly fussy about ball placement breaks up the flow of the attack. A team defending a lead loves when an umpire clamps …
Continue Reading about NZLvBEL Fussy ball placement late in game →
This clean tackle is misread by the umpire. Notice the front-on positioning, lack of movement by the defender’s stick, the path of travel of the ball after contact, and the attacker’s …
An unusual third-party obstruction goes unspotted in the deep far corner of the attacking 23m. The defender was within playing distance and attempting to get to the ball when #28 passed off the ball …
Off the centre pass, a short aerial ball is sent into a crowded area. Although the opposing player is allowed to take it cleanly, the passer’s teammates don’t allow the ball to be controlled before …
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 stop …
The first strike on this penalty corner is a hit, which sails undeflected over the logged goalkeeper and crosses the goal line higher than the backboard height. To access this content, you …
