Slide Tackles by Goalkeepers | How to Apply the Rules of Hockey | #RuleyTuesday Ep. 15

Why are the slide tackle interpretations different for goalkeepers as opposed to field players? Find out in this #RuleyTuesday episode.

Related Episode:

Sliding Tackles and Deflections | How to Apply the Rules of Hockey| Ep. 12

Transcript

We’re still carrying a torch for slide tackles but this time we’re going to light up the goalkeepers in this #RuleyTuesday. Let’s do this.

Hey friends! I’m Keely Dunn of FHumpires, and we’re rekindling a previous hot take on a hockey rule by fanning the embers of Ep. 12, where we covered slide tackles. Thanks go to Colin Anderson and a few others prompting me to turn up the heat on the goalkeepers.

I’m going to ask you stop right here and go back and review Ep. 12 first. Don’t worry, it’s not like I have any plans these days. Not going anywhere. I’ll just hang out.

Oh hey, you’re back! Cool. 

Rule 10.2

Now here are the other rules we need to know when it comes to goalkeepers and sliding tackles.

10.2: When the ball is inside the circle they are defending and they have their stick in their hand:

Goalkeepers are permitted to use their kickers, legs or leg guards or any other part of their body to deflect the ball over the back line or to play the ball in any other direction.

Goalkeepers are not permitted to conduct themselves in a manner which is dangerous to other players by taking advantage of the protective equipment they wear.

Right now you’re thinking: Keely, obvious rule is obvious. What does 10.2 have to do with slide tackles?

Everything. The very nature of the role of the goalkeeper fundamentally shifts the criterion on which we judge them as a sliding player. 

Goalkeepers Are Meant To Slide

First of all, their job is to block the ball from going in their goal, and they can use their body to do so. That means they’re expected and, according to some coaching I’ve heard (not an expert), even encouraged to be on the ground utilizing all those parts of their bodies. Sliding is an accepted part of moving on the ground. 

Remember, field players can’t use their bodies to play the ball, so when they go to ground they’re doing so at high risk of either tackling with body contact or playing the ball with their bodies. 

Attackers Need To Evade

B of all, the expectation we have of goalkeepers both being and moving on the ground in an effort to keep their body between the ball and the goal then places an onus on a ball-carrying attacker to move around this supine individual.

If the ball carrier has been able to move away from the goalkeeper, the onus of control shifts back to the goalkeeper. Their slide has to be controlled enough to not make contact with the attacker and if it does, a penalty stroke is the likely result and should be accompanied by a 10 minute yellow card if it’s a dangerous physical foul that grounds or trips a player.

Penalty Strokes and Yellow Cards

Both of these plays are examples of penalty stroke situations which were highly dangerous and also fulfil the 10’ yellow card criterion. It’s difficult to give a card to a goalkeeper, especially in a shoot-out where only one of the other 5 selected players may step in, don the gear if they elect and defend the remaining shoot-out attempts against their team. However, there’s no reason from a scales of justice or danger perspective to not award personal penalties in a consistent manner.

Final point: one thing you may have noticed is that “getting the ball first” is not a basis on which we make the call. It will often happen, like we see in this indoor clip, that a goalkeeper will be successful in getting the ball and will also be in front of the attacker at the same time. However, a goalkeeper still needs to take reasonable care in their approach and can’t simply run pell mell at an attacker. It’s a fine line to traverse, but that’s why goalkeepers are special people.

Have I torched your doubts about dealing with sliding goalkeepers with this #RuleyTuesday? Light up my likes but don’t start a flame war in the comments and replies! Keep it cool. Also, check out an FHumpires Third Team membership if $3 a month is burning a hole in your pocket. You’ll get access to all those lit #WhatUpWednesday episodes and keep my fires burning this winter, and I’d really appreciate your support.

Chau for now!

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