O.P.M. HOCKEY CLUB
Hockey rules quiz. Answers are below.
1. During a game the umpire gives a decision which is fiercely challenged by a substitute and both his manager and coach. The umpire shows a yellow card to each of them. Is this a legitimate action for him to take?
2. A team starts with 9 players on the field, the missing players having been delayed by a traffic jam. They arrive just after the umpire has awarded a penalty corner and ask to come on to the field of play. The umpire refuses, stating that he has awarded a penalty corner and that they will have to wait for its completion. Is he correct?
3. An attacking player enters the circle with the ball and hits a legitimate shot towards the goal. A large piece of the ball breaks off and flies wide of the post. The remainder of the ball beats the goalkeeper and ends up in the back of the goal. The umpire awards a goal. Is he right?
4. A penalty stroke is awarded. The captain of the team to which the stroke has been awarded asks if he can bring a substitute on to take it. Can he?
5. An attacker has outrun the defence and shoots at goal in the circle. The goalkeeper saves the shot and then (accidentally) kicks the ball into the stomach of the attacker. The attacker does not appear to be hurt and prepares to scoop the ball into the goal. The umpire, however, immediately gives a penalty corner for the dangerously raised ball. Is he correct?
6. The sticks of a defender and an attacker accidentally clash and fall to the ground. In the umpire's opinion, the defender then deliberately picks up the attacker's stick, which is closer to him than his own, to make another tackle just outside the circle. Umpire's decision?
7. Two attackers outpace the defence and enter the circle. The goalkeeper runs out, trips and is left stranded in the middle of the circle. The first attacker strikes the ball towards the goal. In the umpire's opinion the shot is on its way into the unguarded goal when it hits the leg of the second attacker. It still ends up in the goal but on the opposite side to that which it would have entered had it not. Decision?
8. A goalkeeper falls to the ground in making a save. The ball lands in front of him and he sweeps it over the sideline with his hand to deny an attacker possession of the ball. The umpire initially signals a long corner and then changes his mind and gives a penalty corner. Do you agree with him?
9. A free hit is awarded to the defence inside the circle. A defender attempts to take the free hit quickly from a spot approx. 3 metres from the goal line. He "tops" the ball and it only moves some 20cm. An attacker and a defender run towards the ball from outside the circle - the defender just reaches the ball first and hits it out over the sideline. Decision?
10. An attacker flicks the ball (safely) towards the goal. In the umpire's opinion, the ball would have gone over the crossbar, but a defender lifts his stick over his head and makes a deliberate contact with the ball before it passes over the goal. The umpire gives a penalty stroke. Do you agree?
ANSWERS
1. The umpire is incorrect. He may award a yellow card to any player, including a substitute, but team officials can only be issued with red cards (if warranted by the offence) and not a yellow. [See rule 15.4.]
2. The umpire is incorrect. He should have allowed the two players to enter the field of play, as they are not substitutes, but simply making up the 11 players for their team. [See rules 6.1 and 6.2.]
3. The umpire is incorrect [he's having a bad day isn't he!? Ed.]. It's not a goal. Rule 11.a states that the ball must pass "completely over the goal-line and under the crossbar" for a goal to be scored. The game should re-start with a bully from the point on the 14.63m line closest to where the ball split in two. [See rules 10.4.1.a and 10.4.2.b.]
4. Yes he can. Rule 6.2.a says that substitutions are "permitted at any time except after the award and during the taking of a penalty corner". There is nothing in this rule to stop a substitute player coming on to take a penalty stroke.
5. No, he is wrong. He should have held his whistle to see if the attacker could get a clean shot at goal. The attacker has not committed an offence and should, therefore, be given the opportunity to shoot at goal. If, however, he cannot get a good shot at goal (i.e. there is no advantage to him) then the umpire would be right to award a penalty corner.
6. Rule 13.1.1.b states that players cannot "take part in or interfere with the game unless they have their stick in their hand". If the umpire is absolutely sure that the defender deliberately picked up the wrong stick then the correct decision is a penalty corner [and a yellow card? Ed.].
7. A free hit to the defence should only be awarded if the attacker's use of his foot was deliberate or it gained him an advantage. As neither of these conditions is met in the situation described the correct decision is to award a goal. [See rule 13.1.2.b.]
8. Rule 13.2.a says that a goalkeeper may not use his hands to "propel" the ball. In this situation the goalkeeper has deliberately propelled the ball with his hand, thereby denying an attacker likely possession of the ball. The correct decision is, therefore, a penalty stroke [and probably a yellow card. Ed.]. [See also rule 14.3.a.]
9. Once again this is a penalty stroke, as the defender has deliberately stopped the attacker gaining possession of the ball inside the circle by playing it before it had moved at least one metre after his team mate had taken the free hit. [See rule 15.1.f.]
10. Although the defender commits an intentional offence in the circle it neither prevents a goal being scored, nor does it deprive an attacker of actual or likely possession of the ball. The correct decision is, therefore, a penalty corner. [See rules 14.2.b and 14.3.a.]¨