Rule Check

[cherrybomb]

Just checking something...

When cradling, is it illegal to cover the open area of the head (eg thumbing), or is it illegal to touch the plastic at all?

I thought it was the latter but others have recently told me that you are allowed to hold the bottom of the head as long as you arent protecting the ball.

[Moaning Git]

Touching any part of the head, including the throat is an offence

[dmiddie]

Has to be. Just think it through.......if you cover the open face in any way with the gloved hand then it restricts the ball from coming out....and how's a ref supposed to make a judgement on that?......so logic says it has to be as Moaning Git states.

[Moaning Git]

I better clarify, this was discussed at a Refs Association meeting I attended last year and it was stated that touching any part of the head was an offence, and that this was accepted internationally. Certainly our refs will call it.

[dmiddie]

Sure that wasn't with reference to once a stick check is called?

[Whitey]

Mike Powell is touching the head of the stick, at the throat, in this picture. Most players when they cradle one handed will also touch the throat of the head.

This will never be called as a penalty, unless you are restricting the ball coming out of the head itself.

cherrybomb - Is that what you were referring to?

[eurogoalie]

Where's the picture???

[cjlax]

I'd agree with Whitey,
If ref's were to call every time someone touched the base of the head, then for one thing they'd be making calls all the time and the game play would be rubbish, and secondly if they're watching peoples hands, they can't be watching other things.

If you're having problems with being called for this, my advice is to tape the head onto the shaft, using similar coulour tape to the shaft, if you're in play and moving fast then it would take a sharp eye to pick out the difference between head and shaft.

I 100% agree though that obstructing the ball release from the head is illegal!

(no problems here with seeing the picture!)

[davidmcculloch81]

I've only seen one incident of "thumbing" the ball being called in any games I've played this season and that was debatable.

It basically never gets called but I don't think that many people do it. To me, as an attacker, it doesn't offer much of an advantage cos unless you practice it a lot it is quite hard to get your hands back to a decent position for shooting/passing. I'd prefer just to cradle to keep it in. And if this is one-handed my glove/hand usually does touch the plastic throat of the stick as this gives me a natural idea of where my hands are in relation to the rest of the stick. This will NEVER get called (whether a rule or not) and I don't think many defenders would complain if it didn't get called.

[cherrybomb]

whiteys got what I'm saying. Just a clarification, and confirmed my thoughts.

[Moaning Git]

Nope it wasn't just when a stick check was called. That was a whole different debate that only started this season with the adoption of the new rules.

I think it is probably correct that most refs would not call for grasping the neck, but then again some refs do not call players for belting sh*te out of a players free hand. The question was is it legal?

Oh and Dave it can get called, I have seen it, only once, this season, and by an international qualified ref.

[Whitey]

Oh and Dave it can get called, I have seen it, only once, this season, and by an international qualified ref.

'Pedantic' international ref?

[Moaning Git]

Oh yes ....... very!