"Play On!" at Face Offs

[Sour37]

Think this could be an intersting one, despite the snappy title

On a confinement violation (person over the line - a technical foul) at a face-off (loose ball) should not the correct call be "Play-on" until possession is decided rather than an immediate whistle as the infraction hasnt occurred until the whistle rather than before (like delay or jumping the whistle for example)

Possibly it could lead to disadvantage - but might not

Discuss

[Mitchlax]

It usually is...makes it more annoying having won the ball from the face to have to change possession as a wingman jumps the whistle.

But I'll let the refs discuss this one.

[FarmerDan]

This came up at the Europeans last summer. We were told to try and use the play-on technique more often than we currently do as it may help the flow of the game.

Specific emphasis was given to using it at face offs, and I try to use it myself as it's annoying when a team wins the ball and is about to go on a fast break only to have it stopped because their opponents had a foot on the line at the face.

So yeah, use Play-on at a face even if 3 seconds later you stop the game to award possession. The more we can keep the game flowing, the better. Just don't let the play on go on for too long.

[jameskellam]

The rules say this

83.1 "Where a player commits a loose-ball technical foul, and the offended team may be disadvantaged by the immediate suspension of play, then the referee shall visually and verbally signal “Play-on”, and he shall with-hold his whistle until such time as the situation involving the potential advantage has been completed, "

34.11 "If a foul is committed during or after a centre face-off before “Possession” or “Free ball” have been called, then confined players will not be released from the goal areas until the whistle blows to resume play."

If there's an encroachment at the face off, the offending player will be closer to the centre spot (and the ball) than he ought to be. If you play on, then when the ball is won, the offending player will have to cover less ground in order to reach the player with the ball than he will have to cover if the ref stops play, awards the penalty and makes the offending player re-enter his wing/goal area.

The test for playing advantage isn't "will the team which has been fouled on a loose ball win it anyway?" its "will the team that has been fouled be at a disadvantage if I blow my whistle now?"

Under most circumstances, it will be hard for a ref to conclude that a team will be disadvantaged by stopping the game when that team is going to get the ball and the opposition are going to be moved further away.

[Sour37]

The rules say this
.....
34.11 "If a foul is committed during or after a centre face-off before “Possession” or “Free ball” have been called, then confined players will not be released from the goal areas until the whistle blows to resume play."

this is the crux of it really....the wing men would then be free to "hit the hole" - potentially causing the situation you've highlighted below...

If there's an encroachment at the face off, the offending player will be closer to the centre spot (and the ball) than he ought to be.

If you play on, then when the ball is won, the offending player will have to cover less ground in order to reach the player with the ball than he will have to cover if the ref stops play, awards the penalty and makes the offending player re-enter his wing/goal area.

the rules do not mention players remaining confined to wing areas - and the offending teams FO is now going to be in front of the offended team's, instead of being behind on a fast break

The test for playing advantage isn't "will the team which has been fouled on a loose ball win it anyway?" its "will the team that has been fouled be at a disadvantage if I blow my whistle now?"

so use the "play on" to test out the scenario as it unfolds

Under most circumstances, it will be hard for a ref to conclude that a team will be disadvantaged by stopping the game when that team is going to get the ball and the opposition are going to be moved further away.

true, but is a settled 6 on 6 situation more advantageous than a 4/3 or 5/4 fast break?

The way i see it is that it has to be a play on for the reasons you've stated against it - to allow the zebra(s) to make that decision properly

[jameskellam]

So the question the ref has to ask himself when he sees a technical foul at the face off is

Is there a man open for a pass from the F/O or is the F/O himself going to wind up nearer to goal than his opponent?

Yes to either - play on

No to both, whistle.

[Sour37]

So the question the ref has to ask himself when he sees a technical foul at the face off is

Is there a man open for a pass from the F/O or is the F/O himself going to wind up nearer to goal than his opponent?

Yes to either - play on

No to both, whistle.

seems fair to me

[MAD]

If you ask most FO guys who are given the advantage they would prefer it on the bases of a fast break.
this is my conclusion from an unoffical census of the guys in the centre.
This is normaly post game when asked why more refs dont use the play on.
Like Dan says it allows the game to flow.
With regard to players being confined to there starting areas it is all players!!! so where is any advantage there?? as you would have for all intentions a full field press

[Paul_lboro/wildcats]

I like the current NCAA rule which means if the face off guy does something illegal he has to leave the field allowing a brief man-up while they change. Obviously this is more effective when a play on would not have given an advantage and prevents cheating to just stall the attack and prevent a fast break.

Does anyone know if this applies for infingements on the wing as well?

[Mr.Stanford]

I like the current NCAA rule which means if the face off guy does something illegal he has to leave the field allowing a brief man-up while they change. Obviously this is more effective when a play on would not have given an advantage and prevents cheating to just stall the attack and prevent a fast break.

Does anyone know if this applies for infingements on the wing as well?

Not currently

good thought pattern, if a wingman gets caught jumping, he has to hit the bench.

not so useful if it's the bench side wingman.

Not sure we could really implement this without 3 refs on field.

[dblacklock]

The use of the play on has been a point of emphasis now for two seasons and I see it being used more and more. As has been pointed out it speeds the game up and helps the flow of the game.

The question the referee needs to consider is would the team be disdvantaged if I blow the whistle. Nothng wrong with defaulting to a play on and then blowing quickly after. This shows that you tried to play the advantage and then realized that no real advantage can or has been gained. it is far better to call playon's in a north south direction then an east west direction. That is to say that if the ball is rolling towards a sideline or is being contested near a side line it may be better to blow the play down and award the ball.

The important point here is that you are loud on the call of "play on " and signal with the arm in the air. Coaches, players and mostly fans have no clue about the play on. All they see is the push in the back and immediately scream for a whistle. I have even seen a guy who was pushed in the back with a clear opportunity to pick up the ball and go to goal, stop and yell at me aren't you going to call the push when I had shouted and signaled play on. I then had to explain to him what the play on was.

This is used much more in North America and Australia then here in the UK or Europe. We need to do this more.