Rules with Mariana Rado: How do you get air balls without being infringing?

The passing game is increasingly present in hockey. Of course, it is impossible to find a game internationally that does not involve at least one of these plays. Teams started to realize how useful and agile it is to have a Flick resource. But, what do the rules say about air sports? How and who can get this ball? How far must the opponent be when receiving? There have been many questions about this and Mariana Rado, an international referee since 2006, explained every detail of this rule to ESPN.com.

What is written in the rules is the following: “Players must not come within 5 (five) meters of an opponent who is receiving a raised ball, unless it is received, not controlled and is not on the ground. The ball may be intercepted within 5 (five) metres, but as long as it is done safely outside the distance of the game. The starting receiver has priority to receive the ball If it is not clear which player is the initial receiver, the player on the team receiving the ball must allow the opponent to receive it.

Regarding the provisions, Mariana Raido clarified: “It is important to understand his spirit in order to interpret the first rule well. Hockey must be a marketable product for television that can be sustained over time. So FIH (International Hockey Federation) tries to make the game attractive to people who don’t play it. Years ago the player was not allowed to raise the stick above his shoulder, and by analyzing the game he found that the passing game could be attractive without being dangerous, as a raised ball does not equate to dangerous. The advanced is that it is playable without physical risk. Any ball picked up gets a chance to play. The law states that only the original catcher of the ball can play. Who is it? The starting receiver, at the time the ball is picked up, we can say that as soon as the ball is picked up, we (referees) have to see where the ball is going. If a player is already waiting at that spot, that person is the original/initial receiver. The opposing team must allow him to receive and control. Whoever wishes to intervene to remove that ball must be five meters away from the time the ball touched the ground.

variant

1. Two players at the spot where the ball will land

“There may not be an original receiver, but there shall be a player from each team in the spot where it will fall. In this case, the player of the team that does not belong to the person who picked up the ball has priority,” Mariana said. Said.

2. No one in the place where the ball will fall

“If two players go to receive at the same time because no one was there, then the rule operates as if there are two in that position: that is, the player on the team that is not the one who picked up the ball has priority. “

The rule is based on protecting the physical integrity of everyone on the field of play. The referee has a lot of responsibility in those interpretations.

3. Interception of the ball

“That air ball can be intercepted within five meters of action. But certain conditions must be met: Whoever is going to intercept must be within five meters at the start of the game, i.e. when the ball comes out, and if it starts to fall it intercepts, referees and players take care that this cannot happen. Dangerous action, nor dispute of the ball. It should not create a risk,” he explained. “That way you can let them play,” added the 45-year-old referee.

4. What is the charge on each part of the field

“If a rule is broken between the 23-metre lines, you may only take one free kick. If there is intent to cut play, for not allowing the goal to be achieved, a separate personal penalty applies.” can be scored inside the 23, but outside the area, if it is intentional it is a penalty corner (i.e. if an infringement was committed with intent in that area on the pitch). And if it occurs inside the area, If the referee believes that a defender intentionally cut off play and did not allow an attacker to receive, it shall be a penalty”, Rado concluded.

Like the laws, there are lots of interpretations with their own variants of what happens in those moments of play. To this end, there is a “Briefing 2022.23” (a document) given by the International Hockey Federation at the global level which attempts to clarify possible interpretations of the rules in order to unify the norms when charging in a tournament. Sometimes these are recommendations that are later analyzed by the regulation committee to be valid.

Refereeing or playing hockey requires a lot of passion and Mariana Rado knows that. He has been doing justice to half his life and continues with the same enthusiasm with which he started.