2016-17 S2 Results R13

Thursday 25/05/2017

Clownfish 34 def by Ducks 40
Brett 14, Cole 18

The Nuts 52 def Beached Az 26
Jemma 34, Sam 16

Pink Pirates 27 def by Sharks 34
Nicole 10, Markus 16

Brothers 20 def Sea Snakes 0 (forfeit)

The ladder and top scoring rankings have also been updated under Statistics.

Rule Highlight of the Week

You may have heard someone call out ‘5-seconds’ or ‘holding the ball’. Usually by a hopeful defensive player calling out to the umpire. Rule 15.15 is hardly ever enforced though, because it only applies to stationary players:

For a stationary player in possession of the ball and under pressure by a defender failing to play the ball, preventing the flow of the game, for a period of time exceeding five (5) seconds. The attacking player will be deemed to be ‘holding the ball’

So, as soon as you move in any direction with the ball that 5 seconds resets (in the umpire’s head, so it’s not an exact science). I think this rule was initially intended more with the “preventing the flow of the game” part in mind. We may need to change or add to this rule at some point, because since it applies to stationary situations only, the defense can really only ‘force’ this foul when the player holding the ball is surrounded by 3 or 4 stationary defensive players and has nowhere to go. Since that’s very unlikely as it leaves a lot of attacking players open, the 5 second rule really only ends up being called on players who line up a shot and take too long considering all their life’s choices leading up to that point. Still a valid rule, since it holds up the game, but it doesn’t often happen.

These types of rule considerations usually get discussed at the umpire’s meetings and can lead to amendments to the regulations. This particular example doesn’t really negatively affect the game, so hasn’t yet been addressed. In the past, we’ve considered keeping the game dynamic by adding a time limitation on the offence (e.g. like 24 seconds in basketball) or 5 seconds per player even when that player is moving, but any of these restrictions are either quite difficult for the (volunteer) umpires to enforce, or require specialised clocks that are expensive and need to be managed by the duty teams. That’s an example where the cost/effort doesn’t really outweigh the benefit of maintaining a dynamic game.

If you have any concerns about certain rules, discuss them with your captain or the umpire(s) in your team who can ensure they are reviewed if needed.

2016-17 S2 Results R12

Thursday 11/05/2017

Beached Az 35 def Pink Pirates 34
Sam 27, Susan 12

Clownfish 24 def by Brothers 32
Brett 8, Craig/Liam each 8

Ducks 34 def by Sharks 36
Cole 12, Ellie 18

Sea Snakes 16 def by The Nuts 32
Leah/Pablo each 6, Jemma 22

The ladder and top scoring rankings have also been updated under Statistics.

Rule Highlight of the Week

As described in section 7.4 of the Regulations; if a foul is committed and the player being fouled has the advantage or can even just play on immediately without obstruction, the umpires can choose to call “Advantage – Play On” (with or without blowing the whistle first).

“Play On” can also be called if both players committed a light minor foul on each other and neither was truly disadvantaged. So, more like a neutral ball situation created by two players bumping into each other at the same time while trying to get to the ball.

The umpires should ensure that neither player/team is truly disadvantaged in this scenario, and that should be applied even more stringently when the game is close and in the fourth quarter (this is not a rule, but a recommended interpretation).

2016-17 S2 Results R10

Thursday 27/04/2017

The Nuts 28 def Clownfish 23
Georgie 16, Brett 12

Sharks 47 def Sea Snakes 18
Markus 23, Leah 10

Beached Az 41 def Brothers 40
Sam 23, Anna 20

Ducks 24 def by Pink Pirates 40
Clare 10, Susan 14

The ladder and top scoring rankings have also been updated under Statistics.

Rule Highlight of the Week

The duration of the game, breaks and potential overtime are described in Section 10.

As pretty much everyone knows, a game lasts for 4 periods of 8 minutes of playing time. Rest time between quarters is 2 minutes and with 30 seconds to go both teams should take their places on the field. Please don’t be late, since that affects everyone involved, including potentially pushes out the game finishing time which then impacts the next two teams.

In a game where a result is required (a finals game) and the score is level at the end of the fourth quarter, there shall be a 2 minute rest period followed by two further 3-minute periods of extra-time with no rest period in between. The team that previously won the toss has starting possession for the first period of overtime and the opposing team has starting possession for the second period of overtime.

If the scores are level at the end of overtime, there shall be a further 2-minute rest period followed by a continual period of ‘Golden Goal’ overtime, whereby the team who scores the first goal shall be awarded the winner of the game. Note, that the team starting with starting possession for ‘Golden Goal’ overtime will be determined by a new toss.

2016-17 S2 Results R9

Thursday 6/04/2017

Sharks 42 def Beached Az 29
Markus 20, Alison 12

Sea Snakes 0 (forfeit) def by Ducks 20

Brothers 30 def by The Nuts 50
Sam 18, Georgie 26

Pink Pirates 18 def by Clownfish 23
Jen 10, Brett 10

The ladder and top scoring rankings have also been updated under Statistics.

Rule Highlight of the Week

Section 15 contains rules regarding a wide variety of minor fouls that you are encouraged to become familiar with. Two of its sub-sections, 15.2 and 15.3, talk about “positional advantage”.

In other words, the use of the pool environment or another player to gain an unfair positional advantage. Common examples are players resting by holding onto the edges of the pool, standing on or pushing off the underwater pool ledges and pushing off the wall when trying to push a player out of the way or get some momentum.

As you can see, that includes ‘resting’. While this is often allowed by the umpires, as there are often more important things going on during the game that require attention, it’s still considered an unfair advantage and you can be asked to stop hanging onto the edge.

There are some exceptions of course, where the umpire may give permission (explicitly or implicitly) for a player to hold onto the goal or sides of the pool in the event of injury or illness. The most common example here is cramp.

If the injury/illness is serious the player should try and make his/her way out of the pool preferably via the interchange area, but if that is not possible then simply the side/back of the pool is acceptable as well.

If serious, the umpire may at their discretion suspend the game for not more than three minutes, in which case he shall instruct the timekeeper as to when the stoppage period is to commence (S18).

To resume play, time is started again and the team in possession of the ball at the time of the stoppage shall put the ball into play at the place of stoppage when the play is resumed. The player who puts the ball back in play after a stoppage is not permitted to shoot for goal (so like a Neutral Ball).

Players returning to the water (at any time) should do so via the interchange area. The only exception to this is when the break has been quick (e.g. to adjust a fin or stretch out cramp) and the area of re-entry is not crowded (e.g. if a defensive player is returning to the water and the attack has progressed past the 3 meter line, then it may not be safe or fair to return and you should probably wait until your team goes back into attack).

2016-17 S2 Results R7

Thursday 23/03/2017

Sharks(38)                 Def      Clownfish(34)
Markus 14                              Scott 12

Sea Snakes(52)          Def      The Nuts(38)
Caitlin 33                                Jemma 34

Pink Pirates(22)         Def by Ducks(39)
Rob 10                                     Cole 13

Brothers(34)              Def      Beached Az(270
Lisa 20                                    Sam 13

The ladder and top scoring rankings have also been updated under Statistics.

Thank you everyone for getting in your Payments for the Season!

Weekly Rule Highlight

Only 2 players of each team are allowed to occupy any space within each 2 meter area (see 15.8 and 15.9 of the Regulations). So, also means that the extended arms of the 3rd team member into the 2 meter area (e.g. to grab or tap the ball) counts as a violation of this rule.

If it was a defensive foul, and the attacking team was in possession of the ball, the attacking player with the ball at the time of the foul must choose between taking the free throw either from the spot he/she was in at the time, or on the 2 meter line directly in front of goal (the player should indicate this last one to the umpire, or Play On may be called). If the attacking team was not in possession of the ball, then the free throw must always be taken on the 2 meter line directly in front of the goal by the attacking player nearest to the ball at the time of the foul.

If it was an attacking foul, then the ball goes to the defensive player nearest the ball at the time of the foul who must take the free throw from the 2 meter line, directly in front of the basket (see 14.3.2 of the Regulations). The umpires usually allow the free throw to be taken anywhere in the 2 meter area, but note that the ball may be called back in case of an unfair advantage.

2016-17 S2 Results R6

Thursday 16/3/2017

Beached Az(38) Def by  Ducks (42)
Sam 18                                Sophie 10

Sharks (28)        Def by   Brothers (46)
Markus 12                          Lisa 10

Clownfish(31)   Def by   The Nuts (56)
Bret 15                                Tony 32

Sea Snakes (22) Def by  Pink Pirates (40)
Leah 8                                Rob 19

The ladder and top scoring rankings have also been updated under Statistics.

Rule Highlight of the Week

This week we’re looking at the barging rule in general. Section 15.19 refers to barging a static defender, while 15.21 deals with barging in motion.

The concept of the ‘cylinder’, which is the shoulder-width space around the person, is important when determining the barging violation. Barging can be called on physical contact, but also on movement into the defender’s cylinder.

While barging a static defender (15.20) is generally straight forward, what happens when both players are in motion without contact but in each other’s cylinder is not always obvious (read 15.21). Simply said; if an attacking player moves forward or sideways into the defender’s cylinder, that is barging. If the attacker is static or moves backwards and the defender moves into the attacker’s cylinder, that is impeding (although usually more leniency is given here, since as the ‘follower’ it is harder to know when to stop). Note, that the interpretation of forward/backward depends on the placement of the defender. I.e. the defender is usually placed between the attacker and the defended basket. But, if the defender is placed behind the attacker (e.g. a double-team defence) and the attacker swims backward into the defender, that is also barging.

Since the in-motion/non-contact situations happen very often, we need to keep those rules practical. Therefore, umpires generally only call consistent barging. E.g. if the attacker tries to swim closer to the basket and does so by diagonally swimming forward into the cylinder of the defender (so not arms), then the umpires generally wait (for 1 or 2 seconds) and see if the attacker stops. If the attacker consistently keeps moving into the defender’s cylinder in this situation, then a barging foul is called.

Similarly if this happens in reverse, with the attacker retreating and the defender consistently swimming forward into the attacker, that is impeding. The in-motion/non-contact scenarios tend to be considered more severely when they occur closer to the attacking area/basket.

As you can see, contact & barging rules are not simple considering the many different possible scenarios. Umpires must consider on- & off-the-ball situations (with on-the-ball being considered more severely than off-the-ball), general impact, flow of the game, intent, etc. etc. So while the barging rules have been discussed, agreed and documented to a large extent, the ongoing need for careful & consistent interpretation by the umpires and understanding & cooperation from the players are ultimately essential.

2016-17 S2 Results R5

Thursday 9/3/2017

Brothers(42)       Def by    The Nuts(44)
Lisa 14                           Jemma 22

Ducks(40)             Def        Sea Snakes(24)
Cole 20                         Caitlin 16

Beached Az(51)   Def        Clownfish(37)
Sam 33                           Brett 13

Pink Pirates(28)  Def        Sharks(24)
Nicole 16                       Ellie/Kyrin 10

The ladder and top scoring rankings have also been updated under Statistics.

Remember everyone to have a great weekend, and be safe on the roads.  We would like to see everyone next week.

Weekly Rule Highlight

Substituting may only occur along the halfway line and the player leaving the field must be under or past the rope before the other player enters the field (see section 1 and 5 of the Regulations and ). Late arrivals must also enter the field via the interchange area/halfway line.