2018-19 S1 Results R11

Thursday 18/10/2018

Clownfish 38 drew Beached Az 38
Natalie 16, Sam/Christy each 14

Sharks 28 def by The Nuts 40
Ellie/Dylan each 10, Jemma 30

The Sisters 24 def by Sheep Stations 26
Steve 8, Jen 12

Brothers 30 def Ducks 25
Anna 18, Nicki 8

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

REMINDER: No games next week due to Show Day. We resume with Round 12 on the 1st of November.

Weekly Rule Highlight

I fielded a question last night regarding a tactic that will be useful to clarify for everyone. A player was holding the ball with two hands in front and using that posture to maintain extra space (beyond the cylinder) in front while lining up a shot.

That is fine, if in accordance with the normal contact/barging rules.

The arms and the ball, even though extended beyond the cylinder, form part of your body. Therefore:

• If the player already has the arms holding the ball extended, is either stationary or moving backwards, and a defender is pushing up against the defender (including the ball), then that is Impeding.
  • As soon as the player with the ball brings the arms up to take the shot (and gives up the space) then the defender can close the distance to the edge of the attacker’s cylinder, again bearing in mind normal Impeding rules.
• If the player already has the arms holding the ball extended, and is moving forward into the defender, then that is Barging.
• If at any stage, so even when static or moving backwards, the player extends the ball beyond his/her cylinder and pushes into the defending player, that is also Barging.
  • So for example, if the attacker brings the arms up to shoot, the defender closes the distance, but then the attacker changes his/her mind and tries to extend the arms again to make space and pushes into the defender, then that is Barging.

As with all barging/impeding/contact fouls, both attacker and defender are likely to be moving at the same time, so umpires have the difficult task of taking note of the length of arm extension and the direction of pushing when players come together.

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2018-19 S1 Results R10

Thursday 11/10/2018

The Nuts 51 def Brothers 35
Tony 23, Eliza 15

Ducks 28 drew The Sisters 28
Nicki 12, Clare 14

Sheep Stations 37 def Clownfish 34
Clinton 14, Julie 14

Beached Az 44 def Sharks 40
Sam 20, Markus 16

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

Weekly Rule Highlight

One tactic for freeing up players from their defenders is the setting of screens. E.g. a player (screen setter) is holding a stationary position and his/her team mate is swimming directly past that screen, forcing his/her defender to go around that screen and as a result create some space.

In accordance with standard physical foul rules (s15.19-22), a screen is set correctly when:

• The screen setter was stationary or moving backwards along with the direction of play.
• The screen is set with the cylinder and not the arms.

The screen is set incorrectly if:

• The screen setter is too late and moves sideways into the screen position at the same time as the defender arrives. This is considered a ‘Swimming-under’ or ‘Contact’ foul.
  • A variation of this can occur when the screen setter moves with his team mate and is creating a moving screen. This is fine, as long as no contact is made in the process. If there is contact, normal ‘Contact’ rules apply. All players involved are moving and in close proximity, so this can get a bit messy. It’s up to each player to behave respectfully towards each other and the umpires to do their best in determining inappropriate levels of contact.
• The screen setter moves forward (against the direction of play) into the defender’s cylinder or even makes physical contact. This is considered to be an ‘Impeding’ or ‘Contact’ foul.

If a screen is set correctly, these are some of the common fouls by the other players involved:

• The defender/screen receiver swims into the screen setter. This is a ‘Barging’ or ‘Contact’ foul.
  • Since barging rules apply, if the defender/screen receiver can’t reasonably see the screen then relaxed barging rules apply; meaning that if the contact with the screen setter is light and the screen receiver stops immediately upon that contact, play continues (Play On can be called for clarity). Alternatively, if the screen receiver keeps moving into the screen or the contact is of significant impact, then barging is called on the screen receiver.
• If the player, who is leading the screen receiver into the screen, pushes/nudges the defender/screen receiver in the process then normal barging/contact rules apply to that player.

2018-19 S1 Results R9

Thursday 27/09/2018

Ducks 34 def by Sheep Stations 36
Andrew/Nicki/Sophie each 10, Susan 14

The Sisters 31 def Beached Az 20
Rebecca 14, Christy/Wes each 8

Clownfish 32 def by The Nuts 62
Natalie 14, Tony 32

Sharks 20 def Brothers 0 (forfeit)

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

REMINDER: No games next week due to the 2018 16 & Under Girls National Club Championships. We resume with Round 10 on the 11th of October.

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). Note that you are also considered to be within the 2 meter area if your body is outside it but you reach into the area to grab the ball.

For full details on the rule, see a previous post, but to highlight the things to do when this foul is called in the offensive team’s favour:

• The player with the ball at the time (or nearest if no possession) gets to take the free throw.
• You must take the free throw either on the spot that player was on at the time of the foul call, OR, directly in front of the basket on the 2-meter line. It’s your choice and you should make your decision clear to players and umpires.
• If you take the free throw in the 2-meter area (on the line is also considered in the 2-meter area), then only 1 other player from your team can be in the 2-meter area.
• From the free throw spot (you may be called back if not on the designated spot), you may shoot, pass or swim.
  • If you swim, the umpires will call Play On and the defenders may resume defending.

Captains, please remind your team mates of this process, since umpires keep having to explain the rule even to experienced players, and it can get confusing trying to shout a rule explanation over the water to people with ear guards on.

2018-19 S1 Results R7

Thursday 13/09/2018

Ducks 40 def Brothers 36
Kyle/Shane/Nicki each 8, Eliza 18

The Sisters 18 def by The Nuts 38
Clare 10, Jemma 30

Sharks 57 def Beached Az 47
Markus 27, Sam 29

Clownfish 28 def Sheep Stations 20
Natalie 14, Clinton 12

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

Weekly Rule Highlight

Section 15.3 basically deals with holding onto, leaning on or pushing off the sides of the pool or baskets, which is not allowed, unless in the event of injury (including cramp) or illness.

15.3 To gain positional advantage by holding on to, resting or pushing off from the goal or their fixtures or by holding on to, resting or pushing off from the sides or ends of the pool during actual play except with the permission of the umpire.

15.3.1 The umpire may give permission for a player to hold onto the goal or sides of the pool in the event of injury or illness.

If you are injured or ill and can’t participate in play, it is recommended that you exit the pool in the quickest and easiest way. Note, that if you then return to play, you must do so in a considered manner without risk to others.

Officially, returning to the pool should only be done via the substitution area, but umpires do make an exception when someone has briefly left the pool to stretch out some cramp etc, and then returns to the water before play has returned to that area. It is risky, and therefore not acceptable, to re-enter the pool where there are other players and the game is in full progress.

2018-19 S1 Results R6

Thursday 6/09/2018

Sheep Stations 41 def by Beached Az 49
Rob 24, Sam 22

Ducks 26 def by Clownfish 34
Nicki 8, Natalie 20

Brothers 28 def by The Nuts 59
Lisa 18, Tony 27

The Sisters 30 def by Sharks 38
Clare/Carrie each 12, Markus 16

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

Weekly Rule Highlight

In addition to the amended Neutral Ball rule, sections 16 (Gross Misconduct/Dangerous Play) and 20 (Complaints) were amended to clarify the process.

Please read those sections so you understand what constitues a gross misconduct foul, what the immediate penalties are and what the process is for resolution of subsequent complaints.

From an umpire’s perspective, the process during the game is along the following lines:

1. Keep on top of rough play by awarding fouls etc. Umpires should know the on/off the ball process (3m umpire watches on the ball, 2m umpire off the ball).
2. Umpires chat with/warn players during the game. If this takes significant time, that time may be added to the game. This makes timekeeping a bit more difficult, but where it concerns a tight game or finals, it can be worth it.
3. Umpires speak to players/captains during break.
4. Next step (if the above hasn’t worked or the incidents warrants it immediately), is to sideline the relevant player(s) for the remainder of the quarter, or the rest of the game.
5. A player can be ejected from the game, or from the centre completely. If the player refuses, this can lead to his/her team forfeiting the game.
6. Report all incidents to the Chief Umpire (Tony). Ideally on the night in person and if that is not an option then by email.
7. If an incident warrants a follow-up, then this will proceed through the Section 20 Complaints process.

As mentioned before, at the end of the day we’re all in this together with the aim to have a good time. Each player should take responsibility for his/her own actions, treat others with respect and just because you feel slighted, this does not give you the right to retalliate.

Play well, but act your best 🙂

Regulations Updated

A few changes to the Regulations were agreed during the recent Umpiring meeting of 16 Aug. The updated Regulations document has now been finalised and is available for downloading on the Regulations page.

The updated regulations will take effect as of September 6th/Round 6. All players, but captains and umpires in particular, please read ahead of this round and inform players.

Sections updated specifically:

12.5 & 13.2.2 – If the ball has crossed the goal/back line and the umpire is unable to determine which player touched the ball last, a Neutral Ball is awarded:

• If the the Neutral Ball goes to the attacking team, the throw-in should be taken as a Corner Throw-in, in order to avoid unfair advantage.
  • Neutral ball rules still apply, so a pass must occur before a score can be made.
• If the Neutral Ball is awarded to the defending team instead, the throw-in may be taken normally, from the spot the ball went out.

16.7 and most of 20 – The content of these sections has not intrinsically changed, but have been re-written to clarify the process. and available options. We expect you to re-familiarise yourself with these sections.

Beyond that, I’ve done some general tidying up, such as removal of references to THAC and other bits no longer accurate. E.g. 2 meter umpire calling the score, which is something we changed to the 3 meter umpire a long time ago and removal of the specific ‘Screening’ section, which we agreed a number of seasons ago is already adequately covered by the contact/barging fouls.

2018-19 S1 Results R5

Thursday 30/08/2018

Clownfish 29 def by The Nuts 58
Julie 8, Jemma 30

Beached Az 42 def The Sisters 25
Wes 18, Rebecca/Shaun each 10

Sheep Stations 18 def by Brothers 24
Greer 12, Anna 16

Sharks 32 def Ducks 30
Markus 14, Nicki 12

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

Weekly Rule Highlight

Any player entering the pool during game play must do so via the Substitution area at the centre line (s.5).

Entering the field of play in any other manner may result in a minor foul and turn over to be taken from the half-way line if the offending team is in possession of the ball at the time.

If the offending team is not in possession then the player must leave the field while play continues and the player must re-enter through the Substitution area. In this scenario, play will only be stopped by the umpire if the in-possession team suffers any disadvantage from the illegal entry, or if there is a potential risk of harm to any player.