PLEASE ENSURE YOU READ & DIGEST THIS GUIDANCE.

(1) Umpiring the 5 metres – establishing the 5 metres, influence, and when to whistle (Rule 13.2.b)

The FIH briefing states:

• For free hits (including centre passes, corners and all sideline restarts after the ball has been outside the field) all opponents must be at least 5 metres from the ball.
• For free hits awarded to the attack within their attacking 23 metre area - all players must be at least 5 metres from the ball.

NEW GUIDANCE FROM FIH:

In all situations - if taken quickly and a player is within 5 metres of the ball but is not playing, attempting to play the ball or influencing play, the taking of the free hit does not need to be delayed; this same player can play, attempt to play the ball or try to influence play, once the ball has travelled 5 metres.

Therefore:

• If a player is within 5 metres and is influencing, blow for the foul and deal with the foul appropriately, before play travels outside of the 5 metres if no clear advantage is likely – this is to avoid confusion. By blowing the foul within the 5 metres, teams understand that the influence/not 5 metres is the foul. If you delay and allow play on, and then try to go back to the 5 metre foul, some teams do not understand that the foul was the influence within the five and not the ‘good’ tackle outside the 5 metres.
• If a player is within 5 metres, but not influencing allow play on.
• If a player is within 5 metres, but not influencing and they then attempt to play the ball outside the 5 metres this is not a foul, allow play on.

(2) Stick above shoulder height (Rule 9.7)

The height of the stick is very important when penalising this action, but it is the potential outcome that determines the appropriate penalty i.e. free hit, green card or yellow card.

• A stick level with the player’s shoulder is allowed – help players to understand this by signalling play on and indicating with your voice.
• A stick above the shoulder is not allowed (perhaps nearing head height or periscope) – this is an offence and should come with the appropriate penalty.

Apply common sense when interpreting this regulation. In order to determine the appropriate penalty think about the event that has occurred and the context of the game and what the outcome of this action caused on the passage of play.