Tackling –Holding the Ball

Introduction – Holding the Ball Understanding the philosophy behind paying free kicks will help the umpire in applying the laws correctly. Positioning is crucial to correct decision making and the laws of legal contact must be applied before paying a free kick for holding the ball.

Introduction – Holding the Ball Question What is the first consideration when adjudicating Holding the Ball? Answer Is the Player being tackled in possession of the ball Question What is a legal tackle? Answer Above the knees, below the shoulder, no push in the back and player must have possession of the ball

What are the four types of Holding the Ball? Prior Opportunity No Prior Opportunity Diving on the Ball Illegal Disposal

Spirit of the Law – Prior Opportunity Where a player has had possession of the ball and has had prior opportunity to dispose and is then correctly tackled by an opponent they must immediately and successfully kick or handball the ball.

Prior Opportunity - Considerations Is the player in Possession Was the tackle Legal Did the player have prior opportunity Did the player dispose correctly by hand or foot

Holding the Ball – Prior Opportunity What is considered prior opportunity? The player should have had a clear chance to kick or handball and/or the player takes on his opponent What if the umpire is unsure whether the player has had prior opportunity or not? The umpire shall give the player the benefit of the doubt and adjudicate as no prior opportunity What happens if a player has the ball and drives his head into a stationary opponent? No free kick and the player with the ball is deemed to have had prior opportunity

Spirit of the Law – No Prior Opportunity The player who has had possession of the ball and has not had prior opportunity, and is then correctly tackled by an opponent, shall be given a reasonable opportunity to demonstrate a genuine attempt to kick or handball.

No Prior Opportunity - Considerations Is the player in Possession Was the tackle Legal Did the player have no prior opportunity Did the player attempt to kick or handball the football

Holding the Ball – No Prior Opportunity What should the umpire do when a player hasn’t had prior opportunity and the ball is trapped with no possibility of releasing the football? Call for a ball up quickly Is it holding the ball when a player who is in possession of the football puts his hands in the air while his opponent is holding the ball to him? Yes. There is no genuine attempt to dispose of the football Is it holding the ball if a player who hasn’t had prior opportunity and is legally tackled, attempts to kick the football but misses? Play on as the player attempted to dispose of the football

Spirit of the Law – Diving on the Ball Where a player elects to dive on the ball or elects to drag the ball underneath their body and is correctly tackled, the player is to be penalised for holding the ball if they fail to knock the ball clear or dispose of it immediately.

Spirit of the Law – Illegal Disposal The player who has possession of the ball and drops, throws or places the ball on the ground without making a genuine attempt to handball or kick will be penalised.

Diving on the Ball/Illegal Disposal What must a player do if they dive on the ball or drag it in? Knock the ball clear or correctly dispose What happens when a player, after diving on the ball, is unable to move he ball on as they have ben tackled by multiple players and the football is locked in? Holding the ball

Summary – Holding the Ball The umpire should ensure tackles are legal before paying holding the ball and they should have a clear understanding of the processes for adjudicating holding the ball to ensure consistency.