The Principal of Advantage and Disadvantage

The order of fouls: Safety Fouls Conduct and Behavior Fouls Obvious Fouls Advantage/Disadvantage Fouls

What is meant by advantage and disadvantage? Whenever we judge technical fouls, we need to determine if an advantage was gained by the team committing the infraction.

 ◦ A player shall not thrust or shove an opponent from the rear. A push is exerting pressure after contact is made and is not a violent blow. Pushing is permitted from the front or side when an opponent has possession of the ball or is within 5 yards of a loose ball. In this case, pushing shall be done with either closed hand, shoulder or forearm, and both hands shall be on the crosse.

 Player A1 is running down the field clearing the ball and B1 pushes him from behind, making him stumble briefly. If A1 does not fall or lose possession of the ball, there should be no call as no advantage was gained.  But if this happens and it causes A1 to: ◦ Go out of bounds ◦ Go offside ◦ Step into the crease ◦ Lose possession ◦ Takes away a scoring opportunity  Now we have an advantage gained

 6-3-1thru 3  A player shall not impede the movement of an opponent or his crosse.  A player may not: ◦ a. Use the portion of the handle that is between his hands to hold an opponent. ◦ b. Step on the crosse of an opponent. ◦ c. Hold an opponent with his crosse. ◦ d. Hold or pin an opponent's crosse against the body of the opponent with his crosse. ◦ e. Hold an opponent with his free hand that is off the crosse. ◦ f. Hold the crosse of the opponent using any part of his body. ◦ g. Use his crosse to hold or pin an opponent's crosse to the ground on a face-off.

 Holding is permitted under the following conditions: ◦ a. An opponent with possession of the ball or within 5 yards of a loose ball may be held from the front or side. ◦ b. An opponent in possession of the ball may be played with a hold check from the rear if the hold exerts no more than equal pressure. For (a) and (b), a hold check shall be done with either closed hand, shoulder or forearm; and both hands shall be on the crosse. ◦ c. A player may hold the crosse of an opponent with his crosse when that opponent has possession of the ball. ◦ d. A player within 5 yards of a loose ball may hold the crosse of his ­opponent with his own crosse.

 Holds should be called when: ◦ Takes a player off his path towards the goal ◦ Prevents or slows down a fast break opportunity ◦ Holding a player from behind preventing him from getting to a ball ◦ Hold a player to allow a defensive slide to the area

  A player shall not interfere in any manner with the free movement of an ­opponent, except when that opponent has possession of the ball, the ball is in flight and within 5 yards of the players, or both players are within 5 yards of a loose ball.

 Checks stick out of the hand while the ball is more than 5 yards away (usually in front of crease)  Body checks player to the ground while ball is more than 5 yards away  Any extra BS you can’t categorize – players jabbing cross into hip on the crease

  A player in possession of the ball shall not use his free hand or arm or any other part of his body to hold, push or control the direction of the movement of the crosse or body of the player applying the check. A player in possession of the ball may protect his crosse with his hand, arm or other part of his body when his opponent makes a play to check his crosse.

 Needs to have contact in order to gain the separation  Lifting up doesn’t mean ward (trying to clear hand)  Most of the time there’s a hand off the crosse, but can be done with both hands on crosse  If half of people want a hold and the other half want a ward…it’s nothing!

  No offensive player shall move into and make contact with a defensive player with the purpose of blocking a defensive player from the man he is playing, nor shall the offensive player hold his crosse rigid or extend his crosse rigid to impede the normal movements of the defensive man. If contact is made between offensive and defensive players as a result of the offensive player's setting a screen, the offensive player shall be stationary before the contact occurs, with his feet no wider than shoulder-width apart.

 Needs to be contact  Feet or body moving before contact (after the contact he will probably roll or shift) ◦ The lean into is the easiest to catch ◦ Stick inside the frame of body  Feet no wider than shoulder width apart (2015 NFHS Rule Change)

 through 3  After initial count is satisfied  Stall Warnings should be called when: ◦ Offense out of the box and not attempting to move in ◦ Offense guarded in the box and not moving towards goal ◦ Defender hung up on crease and offense isn’t trying to gain their advantage

 Stalling should not be called when: ◦ Offense is in the box not moving the ball and NOT being guarded  The stalling warning remains in effect until a goal is scored, the defensive team gains possession of the ball or the period ends resulting in a faceoff. After the team has been warned, stalling shall be called if the ball leaves the goal area in any manner other than as a result of a shot on goal or a touch by the defensive team.

 Play-Ons are intended to allow the game to flow and to not disadvantage a team that is technically fouled.  Advantages include: ◦ Going North/South in a fast break ◦ Having an open player or man advantage and a scoring opportunity ◦ Being able to get a clean possession  Disadvantages: ◦ Near sideline or endline ◦ Possession but surrounded by defenders ◦ East/West situations in goal area  Keep them short ◦ The more prolonged they go, the easier they can turn into a simultaneous foul situation ◦ In front of the crease – really short!

Sometimes we trouble ourselves and coaches will perceive an advantage or disadvantage How can we prevent that?  Same respect each way ◦ Coach or sir, same amount of time with each coach/players, offer same options both ways  If one team perceives an advantage one way or another, they will find a way to use it!