Betsy Wilson, PIAA Statewide Field Hockey Rules Interpreter

 Situation: Can the Cascade Iris goggles that were older and certified for Lacrosse be used for Field Hockey?  Ruling: After contacting the Cascade company, it has been determined that the Cascade Iris goggles that were first made for Lacrosse are the same as they are presently for Lacrosse and Field Hockey. Therefore, the older ones certified only for lacrosse should be approved.

 Situation: Are “rec specks” legal eyewear?  Ruling: Rule 1 Section 6 Art 5: eye protection that meets the current ASTM standard for field hockey is approved equipment.

 Situation: If a red card is received from a “bump- up” (green-yellow-red), does the player get disqualified? Does the player sit out the next game?  Ruling: Rule 8 Section 2 Penalties c.: On the third offense, if a red card is issued, the offender is disqualified from the game and her team shall play short. The game shall be restarted by awarding the appropriate penalty. A penalty stroke is not awarded for a “bump-up” red card. In addition, for all red cards issued in games played in Pennsylvania, the player receiving the red card will also be suspended for the next game at that level.

 Situation: If a player intentionally hits the ball over the side line, would you award a penalty corner?  Ruling: Rule 7 Section 2: There is no provision in the rule concerning the side-in that would address the intent. When the ball goes out of bounds over the side line, the ball is awarded to the opponent of the player last touching the ball.

 Situation: Is there any time when you could award a penalty stroke in the circle and also award a yellow card?  Ruling: Rule 11 Section 1: If a penalty stroke was awarded because of a flagrant foul, a red card must be issued. However, if the foul is not flagrant, a penalty stroke could be awarded and a player be issued a green or yellow card. Example: The goalkeeper is holding the shirt of a forward to keep her from playing the ball. The official correctly awards a penalty stroke for a deliberate foul after which the goalkeeper, or any player, complains loudly about the call. The official should then award that player with either a green or yellow card.

 Situation: Must middle school players wear protective eyewear?  Ruling: Rule 1 Section 5: All field players must wear protective eyewear. In PIAA, the NFHS Rules apply to all levels of play including middle school programs.

 Situation: Are playdays considered scrimmages?  Ruling: Yes, PIAA allows two scrimmages for field hockey. Depending on how many minutes are played, the playday would count as one or two scrimmages.

 Situation: When a PIAA school plays a non- PIAA school, must the PIAA school wear the required protective eyewear?  Ruling: Yes, the PIAA member school must follow all NFHS rules regardless of what school they play.

 Situation: If the protective eyewear is hit during play, are the officials responsible to certify that the eyewear still meets the ASTM standard?  Ruling: At the first stoppage of play, the official closest to the player involved should have her coach check the eyewear to verify it still meets ASTM standards.

 Situation: What should officials do if eyewear shows signs of damage during a game?  Ruling: Rule 2 Section 1 Art. 8 states: During a game, the officials have discretionary power for making decisions on matters that are not covered by the rules. The official should call a time-out, call the head coach for that player onto the field and have her check the eyewear. The coach is responsible for verifying that equipment is legal or needs to be replaced.

 Situation: Does a goalkeeper have to leave the game for a yellow card or just for a red card?  Ruling: Rule 8 Section 2 Penalties. In both a yellow and red card, the goalie is suspended and the coach shall remove one field player for the suspension time.

 Situation: On a corner, if the ball has not come out of the circle and the defense fouls, would the official hold the whistle as long since there is no chance for a shot on goal?  Ruling: In this case, advantage should still be followed, unless the foul is dangerous or intimidating. It is in the best interest of the offense to be given the chance to develop play.

 Situation: During the circle play, the official notices that the goal cage has been pushed off the goal line.  Ruling: The official should allow the play to continue. If in the judgment of the official, the ball enters the area where the goal cage would have been, a goal would be awarded. On the first dead ball, the official should have the goal cage correctly positioned.

 Situation: On a penalty corner, if the ball has not yet come out of the circle and the defense commits a deliberate foul, would a penalty stroke be awarded?  Ruling: Rule 11 Section 1 Art. 1b: A penalty stroke is awarded when any deliberate foul is committed by a defender inside the circle which stops a potential goal. In this case, since the ball has not left the circle, a goal scoring potential has not been set. A penalty corner should be awarded and a card issued if appropriate.

 Situation: When the officials arrive at the field, they notice that there are players warming up without the required eyewear. Must officials require players to wear protective eyewear during warm up?  Ruling: The officials should notify the head coach of the team that players should be wearing all required equipment during their time on the field, including pre-game warm up.

 Situation: If the goalkeeper is chosen to take a penalty stroke, must she wear protective eyewear?  Ruling: Rule 1 Section 6 Art. 5: All field players shall wear eye protection. The goalkeeper has become a field player when taking the penalty stroke and therefore must wear eye protection.

 Situation: Can the penalty corner insert be dragged and then hit the ball?  Ruling: Rule 10 Section 2 Art. 1: A player taking a penalty corner must have at least one foot completely outside the field until the ball is contacted and she must flick, drive or push the ball from a spot on the end line. With these restrictions, it would not be possible to drag the ball before hitting it.

 Situation: A player receives a nasty facial injury from a stick. Neither official saw how the injury happened. The opposing coach feels the player who caused the injury should be carded. How should the officials handle this situation?  Ruling: Since neither official actually saw the injury occur, they cannot penalize a player for danger that they did not see.

 Situation: If the first shot on goal is higher than 18” with only the goalkeeper defending, must a free hit be awarded the defense?  Ruling: Rule 10 Section 2 Art. 7: If the first shot on goal is a drive or hit, it must cross the goal line at a height of no more than 18”, regardless where the defense is positioned.

 Situation: One coach wants a 10 minute half time, the other coach wants 5 minutes.  Ruling: Rule 4 Section 1 Art. 1: There shall be an intermission between halves of not more than 10 minutes. The officials could suggest a compromise of 7 minutes; however, the final decision is made by the officials.

 Situation: An official issues a yellow card to a player after the game is completed. Would the time suspension for that player, with the team playing short, carry over to the next game?  Ruling: If a player receives a yellow card at the conclusion of a game, that penalty would carry over to any over-time periods. However, there is no state provision for a yellow carded penalty to carry over to the next game day.

 Situation: On a penalty corner, the ball comes out of the circle a few inches and then is driven back into the circle where a teammate receives the ball and drives it high into the goal. Would this goal count?  Ruling: The teammate receiving the ball is making the first shot on goal, which is a drive higher than 18”. The goal would not count. Rule 10 Section 2 Art. 7.

 Situation: The ball does not travel 5 yards on a long hit before it enters the circle. Where would the free hit for the defense be taken?  Ruling: The free hit for the defense is taken where the attack player released the ball and up to 16 yards from the end line. Rule 9 Section 1 Art. 2.

 Situation: The goalkeeper is criticizing the official’s calls. The official waits for the next dead ball (the ball out of bounds on the side line) to call a time-out and talk to the goalkeeper concerning her behavior and issues her a green card. As the official turns to approach the table, the goalkeeper says in a loud voice, “Then why don’t you make the calls?” The official then upgrades the penalty to a yellow card. The game is restarted with a side-in. Is this correct?  Ruling: Since the unsportsmanlike conduct by the goalkeeper took place in the circle, the game should be restarted with a penalty corner.

 Situation: After a goal is scored, the official notices an offensive player returning to the center with her goggles up on her forehead. The official disallowed the goal because she felt that the player probably was not wearing the goggles properly when the goal was scored by her teammate.  Ruling: The official should remove the player not correctly wearing required equipment The player may re-enter if she has complied with the rule or may be replaced. A verbal warning could be given to the player. However, this player is an illegal player, not to be confused with an ineligible player. Rule 6 Section 1 Art. 3: Any goals by or when an ineligible player is on the field shall not count. An ineligible player is one who is disqualified (red card) or has not completed a suspension (yellow card). Therefore, the goal would count.

 Wishing you all the best on a successful and rewarding field hockey season.  Elisabeth “ Betsy” Wilson  PIAA Statewide Field Hockey Rules Interpreter  711 W. Berger Street  Emmaus, PA  H) 610/  C) 610/