Standard Clinic Part 5: Center and Perimeter Version 3.2 Release date: 2004

© 2004, FINAStandard Points of Emphasis Players must put the ball in play correctly. Allow the former center forward and center back to untangle when possession changes; do no call a foul too quickly. Just because a slough is coming, a referee can still call ordinary or exclusion fouls against the center back. Minimize calling offensive fouls away from the ball. Be an offensive-minded referee.

© 2004, FINAStandard Refereeing the Perimeter Not time for a vacation Current strategy is moving the ball to get it to the hole set watch for how the ball gets passed to the set if there is a foul at set, ball needs to be passed back out Referees should always call the exclusion when in doubt

© 2004, FINAStandard Perimeter Principles Calls are based on principles of advantage (the three P’s) Violate advantage only to protect players Obligation is for the defense to play good defense if they play good defense and the offense can’t do anything with the ball: too bad if they play bad defense: call the foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Perimeter Principles There should be no ordinary fouls away from the ball go ahead and call the exclusion foul for holding, sinking or pulling back a player be aware of what is happening where the ball is Is the center forward turning? Is someone ready to shoot?

© 2004, FINAStandard Calling Ordinary Fouls If there is an ordinary foul, call it. Be sure that it is related to play Call the foul quickly if it is there delay takes time off the possession clock if the attacking team has earned it, give it to them The onus is on the defense to show they are not committing fouls.

© 2004, FINAStandard Drives Watch the players and their positions Did the attacking player swim over the defender Did the defender hand check the attacking player Did the defender hold the attacking player Who got to the position first?

© 2004, FINAStandard Picks Are often run, especially after a foul is called at set If the pick affects play: if an attacking player holds a defender: offensive foul So that the ball reaches another attacking player if a defender holds an attacking player: exclusion foul So the player cannot get free to receive the ball

© 2004, FINAStandard Refereeing the Center Forward Position Philosophy of the Center Forward Position Positioning at Center Forward Play at Center Forward Calling Fouls at Center Forward

© 2004, FINAStandard Philosophy of the Center Forward: Offense Role of the Center Forward Player Scorer Passer Changes with : Time in possession Time in period Time/Score in game Double Post Offense

© 2004, FINAStandard Philosophy of the Center Back: Defense Role of the Center Back Relationship with Goalkeeper Side of defense Take away back hand Take away sweep Relationship with sloughers Forces role of set offense Forces pass: Location Timing Direction

© 2004, FINAStandard Refereeing the Center Forward Position Philosophy of the Center Forward Position Positioning at Center Forward Play at Center Forward Calling Fouls at Center Forward

© 2004, FINAStandard Positioning of the Center Forward Player Body position Questions to ask: What can the player do? How far can the player reach for the ball? How much space can the player legally create to work with the ball? Vertical Position Horizontal Position Sitting Position Shoulders Relative to the Goal

© 2004, FINAStandard Factors Affecting Positioning of the Center Forward Player Handedness Ability to use both hands Shooting hand preference Passing hand preference Primary moves Shooting Passing

© 2004, FINAStandard Positioning of the Center Back Player Position Relative to Attacking Player Back Position Advantage: Almost none Disadvantage: Almost certain exclusion Lateral Position Advantage: Good defensive positioning Disadvantage: Must rely of goalkeeper

© 2004, FINAStandard Positioning of the Center Back Player – 2 Front to Front Position (Fronting) Advantage: Excellent defensive positioning Disadvantage: Goalkeeper must tell you where ball is Back to Front Position Advantage: Takes away pass Disadvantage: Penalty fouls called frequently

© 2004, FINAStandard Common Problems of Poor Defensive Positioning “Hands Up” Defense Continued pressure on the attacking player Can hold and/or sink with elbows, chest, and chin “Leaning” Sinking an attacking player who has gained position

© 2004, FINAStandard Striving for Position: Equal Pushing Players have the right to the water in which they are located. Players have the right to try and move to more advantageous positions. Both players have equal rights to try and move to a more advantageous position. Neither player may move the other player out of a more advantageous position.

© 2004, FINAStandard Refereeing the Center Forward Position Philosophy of the Center Forward Position Positioning at Center Forward Play at Center Forward When the ball is not there When the ball is there Calling Fouls at Center Forward

© 2004, FINAStandard Play at the Center Forward Position When the ball is not there No foul situations Defensive fouls Ordinary fouls Exclusion fouls Offensive fouls

© 2004, FINAStandard Equal Pushing – No foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Swimming Around Opponent – No foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Suit Grabbing (Women) – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Suit Grabbing (Women) – Contrafoul

© 2004, FINAStandard Suit Grabbing (Men) – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Hold (and then Sink) – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Sink Center Forward to Gain Position – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Pull Back Taking Center Forward Out of Position – Exclusion

© 2004, FINAStandard Play at the Center Forward Position When the ball is there No foul situations Defensive fouls Ordinary fouls Exclusion fouls Penalty fouls When a slougher is present Offensive fouls

© 2004, FINAStandard Bad Pass (Regular Position) – No Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Bad Pass (Inside Position) – No Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Hands Up Defense – No Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Hand on Ball – No Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Release Too Late – No Foul If the player is holding the ball, there are very few fouls that should be called. Younger players often have “the grip of death.” If the ball is released too late (into the hands of a slougher or the goalkeeper), no fouls should be called.

© 2004, FINAStandard Calling Fouls Hold, sink, pull back With sloughers near by Overly aggressive fouls Inside water calls

© 2004, FINAStandard Hold on Pass Into Center Forward – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Sink at Center Forward – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Pull Back – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Pull Back Then Hands Up – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Calling Fouls Hold, sink, pull back With sloughers near by Overly aggressive fouls Inside water calls

© 2004, FINAStandard Pass To Wrong Side With Slougher Close – No Call

© 2004, FINAStandard Two Hands Up Defense With Slougher Coming In – No Call

© 2004, FINAStandard Impeding With Sloughers Coming In – Ordinary Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Pull Back With Sloughers Coming In – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Pull Back with No Sloughers Coming In – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Calling Fouls Hold, sink, pull back With sloughers near by Overly aggressive fouls Inside water calls

© 2004, FINAStandard Fouls Around Head/Neck – Exclusion Fouls

© 2004, FINAStandard Overly Aggressive Foul (Striking) – Exclusion

© 2004, FINAStandard Elbow to Face (Striking) – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Calling Fouls Hold, sink, pull back With sloughers near by Overly aggressive fouls Inside water calls

© 2004, FINAStandard Turn – No Foul Defense

© 2004, FINAStandard Inside Water (Advantage) – No call

© 2004, FINAStandard Turn and Goalkeeper Steal – No foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Inside But Loses Control of Ball – No Call

© 2004, FINAStandard Foul With Inside Water – Penalty Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Contrafouls (Offensive Fouls) Turnovers (Offensive ordinary fouls) Without the ball With the ball Offensive exclusion fouls

© 2004, FINAStandard Getting Out from Under a Foul – No Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Ball Under – Ordinary Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Elbowing for Space – Ordinary Foul (May be Exclusion)

© 2004, FINAStandard High Elbow Turn (Holding) – Offensive Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Push Off (Standard Position) – Offensive Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Push Off (Inside Position) – Offensive Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Head Butts Are EXTREMELY dangerous Are characterized by a rapid upwards and backwards movement of the chin and striking with the head towards the opponent Minimum of an ordinary foul, may be exclusion, violence, or even brutality.

© 2004, FINAStandard Head Butts

© 2004, FINAStandard Head Butt Cautions Be aware that if the chin stays tucked, then it is not a head butt (probably pulling back by the defense). Be aware of bad defensive positioning and contact due to the natural head motion of the set player.

© 2004, FINAStandard Beware of Fake Head Butts

© 2004, FINAStandard Fouls After Change From Offense to Defense Once the counterattack to the other end starts – Watch what happens Many times, this is when brutality and violent (game exclusion) fouls occurs Also watch for other fouls …..

© 2004, FINAStandard Gross and Go – Offensive Foul (may be Exclusion Foul)

© 2004, FINAStandard Hold by Former Center Forward on Counterattack – Exclusion

© 2004, FINAStandard Refereeing the Center Forward Position Philosophy of the Center Forward Position Positioning at Center Forward Play at Center Forward Calling Fouls at Center Forward

© 2004, FINAStandard Refereeing Center Forward – Most Difficult Task in Water Polo Consistency is constantly put to the test Must evaluate level of advantage continuously must be aware of advantage at the set position monitor advantage in rest of the pool watch for what the defenders from perimeter are doing (crashing?)

© 2004, FINAStandard Basic Principles Physical contact between attacking players and defenders is permitted Intervene ONLY to return possessional advantage return positional advantage return probable goal advantage Minimize calling ordinary fouls at center forward away from the ball

© 2004, FINAStandard Job of the Center Forward The center forward is obligated to work the ball. The set should Work to shoot the ball Pass the ball Pass to driver for a shot Pass back out to reset the offense The center forward may earn fouls with good play BUT that does not mean the defender has open season!!

© 2004, FINAStandard Elements Used to Call Center Forward Where are the center forward’s and center back’s hands? Who initiated the contact? Who gained an advantage from the contact? Call the appropriate foul ordinary foul (offensive or defensive) neutral throw exclusion

© 2004, FINAStandard Other Elements to Call Center Forward What are the center forward and center back trying to do? Is the center forward being prevented from playing offense by impeding, holding, sinking or pulling back? Is the center back prevented from playing defense by pushing off, holding, sinking or pulling back?

© 2004, FINAStandard Context, Context, Context How are the actions of the center forward and center back related to what else is going on in the pool? What is happening where the ball is? Are there drivers coming through? Did a pick open up a player? Is there any shooting advantage?

© 2004, FINAStandard Context, Context, Context How are the actions of the center forward and center back related to the game in progress? How much time is there on the game clock? On the possession clock? What period is it? What is the score?

© 2004, FINAStandard “Striving for Position” Incidental contact will occur as the set and set defender strive to gain position This incidental contact is to be ignored

© 2004, FINAStandard What is NOT allowed When a player holds, grabs a player and moves him/her out of the way applies to both the set and set defender offensive foul (at a minimum) exclusion on defender When defender shoves the hole set under water: exclusion foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Holding Position The center forward is obligated to hold position once he/she has it Defender cannot push, shove, hold, pull the center forward out of position Defender may have incidental contact with center forward when trying to go for ball Defender may not go through the shoulder of the center forward to get at ball (exclusion)

© 2004, FINAStandard Turns at Center Forward Center forward holds ball defender can hold, sink, pull back to get at ball (may not kick or strike) if center forward ducks his/her head underwater while holding the ball, defender can go get at ball if defender has hips down and is turned by center forward: call what you can see

© 2004, FINAStandard Turns at Center Forward Center forward releases ball after turning no foul if defender is holding or sinking set at the moment when the ball is released defender is given a little time to get off hole set after ball is release does not get off - penalty shot

© 2004, FINAStandard Turns at Center Forward Center forward tries to get the ball again if defender holds or prevents center forward from getting ball: penalty foul if center forward made the turn such that the goaltender (or other defender) took the ball away: no call if center forward lost control of the ball when he/she released it: no call, ordinary, or exclusion foul.

© 2004, FINAStandard When a Crasher/Slougher is Coming In Does the center forward know the crasher or slougher is coming in? Yes: was he/she prevented to protecting the ball? Then ordinary foul (usually). No: then ball often is stolen. Was the ball passed to the center forward while crashers were coming in? Yes: usually a bad pass; ball should be stolen (usually).

© 2004, FINAStandard Two Guiding Principles The burden of proof is on the defense. It is the defense that is obligated to prove that they are not committing a foul. Always give the advantage to the offense. If it is a call, the call should go to the offense.

© 2004, FINAStandard The Objective... The referee should not focus on just one situation or just one pair of players watch what is going on in your primary area of responsibility be aware of all the other pairs of players know where the ball is be sensitive to what is happening at the ball

© 2004, FINAStandard REWARD Good position Good technique It doesn’t matter how much time is left on the clock … a foul is a foul is a foul and should be called even if it is in the last second of the possession.

© 2004, FINAStandard The No Call No calls are calls requires experience looks like the referee “missed” something okay for less experienced referees to call too many fouls … just as long as they are consistently applied with experience will decrease number of unnecessary calls however, not an excuse to stop blowing the whistle!!!

© 2004, FINAStandard Better Late Than Early Examples attacking player hooks defenders arm hard hit on set that causes ball to pop out Before intervening can the center forward can improve his/her position can the center forward complete the play? A late whistle is better than an early one

© 2004, FINAStandard Ordinary Fouls or Exclusions Exclusion fouls are more common at set than ordinary fouls Ordinary foul typically is when the defender has played good defense and caused the set to move him/herself out of position – Should still be called!! Exclusion fouls are called for taking away offensive advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard REWARD GOOD PLAY DISCOURAGE BAD PLAY

© 2004, FINAStandard The End of Part 5 Set and Perimeter