Advanced Referee Clinic: Advantage - That Most Nebulous Concept Version: 1.2 Released: 2004

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Water Polo is a CONTACT SPORT There will be physical contact between players as they strive for position and the ball - this is wholly acceptable. Excessive or inappropriate contact between players should not be tolerated - use the concept of “play the ball and not the player” as a guideline. Fundamental Concepts

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage The objective of the attacking team is to gain and maintain offensive advantage. Examples: Good passes and ball control. Protecting the ball. Working for position. Taking good, high percentage shots. Playing Offense

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage The objective of the defending team is to prevent goals. Examples: Play in the “lanes” and prevent good passes. Pressure players to give up the ball. Working for better position. Force low percentage shots. Playing Defense

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Let Justice Be Served For every situation a referee can have: The most correct answer The most incorrect answer Everything in between Try to be as close to the most correct answer as possible

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage First Category of Fouls: Fouls of Play Second Category of Fouls: Fouls of Aggression Third Category of Fouls: Fouls of Conduct Categories of Fouls

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Defenders must show they are not fouling! Marking Impeding Handchecking Holding Sinking Pulling Back No call Ordinary or exclusion foul Exclusion foul Pushing or pushing off Ordinary or exclusion foul First Category of Fouls: Fouls of Play

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage These fouls may be called outside flow! Aggressive play Overly aggressive play Kicking or striking Head Butt Violence Brutality See Fouls of Play Ordinary or exclusion foul Exclusion (or penalty) foul Exclusion foul (or more) Game exclusion (w/ sub) Game exclusion (w/o sub) Suspension next game Second Category of Fouls: Fouls of Aggression

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage These fouls should always be called and enforced vigorously! Misconduct Disobedience Disrespect Unsportsmanlike conduct Game exclusion w/ sub Third Category of Fouls: Fouls of Conduct

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage What is Advantage? Definition Relative Advantage Shooting Advantage Three types of ADVANTAGE Possessional Advantage Positional Advantage Probable Goal Advantage When to Violate Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage What is Advantage? Definition Relative Advantage Shooting Advantage Three types of ADVANTAGE Possessional Advantage Positional Advantage Probable Goal Advantage When to Violate Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Definition of “Advantage” The referees shall refrain from declaring a foul if, in their opinion, such declaration would be an advantage to the offending player’s team. The referees shall not declare an ordinary foul when there is still a possibility to play the ball. [Note. The referees shall apply this principle to the fullest extent. They should not, for example, declare an ordinary foul in favor of a player who is in possession of the ball and making progress towards his opponent’s goal, because this is considered to give an advantage to the offender’s team.] FINA WP Rule 7.3

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Difficult Part of “Advantage” The referee shall not declare an ordinary foul when there is still a possibility to play the ball. FINA/USWP Rules Rule 7.3 It is not necessary to award a free throw to an attacking team other than the player with the ball, so long as his team is in possession of the ball. … Often, you can see a situation when a player is still able to pass the ball despite being fouled. A whistle in this case could even be a disadvantage for the attacking team. FINA Instructions to Referees

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Use the Advantage Rule to Enable the Offense The rules are written in favor of the defense. When the teams are playing water polo, it is the obligation of the referee to use the advantage rule to call the game so that the attacking team can score.

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Fouls, when called, should return an advantage to the team that is at least as good as it had prior to calling the foul. Maximize the team’s scoring opportunities with the timing of the calls. Underlying Principles for Calling Fouls

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage General Philosophical Approach The teams are obliged to play water polo. When the teams play water polo, there are typically only fouls of play. When the teams are not playing water polo, then other fouls may occur.

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage General Philosophical Approach (Conclusion) The players are to play the game. It is the responsibility of the referee to control the game so that the players can determine the result of the game.

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage What is Advantage? Definition Relative Advantage Shooting Advantage Changes with Positioning of Players Three types of ADVANTAGE Possessional Advantage Positional Advantage Probable Goal Advantage When to Violate Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage What is the advantage of the person being fouled? What is the advantage of the team? What is the overall advantage of the team being fouled? What is the overall advantage of the team doing the fouling? Relative Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage G G x x x x x x o o o o o o Ready to Shoot Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage G G x x x x x x o o o o o o Passing to Shoot Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Working with Water at Center Forward Position G x o x o o x o x o x o x

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Working with Water at Center Forward Position G x o x o o x o x o x o x G x o x o o x o x o x o x

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage What About Sloughers? G x o x o o x o x o x o x Slough from the wing Followed by a point drop

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Pull Back with No Sloughers Coming In – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Two Hands Up Defense With Slougher Coming In – No Call

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Impeding With Sloughers Coming In – Ordinary Foul

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Pull Back With Sloughers Coming In – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage What is the offensive advantage? Not just the player with the ball Where are the passes? Where are the possible shooters? What is the defensive advantage? Are they in the passing lanes? Are they in position to steal and counterattack? Overall Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage What is Advantage? Definition Relative Advantage Shooting Advantage Changes with Positioning of Players Three types of ADVANTAGE Possessional Advantage Positional Advantage Probable Goal Advantage When to Violate Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Possessional advantage Positional advantage Probable goal advantage Three “P’s” of Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Has possession of the ball Can do something with the ball If possessional advantage is taken away, it is returned with a free throw Possessional Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage If offense throws ball halfway between a defender and the attacking player, even if it is a “bad” pass, the attacking player should be allowed to get the ball. Ordinary fouls for impeding, a little holding Exclusion fouls for holding, pulling back If in doubt, favor the offense. 50/50 Call to Offense

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Bad Pass Pass not thrown to correct location Pass thrown to wrong player Poor Possession Swam into defenders Stuck in no-man’s land Examples of No Possessional Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage x o 1 x o 2 3 Face off pass Pass through defender Pass too high Bad Pass: No Possessional Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage G G x x x x x x o o o o o o Poor Possession: Forcing Pass Into Defenders

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Bad Pass to Center Forward (Regular Position) – No Foul

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Bad Pass to Center Forward (Inside Position) – No Foul

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Pass With Slougher Too Near (and to Wrong Side) – No Call

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage o G G x x x x x x o o o o o o Poor Possession: Swimming Into Defenders

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage x o x o G G x x x x x o o o o o Poor Possession: Stuck in No-Person’s Land

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage x o G G x x x x x o o o o o o x Poor Possession: Stuck in the Corner

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Possessional advantage Positional advantage Probable goal advantage Three “P’s” of Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Attacking player has position over defending player. Position is taken away by defender holding, sinking or pulling back. Sanction is to exclude player Positional Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Horizontal attacking player with vertical defender (holding, hand checking) Attacking player turns defender Gained and is holding offensive position Ahead of defender outside 4 meter area Examples of Positional Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Horizontal Attacking Player At transitions from offense to defense: former defensive player starts counterattack and is held At start of drives (especially from flats): defender vertical and prevents the drive

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Considerations Is the attacking player swimming over top of the defender and sinking him/her? Did the defender hold the player outside his/her shoulders? What is marking? Hand checking? Holding?

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Hold: Handchecking

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Hold: Hooking Arm

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Hold (and then Sink)

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Pull Back: Swimming

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Pull Back: Pass to Center Forward

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Pull Back: By Former Center Forward

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Horizontal attacking player with vertical defender (holding, hand checking) Attacking player turns defender Gained and is holding offensive position Ahead of defender outside 4 meter area Examples of Positional Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Once a defender is turned, he/she better get hands, elbows and arms up into the air: Must make effort to show he/she is not committing a foul If the attacking player is not able to go forward (especially if he/she has the ball): Defender should be excluded Turned Player

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage G G x x x x x x o o o o o o x o x o Turning a Player: With Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage G G x x x x x x o o o o o o ? Turning a Player: Is There Advantage?

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Horizontal attacking player with vertical defender (holding, hand checking) Attacking player turns defender Gained and is holding offensive position Ahead of defender outside 4 meter area Examples of Positional Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage The hole set and hole defender are allowed to “strive for position” Once the hole set has position he/she has to maintain position defender may not hold, sink, pull, push the hole set out of position Criteria are irrespective of the slougher (double team) Gaining Offensive Position

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Horizontal attacking player with vertical defender (holding, hand checking) Attacking player turns defender Gained and is holding offensive position Ahead of defender outside 4 meter area Examples of Positional Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Withholding Call: Increase Level of Advantage G G x x x x x x o o o o o o 4m

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Three “Types” of Advantage Possessional advantage Positional advantage Probable goal advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Player has a good opportunity for a shot and defender prevents the shot by a foul (any foul) inside the 4-meter area. Counterattack entering the 4-meter area. Pulling down of shooting arm of player inside the 4-meter area and inside water from his/her defender Attacking team gets penalty shot A Probable Goal...

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Inside Water (Advantage) – No Call

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Hands Up Defense – No Foul

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Turn and Goalkeeper Steal – No Foul

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Inside But Loses Control of Ball – No Call

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Foul With Inside Water – Penalty Foul

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage When there is no one defending the goal, then the probability that a ball tossed into the goal will score is very high. THEREFORE, many fouls committed inside the 4-meter area when the goal is empty may be penalty fouls because the foul took away a probable goal. NOTE: If there was no probable goal, then there is no penalty foul. Empty Net Fouls

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage What is Advantage? Definition Relative Advantage Shooting Advantage Three types of ADVANTAGE Possessional Advantage Positional Advantage Probable Goal Advantage When to Violate Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Physical contact between attacking players and defenders is permitted Intervene ONLY to return possessional advantage return positional advantage return probable goal advantage Calling Fouls Is Based on Advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage General Rule of Thumb As a rule of thumb, there should be very few fouls called behind the line of attack. Few fouls should be called away from the ball; only call fouls that affect the play.

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Violate Rule When... Gross offensive fouls Gross defensive exclusion fouls (usually kicking or striking) Fouls resulting in a game exclusion of a player Fouls called for safety reasons.

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage However …. IF there is no advantage at the lead end of the counterattack call the foul in the back court this is where the advantage may be IF there is no advantage at the lead end of the counterattack call the foul in the middle of the pack this is where the advantage may be

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage Remember … Physical contact between attacking players and defenders is permitted Intervene ONLY to return possessional advantage return positional advantage return probable goal advantage

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage REWARD Good position Good technique

© 2004, FINAAdvanced Referee Clinic: Advantage That’s all Folks!