Question Number: 20737

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/15/2009

RE: Recrealtional Adult

Eric of Adelaide, SA Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17636

Similar thing happened to me, I was defending and the attacker tried to run through me. He hit me pretty hard and I am not entirely clear of the events. I was informed it was a foul to get in the attackers way ... the way I did. What is the rule here?

a) I did not really make an attempt to make a play at the ball, he was moving too fast. (I actually think he left the ball behind knowing that i was standing there and he chose to brace for the clash, but for arguments sake and clarity on a rule lets assume this did not happen ... although what is the rule if this happened?)

b) I doubt i was completely stationary, as described in the reference question i.e. i would have moved to purposely get in his way. [for those of you know basketball rules, it would have been a foul on me, not a charging foul on the attacker]

c) i may have turned to the side to take the hit on my shoulder ... but i felt the blow front on. (Take worse case scenario?)

d) What can I not do here ... i did not step forward to shoulder him, but i may have shifted my weight to brace for the clash which in it self is probably shouldering. This is a bit of an open question, but i thought i could pretty much do anything short of striking/tripping him.

If what i did was a foul, i need to re-evaluate how i play the game. I was not a junior play i have only been playing the game for a couple of years socially.

Thanks,
If you can clarify.
Eric

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

From page 113 of the Laws of the Game:
[quote]
Impeding the progress of an opponent means moving into the path of the opponent to obstruct, block, slow down or force a change of direction by an opponent when the ball is not within playing distance of either player.

All players have a right to their position on the field of play, being in the way of an opponent is not the same as moving into the way of an
opponent.

Shielding the ball is permitted. A player who places himself between an opponent and the ball for tactical reasons has not committed an offence as long as the ball is kept within playing distance and the player does not hold off the opponent with his arms or body. If the ball is within playing distance, the player may be fairly charged by an opponent.
[end quote]

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If you stepped in front of the moving attacker who had the ball as you describe a basketball player that would not have been stationary, you have committed a foul. even if you had been stationary, you still moved to get into the path of an onrushing opponent with no attempt to play the ball. This is VASTLY different than the reference question where a defender was standing in his space and the attacker ran right through him. You also created contact so I don't think you were impeding the progress of an opponent which almost always has no contact involved. Without seeing what you actually did, I could only guess that you were either holding or charging the opponent in an illegal manner. You are incorrect in your thinking that you could pretty much do anything short of striking or tripping. You also cannot kick, jump at, charge, or push in a careless manner. You also cannot hold the opponent at all. As Ref Voshal points out, there's a big difference between being in the way of an opponent and moving into the way of an opponent which is what you did. Even had you not initiated contact, you would have been guilty of the indirect free kick foul of impeding the progress of an opponent as you were not making a play on the ball merely getting in the way of an opponent.