Question Number: 34528

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/11/2022

RE: Rec Adult

Doug Crawford of Folsom, CA US asks...

This question is a follow up to question 34511

Hi there - how about the fact that the contact was hip to hip (a "hip check") instead of shoulder to shoulder.
I agree the ball was definitely in playing distance for the player in black with just half a step.
I have never seen hip contact called as a foul on TV and I have very rarely called it myself - would need to be a stronger impact to be a foul for me. Certainly not a PK!
Your advice on hip to hip contact?
Thanks as always!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Doug
Good to hear from you and for the observation.
Generally hip to hip is seen as a legal charge as both players will be side on which will look like a regular charge. Clearly a hip into a players back / front would be a foul once the contact is deemed to be careless, reckless etc.

Looking at it again I think it was given for the arm contact by White who had raised arms. I think at the Pro level the contact is *soft* and I think the decision should have been to play on as there was not enough foul contact for me. The Black defender is unperturbed by the contact as he expected it. It can be a tactic to give a free kick out in a dubious situation such as in this case maybe a possible penalty appeal. Perhaps the referee at this stage was calling everything!

I also think that the way the play unfolded that White would have no complaint as the ball was lost and sure a free kick was giving time for a regroup. I would like to have seen a wider angle as if Black had 40 yards of open space to run into they might feel that bringing it back was to their disadvantage. While it is not advised to play advantage in the defensive third it is not absolute and at the Pro level a good advantage can be played from this location

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Doug,
I concur with my colleague it seemed rather unneccesary to award a free kick out but a CR in real time choses their decisions on their own timeline and thinking scheduale. Hip to hip shoulder to shoulder side by side. stride for stride not going to get to worried. Only if the player folded into a hockey style hip check bending over and driving the hip into a player like a blocking or pushing motion Or a hard intersecting run at angle where the force of impact could be held accountable because one player initates the challange from a distance

There are a few considerations of interest to note when opposing players are coming together, each intent on getting ro the ball
(a) One player is more often in control dribbling the other attacking to tke the ball away

(b) the players approach is a V or L or o/ checkmark pattern of intersecting, not an enlongated U where they are roughtly equal in pace & its more of a leaning in, to ease the other off the ball.

The V intersect could occur at PACE with a greater impact and be quite legal , more suspect is the L , 0/ or a onesided v like a check mark where one player is coming in at angle faster and with less of a safety margin or even blindsides the opponent. Thus hip check leg crumplig shoulder buckling chargingly foul. .
.
Great shot of a legal impact hip to hip shoulder challange but look at the force used by BOTH!

https://costagaels.com/wp-content/uploads/shoulder-charge-gaelic-football.jpg

Cheers