Question Number: 14909

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/27/2007

RE: Adult

Adam Williams of Melbourne, VIC Australia asks...

I have three questions.

1. Are you allowed to call to an opponent to pass the ball to you or leave the ball for you? e.g. if a team has a player called Billy and one called Sam and an opponent called Adam shouts "Billy's ball" as it is coming to Sam.

2. Can a player shout at an opponent to put him off during play. e.g someone is about to shoot and an opponent is unable to make a challenge but shouts loudly from behind.

3. Can a player call "my ball" or "mine" during play?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

1. A player may say anything when calling for a ball. What he cannot do is disadvantage the opponent by doing so. For example, he can't scream "MINE" into an opponent's ear or call out a wrong name in an attempt to confuse the opponent,. 2. No. 3. Sure as long as he doesn't put off an opponent by doing so

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

1. You can't try to verbally trick an opponent into playing the ball to you.

2. You can't yell at, scream at, roar at, growl at, or otherwise do anything at an opponent in an attempt to throw her off her game.

3. "Mine" is fine, as long as it is a legitimate attempt to convey information to your teammate, not to confuse your opponent. I understand that the English players, and perhaps some ex-Empire players as well, think that "Mine" is automatically unsporting.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Language intended to distract opponents or put them off is not allowed. Referee should either warn or caution players that do this. If the language is intended to clue teammates in on who has the ball, thats ok.