Question Number: 15379

Other 5/4/2007

RE: Rec Adult

Nate of Houston, TX USA asks...

I play on an indoor co-ed league that uses a "3-touch" rule for the guys - more than 3 touches on the ball without another player (from either team) touching the ball is a foul.

My question relates to a player who has used his 3 touches and then prevents an opponent from trying to take the ball. Instead of taking a fourth touch, he faces the ball (back to the approaching opponent) and uses his body, arms etc., to prevent the opponent from recovering the ball, until another teammate can get to the ball instead.

Is this considered impeding the progress of the opponent, or is this fair play? Are there limits to what would be considered acceptable shielding and what is impeding?

Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Sorry, you elected to play and have fun in a league that doesn't use the Laws of the Game or US Indoor Rules. The answer is not available to anyone but the person who changed things. Please feel free to ask that person.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Ah the tangled web we weave,
When we first attempt to [mess with the rules]

The law of unintended consequences strikes again. While some well-meaning committee has modified the rules to create their version of fairness, they haven't specified what happens after the 3 touches are over. Normally a player is allowed to shield the ball, for whatever reason he deems necessary - to allow it to roll out of play, to allow a teammate to play it. There is a condition applied though - the player must be capable of playing the ball if he so chooses. Now your modified rules say he cannot play the ball - but are silent on whether he could shield the ball. I suggest you put your query to your rules-makers. And if they decide shielding cannot be done, what is the restart? (Can you tell we're generally opposed to meddling with the established Laws? Yeah, we're kind of biased that way.)

Note that whatever the situation, any shielding must be done fairly. You mention the player using arms to prohibit the access of his opponent. That might be holding.