Ask The Umpire
Q0016: Will the USA continue indirect free push requirement?
By UmpireHockey.com
Dec 22, 2008 - 9:30:00 AM

Question: "I play indoor hockey and last year we had to push the ball to a teammate outside the circle on a free push near the circle before we could play the ball into the circle. Is that still the rule? What about always keeping one attacker in the attacking half of the court?"

Answer: The experimental free push rule that restricted attackers from pushing the ball directly into the circle on a free push is not being continued. Further, the experimental rule requiring that one member of each team remain on their team's attack side of the center line is also not being continued.

A direct free push into the circle from the attacking half of the court is legal. A 2008 experimental rule, now discontinued, required that the ball be played/deflected by another player outside the circle before entering the circle.

IMPORTANT: Umpires are being reminded to judge whether any passes into the circle are being pushed by the attack in such a way as to create a foul by the defense. This is typically accomplished by pushing the ball as hard as possible without much hope of a secondary play on the ball by a teammate. The slang term for that action is drilling.


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