PVancouver
04 Jul 2008, 07:01 PM
For the past year, and now for the current year, the Additional Instructions/ Interpretation of the LOTG have defined charging in the following way:
Charging an opponent
The act of charging is a challenge for space using physical contact within playing distance of the ball without using arms or elbows. It is an offence to charge an opponent:
• in a careless manner
• in a reckless manner
• using excessive force
If a player runs hard into an opponent 30 yards from the ball, what offense has been committed?
If two players shoulder-to-shoulder charge each other heading toward the ball 10 yards away, and one player forces the other away from the path toward the ball, what offense has been committed?
If two players shoulder-to-shoulder charge each other heading toward the ball 10 yards away, and neither player forces the other away from the path toward the ball, has an offense been committed? If so, what offense?
From the 2006 Q&A Law 12:
24. A player is charged when the ball is not within playing distance. What action should the referee take?
If the referee considers the charge on the opponent to be careless, a direct free kick * or a penalty kick will be awarded
It certainly seems to me that in 2006, at least, the answer to the first question would have been that the player committed a charging foul. But it seems less clear now.
In the second case, is it charging, holding, pushing, or impeding? If it is not charging, why isn't it? If it is impeding, then what about the contact?
In the third case, if this is not a foul, does this mean that "fairly" charging not within playing distance of the ball is in fact permitted?
Charging an opponent
The act of charging is a challenge for space using physical contact within playing distance of the ball without using arms or elbows. It is an offence to charge an opponent:
• in a careless manner
• in a reckless manner
• using excessive force
If a player runs hard into an opponent 30 yards from the ball, what offense has been committed?
If two players shoulder-to-shoulder charge each other heading toward the ball 10 yards away, and one player forces the other away from the path toward the ball, what offense has been committed?
If two players shoulder-to-shoulder charge each other heading toward the ball 10 yards away, and neither player forces the other away from the path toward the ball, has an offense been committed? If so, what offense?
From the 2006 Q&A Law 12:
24. A player is charged when the ball is not within playing distance. What action should the referee take?
If the referee considers the charge on the opponent to be careless, a direct free kick * or a penalty kick will be awarded
It certainly seems to me that in 2006, at least, the answer to the first question would have been that the player committed a charging foul. But it seems less clear now.
In the second case, is it charging, holding, pushing, or impeding? If it is not charging, why isn't it? If it is impeding, then what about the contact?
In the third case, if this is not a foul, does this mean that "fairly" charging not within playing distance of the ball is in fact permitted?