advanced referee clinic: refereeing the center forward position version: 1.2 released: 2004

Advanced Referee Clinic:Refereeing the Center Forward Position

Version: 1.2Released: 2004

© 2004, FINA Advanced Referee Clinic: Center Forward 1.2 2

Refereeing theCenter Forward Position

Philosophy of the Center Forward Position

Positioning at Center Forward/Back Play at Center Forward/Back Calling Fouls at Center

Forward/Back


Refereeing the Center Forward Position



Forward/Back


Philosophy of the Center Forward Position: Offense Role of the Center Forward Player

Scorer Passer Changes with :

Time in possession Time in period Time/Score in game

Double Center (Double Post) Offense


Philosophy of the Center Back Position: Defense Role of the Center Back Player

Relationship with Goalkeeper Side of defense

Take away back hand Take away sweep

Relationship with sloughers Forces role of set offense Forces pass:

Location Timing Direction





Forward/Back


Positioning of the Center Forward Player Body position

Questions to ask: What can the player do? How far can the player reach for the ball? How much space can the player legally

create to work with the ball? Vertical Position Horizontal Position Sitting Position Shoulders Relative to the Goal


Factors Affecting Positioning of the Center Forward Player Handedness

Ability to use both hands Shooting hand preference Passing hand preference

Primary moves Shooting Passing


Positioning of the Center Forward Player Gaining Position

“Striving for position” Holding Position

Burden is on the offense to maintain position

Working to increase water (working space)


Increasing Water

Gx

o

x

o

ox

ox

ox

ox


Increasing Water

G

xo

x

o

ox

ox

ox

ox

Gx

o

x

o

ox

ox

ox

ox


Positioning of the Center Back Player Position Relative to Attacking

Player Back Position

Advantage: Almost none Disadvantage: Almost certain exclusion

Lateral Position Advantage: Good defensive positioning Disadvantage: Must rely of goalkeeper


Positioning of the Center Back Player – 2

Front to Front Position (Fronting) Advantage: Excellent defensive

positioning Disadvantage: Goalkeeper must tell you

where ball is Back to Front Position

Advantage: Takes away pass Disadvantage: Penalty fouls called

frequently


Common Problems of Poor Defensive Positioning “Hands Up” Defense “Leaning”


Striving for Position:Equal Pushing Players have the right to the water in

which they are located. Players have the right to try and move

to more advantageous positions. Both players have equal rights to try and

move to a more advantageous position. Neither player may move the other player

out of a more advantageous position.


The objective of the attacking team is to gain and maintain offensive advantage.

Examples: Good passes and ball control. Protecting the ball. Working for position. Taking good, high percentage shots.

Striving for Position: Philosophy of Playing Offense


The objective of the defending team is to prevent goals.

Examples: Play in the “lanes” and prevent good

passes. Pressure players to give up the ball. Working for better position. Force low percentage shots.

Striving for Position: Philosophy of Playing Defense


Striving for Position: Positioning In the Pool Is the center forward is inside or

reasonably close to the 4 meter area? Does the center forward have inside

water? Does the center forward have space to

work? Where are the other defenders relative

to the center forward? Where are the other attacking players?


Striving for Position Equal Pushing Philosophy of Offense and Defense Positioning in the Pool Positioning of the Attacking Player Positioning of the Defending Player




Positioning at Center Forward Play at Center Forward

When the ball is not there When the ball is there

Calling Fouls at Center Forward


Play at the Center Forward Position

When the ball is not there No foul situations Defensive fouls

Ordinary fouls – Should not be called Exclusion fouls – Rare

Contrafouls (Offensive fouls)


Equal Pushing – No foul


Swimming Around Opponent – No foul


Suit Grabbing (Women) – Contrafoul


Suit Grabbing (Women) – Defensive Exclusion Foul


Suit Grabbing (Men) – Exclusion Foul


Hold (and then Sink) – Exclusion Foul


Sink Center Forward to Gain Position – Exclusion Foul


Pull Back to Take Center Forward Out of Position – Exclusion Foul


Fouls Around Head/Neck – Exclusion Fouls (Example 1)


Fouls Around Head/Neck – Exclusion Fouls (Example 2)


Play at the Center Forward Position

When the ball is there No foul situations Defensive fouls

Ordinary fouls Exclusion fouls Penalty fouls When a slougher is present

Contrafouls (Next section)


Bad Pass (Regular Position) – No Foul


Bad Pass (Inside Position) – No Foul


Hands Up Defense – No Foul


Hand on Ball – No Foul


Release Too Late – No Foul If the player is holding the ball, there

are very few fouls that should be called.

Younger players often have “the grip of death.”

If the ball is released too late (into the hands of a slougher or the goalkeeper), no fouls should be called.


Hold On Pass Into Set – Exclusion Foul


Sink at Set – Exclusion Foul


Classic Pull Back – Exclusion Foul (Example 1)


Classic Pull Back – Exclusion Foul (Example 2)


Pull Back Then Hands Up – Exclusion Foul


Pass to Wrong Side With Slougher Too Near – No Call


Two Hands Up Defense With Slougher Coming In – No Call


Impeding With Sloughers Coming In – Ordinary Foul


Pull Back With Sloughers Coming In – Exclusion Foul


Pull Back with No Sloughers Coming In – Exclusion Foul


Overly Aggressive Foul (Striking) – Exclusion


Elbow to Face (Striking) – Exclusion Foul


Turn and No Foul Defense


Inside Water (Advantage) – No Call


Turn and Goalkeeper Steal – No Foul


Inside But Loses Control of Ball – No Call


Foul With Inside Water – Penalty Foul


Contrafouls (Offensive fouls) Turnovers (Offensive ordinary

fouls) Without the ball With the ball

Offensive exclusion fouls


Getting Out from Under a Foul: No Foul


Ball Under – Ordinary Foul


Elbowing for Space – Ordinary Foul (May be Exclusion)


High Elbow Turn (Holding) – Offensive Foul


Push Off (Standard Position) – Offensive Foul


Push Off (Inside Position) – Offensive Foul


Head Butts Are EXTREMELY dangerous Are characterized by a rapid upwards

and backwards movement of the chin and striking with the head towards the opponent

Minimum of an ordinary foul, may be exclusion, violence, or even brutality.


Head Butt Cautions Be aware that if the chin stays

tucked, then it is not a head butt (probably pulling back by the defense).

Be aware of bad defensive positioning and contact due to the natural head motion of the set player.


Beware of Fake Head Butts


Fouls After Change From Offense to Defense Once the counterattack to the

other end starts – Watch what happens Many times, this is when brutality and

violent (misconduct) fouls occur However, allow time for the players to

“untangle” and get moving to the other end


Gross and Go – Offensive Foul (may be Exclusion Foul)


Hold by Former Center Forward on Counterattack – Exclusion Foul





Forward/Back


Refereeing Center Forward – Most Difficult Task for Referees Consistency is constantly put to the

test Must evaluate level of advantage

continuously must be aware of advantage at the

center forward position monitor advantage in rest of the pool watch for what the defenders from

perimeter are doing (crashing?)


Basic Principles Physical contact between attacking

players and defenders is permitted Intervene ONLY to

return possessional advantage return positional advantage return probable goal advantage

Minimize calling ordinary fouls at set away from the ball


Job of the Set The set is obligated to work the

ball. The set should Work to shoot the ball Pass the ball

Pass to driver for a shot Pass back out to reset the offense

The set may earn fouls with good play BUT that does not mean the defender has open season!!


Elements Used to Call Center Forward Position Where are the center forward’s

and center back’s hands? Who initiated the contact? Who gained an advantage from the

contact? Call the appropriate foul

ordinary foul (offensive or defensive) neutral throw exclusion


Other Elements to Call Center Forward

What are the center forward and center back trying to do? Is the center forward being prevented

from playing offense by impeding, holding, sinking or pulling back?

Is the center back prevented from playing defense by pushing off, holding, sinking or pulling back?


Context, Context, Context How are the actions of the center

forward and back related to what else is going on in the pool? What is happening where the ball is? Are there drivers coming through? Did a pick open up a player? Is there any shooting advantage?


Context, Context, Context How are the actions of the center

forward and back related to the game in progress? How much time is there on the game

clock? On the possession clock? What period is it? What is the score?


“Striving for Position” Incidental contact will occur as the

center forward and back strive to gain position

This incidental contact is to be ignored


What is NOT allowed When a player holds, grabs an

opponent and moves him/her out of the way applies to both the center forward and

back offensive foul (at a minimum) exclusion on defender

When defender shoves the center forward under water: exclusion foul


Holding Position The center forward is obligated to

hold position once he/she has it Defender cannot push, shove, hold, pull

the hole set out of position Defender may have incidental contact

with hole set when trying to go for ball Defender may not go through the

shoulder of the hole set to get at ball (exclusion)


Turns at Center Forward Position

Center forward holds ball defender can hold, sink, pull back to

get at ball (may not kick or strike) if center forward ducks his/her head

underwater while holding the ball, defender can go get at ball

if defender has hips down and is turned by set: call what you can see


Turns at Center Forward Position

Center forward releases ball after turning no foul if defender is holding or

sinking center forward at the moment when the ball is released

defender is given a little time to get off hole set after ball is release

does not get off - penalty shot


Turns at Center Forward Position Center forward tries to get the ball

again if defender holds or prevents center

forward from getting ball: penalty shot if center forward made the turn such

that the goaltender (or other defender) took the ball away: no call

if center forward lost control of the ball when he/she released it: no call, ordinary, or exclusion


When a Crasher/Slougheris Coming In Does the center forward know the

crasher or slougher is coming in? Yes: was he/she prevented to protecting the

ball? Then ordinary foul (usually). No: then ball is often stolen.

Was the ball passed to the center forward while crashers were coming in? Yes: usually a bad pass; ball should be

stolen (usually).


Two Guiding Principles The burden of proof is on the

defense. It is the defense that is obligated to prove that they are not committing a foul.

The advantage is always to the offense. If it is a 50-50 call, the call should go to the offense.


Another Guiding Principle The player that initiates contact

should be the one who is penalized. However, if the defender is given

greater leeway in making contact with the set, then it is inappropriate to call an offensive foul against the attacking for making contact to remove him/herself from a foul.


The Goal ... The referee should not focus on just

one situation or just one pair of players watch what is going on in your primary

area of responsibility be aware of all the other pairs of players know where the ball is be sensitive to what is happening at the

ball


REWARDGood positionGood technique

It doesn’t matter how much time is left on the clock … a foul is a foul is a foul and should be called even if it is in the last second of the possession.


The No Call No calls are calls

requires experience looks like the referee “missed”

something okay for less experienced referees to

call too many ordinaries … just as long as they are consistently applied

with experience will decrease number of unnecessary calls


Better Late Than Early Examples

attacking player hooks defenders arm hard hit on set that causes ball to pop out

Before intervening can the center forward can improve his/her

position can the center forward complete the play?

A late whistle is better than an early one


Ordinary Fouls or Exclusions

Exclusion fouls should be more common at center forward than ordinary fouls

Ordinary foul typically is when the defender has played good defense and caused the set to move him/herself out of position – Should still be called!!

Exclusion fouls are called for taking away offensive advantage


Work On Timing Fouls, when called, should return

an advantage to the team that is at least as good as it had prior to calling the foul.

Maximize the team’s scoring opportunities with the timing of the calls.


Examples of Timing Exclusion fouls early when

sloughers are coming in. Ordinary fouls late when sloughers

have arrived. Ordinary fouls early when an open

driver is coming. Exclusion fouls early when ball is on

the perimeter; later when ball is at set.


Exclusion – Timing to Maximize Scoring Opportunity


Exclusion – Does Not Maximize Scoring Opportunity


REWARD GOOD PLAY

DISCOURAGE BAD PLAY


Fouls Must Be Called When Present


That’s all Folks!

advanced referee clinic: refereeing the center forward position version: 1.2 released: 2004

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