WATER POLO

Evening Star, Issue 20672, 20 December 1930, Page 13

WATER POLO

* HINTS TO PLAYERS [Comments by Air R. A. MAthxesox.] No. If.—FURTHER NOTES ON RULES. Tho Otago Swimming Centre’s water polo coach and referee, Mr P. A. iVlathieson (coach and custodian at the municipal baths), lias kindly consented to contribute a series of articles to the ‘ Star 1 on water polo, the second article continuing the notes on rules of the game, with rulings of the International Water Polo Hoard and comments by Mr Mathieson. 'who was at one time a leading Canterbury polo player. Rule 15.—Ordinary fouls: It shall he a foul lo (a) touch the ball with both bant at the same time; (b) to hold or push off from goal posts, nets, rails, or any fixture during any part of the game; (e) to walk about the bath; (d) to stand on or touch tho bottom during any part of the game unless for the purpose of resting; (e) to impede an opponent in any way unless he is holding the ball (swimming on tho back or legs of an opponent constitutes impeding) ; (f) to hold the hall under water when tackled; (g) to jump from the bottom or push off from the side (except at starling or restarting) in order to play the ball or tackle an opponent; (h) to hold, pull back, or push off from an opponent; (i) to kick an opponent or to make disproportionate movements with that intention; (j) to assist a player at tho start or restart of the game, or for any player to push off from any part of J ’c goal post or its supports; (k) for tho goalkeeper to go more than 4yds from his own goal line or to fake a goal throw improperly (see rule 20); (I) from a free throw to throw the ball directly (or after dribbling) at the goalkeeper or to an attacking player within 2yds of tho goal (seo rule 20) ; (in) to touch the hall before it has reached the water when thrown in by the referee (seo rules 17 and 21). Rulings of the Board.—Clause (h) : When a goalkeeper is penalised for holding the bar or rail at end of bath tho free throw shall ho taken from where sue', foul oec.rml. Clause (I): Tho word “ goalkeeper ” refers to the “ opposing goalkeeper ” and tho word “ goal ” refers to “ opponents’ goal line.” Note.—Clause (e) : Dribbling or striking tho ball is not “ holding,” but lifting, carrying, pressing under water, or placing tho hand under or over the ball whim actually touching, is holding. Dribbling the ball up and through the posts is permissible. Tin’s rule deals only with the common fouls that .-re committed so frequently during a game. Some are so-obvious that no explanation should be required, but which, nevertheless, are so frequently misunderstood that considerable •space might be used in explaining them. It was chiefly in regard to this rule of thirteen clauses that my remarks of last ween ro “ playing up to the spirit of tho game ’’ referred. Tho “ letter of the law ” in water polo—or, in other words, the rules —arc laid down for tho control of a match, and a referee must act on Them; but it is “ playing up ” to the spirit of the game which improves the play, lends attraction to the game, and largely assists in keeping the referee’s whistle silent. Clause (a), touching with both hands: A player may Hip tho ball from hand to hand as much as ho pleases so long as he does not actually touch it with both hands at the same moment. Clause (h), holding rails, etc.: This clause and the ruling attached require a lengthy explanation. “During any part of the game ” means “ while tho hall is in play.” Players may use the handrail in returning to their goal line after a goal; they must not leave tho water to return. Also tho rail may bo used while waiting for tho start or restart of *'■ game, but not the goal posts or their fixings. This clause is very frequently ruptured during a scranT.lo at the side of the bath. _'A player will grip tho rail to prevent himself from sinking or fo reach quickly for the hall or push olf from the wall, and in doing so ho takes an unfair advantage of his opponent, who is beyond reach of the side or is sportsman enough to refuse such help. _ Often, of course, the breach is not deliberate, but a free throw from tho spot most follow if any advantage is gained by tho offending side.

An instance of holding the rail, which many players seem to imagine is allowed, is w' n tho hall is being played at the other cud of the field and two players, one of each side, are waiting for" tho play to return to them. “ White ” decides to hold the side for a rest, and watches his team mates at-tneki-g tho “ Black ” goal. Ho thus takes 'an unfair advantage of his opponent, who may bo equally tired, and the referee, seeing this, should award a free throw against the offender at tho place where tho foul occurred. The player will thus have penalised his side by drawing the play away from his opponents' goal. But what if “ Black ” decides to hold tho rail T It can bo readily imagined that an unsportsmanlike player up to the tricks of the game could hold the rail intentionally to relievo the pressure on his own goal. If tho referee awarded a free throw in this easo ho would bo penalising the nonolfending side, so tho discretion clause (J) to rule 7 is used. No foul is declared, but the offender is made to release his hold. Tho player most likely to hold tho goalposts during a game is tho goalkeeper, and that player may b'o ordered out of tho water for doing so. It is no uncommon tiling to see a goalkeeper using tho grip to reach up to a high shot at his goal. _ If this is intentional the referee is justified in ordering tho goalie out, and giving a free throw from where tho foul occurred—i.o., from the goal. Hi this easo great care is required that tho player taking tho throw at once leaves the two-yard area, for ho will commit a wilful foul if ho stays in that area, and can not play tho ball if it is thrown back to him again, for that reason. , It is in play in front of the goal that the two-yard lino must bo respected most, for a player easily drifts across it in tho eagerness of play, without intending to do so. Glauses (e), (d), and (g), Walking, etc.—Standing is allowed only for the purpose of resting, hut this leads to walking, and free throws may result. A sensible way to avoid infringements of this rule is to keep tho shoulders under the water, for then if a push off the bottom is made, it is so apparent that tho player will refrain from committing tho offence again. Whether pushing from the side is done with tho hands or feet, it is not allowed, except at the starr. or restart of a game. Clauses (c) and (h), Impeding.— Interfering with an opponent when he is not holding tho hall probably occurs more often than any other offence, and is frequently done unintentionally. It is nut necessary to capture tho hall from an opponent to actually offend. While swimming beside a player, who has the ball, and realising that the position is becoming dangerous, it is galling to find that ho cannot ho bested, and such tricks as

pawing at his side, or attempting to lock *arnis, or reaching over his shoulder, etc., arc resorted to by unsportsmanlike players. This procedure usually results in a foul being declared which finally robs tho offender of every ehaneo of securing possession. It must always bo clearly remembered that the rules are expressly framed, so that a player is penalised for taking an “ unfair ” advantage of an opponent. Nothing will infuriate a_ player more than an opponent getting the better of him by unfair means, and il tho committing of ordinary fouls is winked at by a referee, they will very soon become .wilful fouls. In taking the ball from an opponent, sonic careful practice is necessary, and it is not so very difficult'cither. When a player is swimming with tho hall, get alongside of him and time your stroke exactly with his. You will then bo able to dive the hand under tho ball and flick it away without touching him, 1 well remember .some years ago, experts at this trick, giving instructions to young players, and it looks so very simple and neat that there appears to be nothing in it; but try it yourself! Distinct from tho player who fouls an opponent, is that misnamed player who. when in a tight corner, will suddenly sink himself and then come up spluttering and appealing for a foul. Should this trick give an advantage to his side, the referee may give a free throw against him for in preventing the proper course of the play he is committing a foul. It is also a foul to so ■shadow an opponent as to hinder his movements. This ease may_ usually be seen when a back is marking his opposing forward by treading water with arms outspread so as to prevent him from changing his position. Interfering with a player who is not actually holding tho bail is sometimes tho Jesuit of players not realising exactly what is meant by “ holding.” A player must not bo touched unless ho lias his baud on or under the ball, and is actually touching it. Swimming and carrying tho hall is allowed. 1 There is no rule to say r player shall not, and an opponent has every right to duck him, while ho is doing so. Clause (f), Holding _ Ball Under Water.—A player commits a foul by taking tho ball under water when lie is tackled, or if ho submerges it to prevent an opponent from taking it away from him. It is no foul to press tho ball under water when his ncarest opponent is well out of reach, lie enu not bo said to take an. unfair advantage of anyone by so doing. Clause (i), Kicking.—l have never soon this rule'made use of. It is not necessary for tho kick to bo delivered, the threatened gesture is sufficient to warrant a free throw.