Slow-Whistle Shot Question

[eme]

In NCAA rulebook, a shot is defined. In Federation rulebook, it is not.

Flag is down for a B slash, A in possession and working it around B's cage.
Middie unleashes what looks like a shot at the cage, but it goes way way wide and appears to be heading into the next county when, incredibly, the tall A attackman jumps up and snares the ball in flight behind the cage near the endline. Do you end the slow-whistle situation? Would it matter if it were a college or a high-school game (under Fed. rules)?

[Laxref_36]

eme,

If you thought it was a true shot on goal, the whistle should end the play. NFHS rule 7 section 8 article 4, NCAA Rule 7, section 8 point d both address the same play of a shot not resulting in a goal ending the slow whistle. I might give the offense some leniency on this play and determine that the path of the ball meant it to be a pass and not a shot. Key piece is whether or not you deem it to be a shot.

[CoachRob]

If you thought it was a shot, and his teammate caught it, it is clear it will NOT be able to score without some "further impetus" given by the shooting team; here you HAVE to blow the whistle.

If you are going to view it as a pass, then the flag down/slow-whistle situation continues.

[LaxRef]

If you thought it was a shot, and his teammate caught it, it is clear it will NOT be able to score without some "further impetus" given by the shooting team; here you HAVE to blow the whistle.

If you are going to view it as a pass, then the flag down/slow-whistle situation continues.

NCAA Rule 7-9 says:

A.R. 38. During slow whistle, A1 shoots the ball toward goal. A2 catches ball and shoots it into the goal. RULING: Legal goal. What appeared to be a shot turned out to be a pass.

Thus, under NCAA rules, I think you'd better not blow the whistle even if you thought it was a shot.

[CoachRob]

It is up to the ref to determine if it was a shot. While I agree that a coach could argue it, if the ref determines it WAS a shot and it is caught, it cannot score without further impetus from a teammate and thus the play is ended.

So, if A1 takes a wicked shot that sails over the goal, and A2 jumps REALLY high and catches it behind the goal, the ref MAY blow the whistle. However, I doubt he would and I think he should NOT blow the whistle. But he is within his rights to rule it a shot and blow the whistle to end the slow whistle situation. While I would have a fit as a coach, it is the ref's discretion as to whether it was a shot or a pass.

There is a case scenario (4-6.H) where A1 takes a "shot" from near midfield and yells out "I am taking a shot!" but the ball is WAY wide of the net. It goes out of bounds and A2 is closest to it. RULING: The official has the responsibility of determinng if a thrown ball is a shot. Thus the ball went OOB off of A1, resulting in a turnover. So while A1 may have been THINKING it was a shot, it is the ref's determination that matters.

[LaxRef]

It is up to the ref to determine if it was a shot. While I agree that a coach could argue it, if the ref determines it WAS a shot and it is caught, it cannot score without further impetus from a teammate and thus the play is ended.

So, if A1 takes a wicked shot that sails over the goal, and A2 jumps REALLY high and catches it behind the goal, the ref MAY blow the whistle. However, I doubt he would and I think he should NOT blow the whistle. But he is within his rights to rule it a shot and blow the whistle to end the slow whistle situation. While I would have a fit as a coach, it is the ref's discretion as to whether it was a shot or a pass.

Well, I disagree. The A.R.--at least to me--says that if it looks like a shot but it's caught, it's actually a pass and not a shot.

In one way, you're right: the official could rule it a shot and blow the whistle (officials can do all kinds of things, right or wrong :chuckle:). However, knowing this A.R., to do so is to invite a confrontation, something officials shouldn't do.

And, while it is the official's responsibility to determine what is a shot, the specific A.R. trumps the general A.R.

[CoachRob]

And, while it is the official's responsibility to determine what is a shot, the specific A.R. trumps the general A.R.

I agree. The specific AR SHOULD trump the general AR. As I stated, the ref should not end the slow whistle if the shot/pass is caught. That said, I COULD see a case where he would invoke the general case and rule the play over when A2 catches it. I'd have a fit as a coach, but I'm sure I could come up with a circumstance where he would have a (weak) leg to stand on.

But I doubt this would ever occur. As soon as he saw A2 move towards the shot/pass, I can't imagine him even THINKING about blowing the whistle if A2 has even a remote play on the ball.
:bye: