shot definition

[rock-slide]

sorry if I'm doing this wrong....but I've spent too much time trying to "search" -- in vein -- and not enough time getting an answer to what I'm after...definitely interesting stuff to browse, but not an "answer". This site is not user-friendly to do searches. That venting aside...

What is the definition of a shot? Does a shot have to be "on net" (i.e., require the goalie to make a save, or else the ball would go in the net)? In the same vein, is a ball thrown from a cross that hits the pipe -- cross-bar or uprights - a shot?

I know the referee calls "shot" when a player makes an attempt to put the ball on net, but is that call just for determining who gets the ball depending on who is closest to the point it goes out of bounds when it passes the line, or is that call of "shot" really a shot, as in a game statistic (i.e., there were 60 shots in the game and the goalie made 25 saves).

Thanks for any feed back,

Rock-Slide

[MElaxRef]

NCAA Rule 4-5-i defines a shot as "A ball thrown or kicked at the goal with the intent of scoring, as judged by an official".

NFHS Rule 4-5-9 defines a shot as "a ball propelled toward the goal by an offensive player, either by being thrown from a crosse, kicked or otherwise physically directed".

First, a shot does not have to be "on net"; for example,
1] it could be a really bad shot, or
2] a defensive player could be delivering a check as the shot is taken.

Second, a ball that hits the pipes (or, for that matter, scores a goal) is not necessarily a shot, for example,
1] a defensive player could have thrown the ball, or
2] a missed pass could end up hitting the pipe (or scoring).

Third, there is no obligation for a referee to call "shot". When we do call "shot," the purpose is to let our partner know that he needs to determine which player gets possession if the shot goes out of bounds.

Fourth, whoever is keeping game statistics gets to determine when shots are taken. I have no idea whether they ever listen to the referee's "shot" calls; I hope not, because there are lots of shots that are never called (most of the in close and soft shots, for example).

[rock-slide]

Thank you, much!! Rules references were great, and the other points even better.