14C.2.6 General - Injury
Comments about this discussion:
Started
The referees suspend the game if an injury occurs. Afterwards, a free shot is given to the
team that was in possession of the ball at the time of the interruption. If it is unclear
who was in possession, the game is continued with a face-off.
The rule does not state where on the playing field the play should continue. The injury can occure far away from the ball. Should the face-off be conducted at the centre mark? Should the free shot be conducted at the spot, where the game was interrupted?
Comment
I think the game should just be restarted from the spot where the ball was when the game was stopped. I'm not sure about restarting with a free shot though, to me it would seem more natural to start with a face off (unless a foul was committed)
Comment
The question where the game is to be continued applies to similar non-game related interruptions:
The referee whistles unintentionally, the referee is an obstacle, the ball is broken, additional balls, dogs, kids on the playing field.
Comment
A free shot probably needs to be given to the team that had the ball prior to the injury (unless a foul was committed) to ensure a team can't fake an injury to get a chance to get the ball.
An unlikely event but a faceoff allows a losing team to do that.
I think the game restarting at the location of where the ball was (or at the corner mark/goal line) is probably the most consistent.
If the ball gets hit into the ref, it would be given at the location it it the ref, if someone is injured off ball, the game restarts where the ball was, if another ball gets put on the field the game restarts where the actual ball was etc.
Comment
I can understand the idea of continuing the game with a free shot. However, I think in all instances where the game was interrupted without a foul happening, the play should continue with a face-off and players should be encouraged to give the ball to the team last in possession of the ball. I think this is how its done e.g. in floorball.
The play should in my opinion continue where the ball was.
Comment
On Friday, with the little time we had left to discuss this topic, we agreed to keep the current rules and leave it up to the referees to continue the game with a free short if possession of the ball was clear or a face-off otherwise.
To summarize this entire discussion here, I think what needs to be changed to make it clear is that play is continued where the ball was (and where if this was not clear / could not be remembered?).
Personally, I wonder whether we should generalize that the free shot / face off option is there for all instances where the referees interrupt the game for other reasons than a foul?
Comment
Yes, no reason to limit it to injuries as there are other factors external to the game that could interrupt the game. It's also what most people might intuitively lean towards so good to have it formalised.