standard clinic part 5: center and perimeter version 3.2 release date: 2004

Standard Clinic Part 5:Center and Perimeter

Version 3.2Release date: 2004

© 2004, FINA Standard 3.2 - 2

2004 Points of Emphasis

Players must put the ball in play correctly. Allow the former center forward and center

back to untangle when possession changes; do no call a foul too quickly.

Just because a slough is coming, a referee can still call ordinary or exclusion fouls against the center back.

Minimize calling offensive fouls away from the ball.

Be an offensive-minded referee.


Refereeing the Perimeter

Not time for a vacation Current strategy is moving the ball

to get it to the hole set watch for how the ball gets passed to

the set if there is a foul at set, ball needs to

be passed back out Referees should always call the

exclusion when in doubt


Perimeter Principles

Calls are based on principles of advantage (the three P’s) Violate advantage only to protect players

Obligation is for the defense to play good defense if they play good defense and the offense

can’t do anything with the ball: too bad if they play bad defense: call the foul


Perimeter Principles

There should be no ordinary fouls away from the ball go ahead and call the exclusion foul

for holding, sinking or pulling back a player

be aware of what is happening where the ball is• Is the center forward turning?• Is someone ready to shoot?


Calling Ordinary Fouls

If there is an ordinary foul, call it. Be sure that it is related to play Call the foul quickly if it is there

• delay takes time off the possession clock• if the attacking team has earned it, give

it to them

The onus is on the defense to show they are not committing fouls.


Drives

Watch the players and their positions Did the attacking player swim over the

defender Did the defender hand check the

attacking player Did the defender hold the attacking

player Who got to the position first?


Picks

Are often run, especially after a foul is called at set

If the pick affects play: if an attacking player holds a defender:

offensive foul• So that the ball reaches another attacking

player if a defender holds an attacking player:

exclusion foul• So the player cannot get free to receive

the ball


Refereeing the Center Forward Position

Philosophy of the Center Forward Position

Positioning at Center Forward Play at Center Forward Calling Fouls at Center Forward


Philosophy of the Center Forward: Offense

Role of the Center Forward Player Scorer Passer Changes with :

• Time in possession• Time in period• Time/Score in game

Double Post Offense


Philosophy of the Center Back: Defense

Role of the Center Back 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


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 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 Continued pressure on the attacking

player Can hold and/or sink with elbows, chest,

and chin “Leaning”

Sinking an attacking player who has gained position


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.




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• Exclusion fouls

Offensive fouls


Equal Pushing – No foul


Swimming Around Opponent – No foul


Suit Grabbing (Women) – Exclusion Foul


Suit Grabbing (Women) –Contrafoul


Suit Grabbing (Men) –Exclusion Foul


Hold (and then Sink) –Exclusion Foul


Sink Center Forward to Gain Position – Exclusion Foul


Pull Back Taking Center Forward Out of Position – Exclusion


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

Offensive fouls


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.


Calling Fouls

Hold, sink, pull back With sloughers near by Overly aggressive fouls Inside water calls


Hold on Pass Into Center Forward – Exclusion Foul


Sink at Center Forward –Exclusion Foul


Pull Back –Exclusion Foul


Pull Back Then Hands Up – Exclusion Foul


Calling Fouls



Pass To Wrong Side With Slougher Close – 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


Calling Fouls



Fouls Around Head/Neck – Exclusion Fouls


Overly Aggressive Foul (Striking) – Exclusion


Elbow to Face (Striking) – Exclusion Foul


Calling Fouls



Turn – 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 Butts


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 (game exclusion) fouls occurs Also watch for other fouls …..


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


Hold by Former Center Forward on Counterattack – Exclusion


Refereeing Center Forward – Most Difficult Task in Water Polo

Consistency is constantly put to the test

Must evaluate level of advantage continuously must be aware of advantage at the set

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 center forward away from the ball


Job of the Center Forward

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


Elements Used to Call Center Forward

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 center 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 center 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 set and set defender strive to gain position

This incidental contact is to be ignored


What is NOT allowed

When a player holds, grabs a player and moves him/her out of the way applies to both the set and set defender

• offensive foul (at a minimum)• exclusion on defender

When defender shoves the hole set 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 center forward out of position Defender may have incidental contact with

center forward when trying to go for ball Defender may not go through the shoulder

of the center forward to get at ball (exclusion)


Turns at Center Forward

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 center forward: call what you can see



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

set 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



Center forward tries to get the ball again if defender holds or prevents center forward

from getting ball: penalty foul 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 foul.


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 often is 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.

Always give the advantage to the offense. If it is a 50-50 call, the call should go to the offense.


The Objective ...

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


REWARD

Good 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 fouls … just as long as they are consistently applied

with experience will decrease number of unnecessary calls

however, not an excuse to stop blowing the whistle!!!


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 are more common at set 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


REWARD GOOD PLAY

DISCOURAGE BAD PLAY


The End of Part 5Set and Perimeter

standard clinic part 5: center and perimeter version 3.2 release date: 2004

Documents

center forward philosophy

center forwardpositioning

center forwardplay

center backrelationship

center forwardcalling

ball needs

ball isis

attacking player swim