Rules? Holding Stick? Please help!

[cfb_jason2]

Can you manipulate someone stick with your own? What if they have possesion of the puck? What if they don't? And what you are both going for the puck?

ex. If someone is going for the puck and you come by and lift up their stick a little with your own so they can't immediately get it. Is that legal?

Also wondering at what point does slowing down in front of someone who is try to get closer to the play illegal?

[columbus_RHstar]

legaly you are allowed to lift a players stick at any time as long as yu are going for the puck.... some refs will call penalties if you come down on top of the stick hooking it. as for interference question i believ that it is when you hinder ones ability to manuever(note the fancing wording)

[SpeedDemon]

You can manipulate someone's stick at any time, using your own, as long as you're not slashing down on it with an axe-like motion. If you swat the stick out of their hands by either lifting it or batting at it, it should never be a penalty. If a referee calls it, you have all the reason to gripe.

As for interference, think of it this way. Each player has a 'lane' in which they travel. A lane can be defined as an obvious course of motion, or direct path, that a player is travelling in.

The only way that someone is allowed to step into your lane and make contact with you, is if you have the puck. If a player does not have the puck and is skating in a lane, and someone makes intentional physical contact with them to throw them off their lane, then that someone should be called for interference.

If someone is skating behind you and runs into YOU with intentional physical contact that throws you off your lane, that should be interference on them.

If they take 2 strides to the side, and try to go around you and you step into their new lane and throw them off, then you are the one who is interfering.

If you decide to slow down in front of someone to try to impede their progress, you just want to be sure you don't blatantly initiate the contact (ie. come to a near stop and force that player to have no other alternative but to run into you.) Most refs will call you for the penalty, then.

Hope this helps.

[cfb_jason2]

THANKS

[GoalieRick]

SpeedDemon infers that it is OK to swat the stick out of another players hands. This is incorrect. Rule 621 is the rule that covers this situation.

Rule 621. Interference

(a) A minor penalty shall be assessed to any player who interferes with or impedes the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck, deliberately knocks a stick out of an opponent's hand, prevents a player who has dropped the stick or any other piece of equipment from regaining possession of it, or shoots a stick or other object toward an opponent.

[SpeedDemon]

Good find.

I suppose what I was implying is, that when you're both going for the puck in the corner or something, my first instinct is to take a swat at the other guys stick to nullify it or even knock it loose and make my job easier, and I've never gotten called.

[columbus_RHstar]

ive never gotten called either... in fact i dont call it when i ref and f a player uses himself to impede another player from getting to the puck without making illegeal contact i say its a smart play.... plus it pisses the other team off

[GoalieRick]

Unless your rink uses a rule book that I'm not familiar with, you should read Rule 621 again. The situtation being described IS interference. When two or more players are going after a loose puck, a good way to determine if it is interference is for the referee to watch these things:
1. Did the player's hands leave his stick? If so it's probably interference.
2. Did he throw his knee or hip out? If so, it's probably interference.
3. Did he dip his shoulder? If so, it's probably interference.

Remember, roller hockey is NOT ice hockey on wheels. It's a different sport meant to limit physical contact and encourage/reward speed and skill on a more wide open rink (hence 4-on-4 and not 5-on-5).

[columbus_RHstar]

I call penalties by that but I play differently than i ref...

[columbus_RHstar]

and when i say impede i mean get in his way not slash his stick or check him...

[chandler27]

After reading every one else's responses, you'd think my league is a bunch of thugs. Basically the stick interference you're describing is fair play in our league unless you lift someone's stick above the shoulder (high sticking). Hooking a stick with a stick is fairplay even if you hook that person to the ground. Its' called a stick check. If you hook someone by the arm, it's hooking. Most of the time slight hooks are allowed unless you seriously impede someone's progress or hook them down. Interference in our league is pretty spotty at best. You may not impede a player without the puck for more than a few seconds. You're not allowed to hold or grapple or any of that fun stuff. Most of the time the ref will give you warning or two to let go before he raises his arm. On face-offs, you're allowed to block out, but only for a few seconds and some effort must be made to get the puck either with a stick or a skate. 50/50 pucks are fair game and some contact is allowed when trying to establish body position unless you blatently knock someone down. Sure, peole complain that roller hockey isn't ice hockey.... but roller hockey isn't basketball either.

[GoalieRick]

Sounds like your league is more physical than how we try to call things at my rink. I agree, roller hockey is not basketball, but the interference call is/should be very similar to the blocking/charging call in basketball. I also think it's interesting how much difference there is in how tight the rules are called at rinks around the country. I guess whatever works for your particular rink is alright as long as people are having fun and not getting busted up.

[cfb_jason2]

nm

[chandler27]

Our "house" consists of about 8 leagues. The upper leagues are a lot more physical than the lower ones. And the upper leagues are allowed to get away with a little more than the lower ones as well. Our rink is a bit smaller than most which doesn't help. But for the most part, the only thing people really complain about is if the refs are being inconsistant during a game and from game to game.