StephenP
ArnoldNRL and Coaches Amend contentious Obstruction Rule
May 1st 2007 04:40
MEDIA RELAESE -www.NRL.com.au
NRL coaches and refereeing officials agreed to make minor changes to the contentious obstruction rulings curently blighting the game, at a specially convened phone hook up at League headquarters today.
With debate raging amongst players, officials and fans alike over the interpretation of the new rulings, Referee's coach Robert Finch called an emergency meeting between all sixteen Telstra Premiership coaches and NRL referees today in an attempt to clarify and modify the current air of confusion surrounding the amended ruling.
The conference was unanimous in declaring that the 'obstruction' rule will always be a subjective call made by the match referees, with the coaches agreeing that they must respect the judegements of the officials.
"There was genuine attempt from all parties last year to be more
prescriptive and to provide clearer guidelines about the mechanics of
what could and could not lead to an obstruction call," Referees Coach
Robert Finch said today.
"What we've agreed is that you can't try and be too prescriptive and
that coaches, players and fans have to accept that some things need to
come down to the judgment of the referee or the video referee.
"There may still be some debate in this area, but for referees the
deciding factor will be whether they believe a player who was in a
position to make a tackle was impeded."
KEY INDICATOR DEFINITION CHANGES 2007 - OBSTRUCTION
Point 1
Current interpretation:
"The ball carrier cannot run behind a decoy runner and gain an advantage
regardless of any contact between the decoy and the defence"
This interpretation has been eliminated and the current interpretation
as per the Laws of the Game will be enforced:
Section 2 Glossary -
"Obstruction is an illegal act of impeding an opponent who does not have
the ball."
Point 2
Current interpretation
"It is the responsibility of the decoy runner/s NOT to interfere with
the defending team."
This interpretation remains with the following understanding:
"Any attacking player/s who is in front of the ball must make every
endeavour not to interfere with the defending team."
All other points set out in the 2007 Key Indicators remain unchanged.
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