Face-off clarification

Comments about this discussion:

Started 14 Mar 20:11

In the previous rulebook, we had the discussion about clarifying where the players need to be when executing a face-off. I would like to reopen this discussion and you can find it here: https://iuf-rulebook-2022.committees.unicycling-software.com/discussions/26

This topic was also discussed in-person at EUHC2023 with the following conclusions:

We agreed that we have to specify where the players have to be when executing a face off. More specifically, the unicycle and stick should be behind (in direction of play) an imaginary line drawn parallel to the extended goal line / middle line where the face off is executed.

However, for face offs at the corner mark we didn‘t come to a conclusion in which direction this line has to be drawn. Someone said the dividing line should be perpendicular to the extended goal line while two other members thought the line should be the extended goal line.

Another topic we very briefly touched is the height where the ball is dropped for the face off.

Comment 15 Mar 06:34

I agree this needs clarification.

The direciton for the corner is tricky. I think it has to remain extended goal line. Forcing one player to have their back directly to the sideline seems like it would make it incredibly hard for them to do anything worthwhile from the faceoff.

If the attacking player has their back to the side line they would not get much out of dragging it backwards, and the defending player would not want to drag the ball backwards into the centre of the field and their goals. 45 degrees could potentially work better. Or if perpendicular would you suggest the defender has their back tot he sideline and the attacker would be dragging the ball across the field?

I think the faceoff is supposed to be neutral, I believe if either player is in the position where they would be dragging the ball back across the field towards the goal, it would would make the faceoff quiet uneven for one of the two teams.

Comment 19 Mar 04:13

OK, a tree for clarification:

a face-off has to be executed minimum 2 m from sideline
the referee points on the floor where he will execute the face-off
in the defending half of the field the defending player has the first choise where he likes to stand, therefore the attacking player has to stand vis-a-vis
if the second referee executes the face-off the referees have to take care that the thirst referee can see once the ball touchs the floor (no rule change!)

advantages: more room for all, nothing with parallel to ....

Comment 21 Mar 09:09

I feel we should probably keep it with attackers facing forward in the direction they are riding to score and defenders with their back facing backwards towards their goal line

I think we should include the sticks being behind imaginary line.

Comment 22 Mar 12:28

"I think we should include the sticks being behind imaginary line." Please clarify, I have no idea what is your idea.

Comment 22 Mar 20:53

The unicycle and stick should be behind (in direction of play) an imaginary line drawn parallel to the extended goal line / middle line where the face off is executed.

The imaginary line is a line perpendicular to the length of the court where the ball is dropped. Essentially players cannot move their sticks in front of the ball until it touches the ground

Comment 23 Mar 05:39

Now You like to draw imaginary line parallel to existing lines to prevent what? I do not care where the sticks are, ("Essentially players cannot move their sticks in front of the ball until it touches the ground") I do not know how the players want to hit the ball by forehand or by backhand. So what, I need only the space to drop the ball on the floor.

Comment 23 Mar 09:20

Well if we are starting the game players cannot cross over until the ball hits the ground. Are sticks being over the other side acceptable even if players can't. Can the players put their sticks 1.5m over the middle line as long as their wheel is on their side?

I think based on the starting of the game rules, we should have a rule of where sticks can be in the Faceoff to bring some continuity to the situation. If you say you don't care then all stocks can be on opposition sides at the start.

If we have a rule for the start I think it should be consistent with other face offs

Comment 23 Mar 09:20

What is the downside of continuity in this rule?

Comment 23 Mar 11:46

I would keep it everywhere as parallel to the extended goal line / middle line.

I'm not sure we need that the sticks need to be behind an imaginary line, but I also don't mind if we include it. However, I think this should only be the case until the referee drops the ball and afterwards players should be able to cross the line while the ball is falling.

Comment 24 Mar 04:28

Sticks should be kept on each players side (like the player and it's unicycle itself) until the ball touches the ground.

Ciao Ole

Comment 24 Mar 11:36

a modified try for clarification:

a face-off has to be executed minimum 2 m from sideline
the referee points on the floor where he will execute the face-off
in the defending half of the field the defending player has the first choise where he likes to stand still stabilized by his stick touching the floor, therefore the attacking player has to stand still stabilized by his stick touching the floor vis-a-vis
afterwards the referee drops the ball
after the ball hits the floor the referee restarts the game with wistle blow
after wistle blow the players are allowed to move and play the ball

If using "first choise of position" there would be no need for any line. For me it would be more importend that riders and sticks are not moving prior ball touches floor.

Comment 24 Mar 14:59

I think it would be better if you whistle at the same time as you drop the ball out of your hand. It makes it more difficult if you whistle first when the ball touches the ground.

Comment 24 Mar 15:53

You are right this is rule anyway: "Play starts when the ball touches the ground as signalled by the referees whistle." My fault.

Comment 25 Mar 16:37

Okay, I have trie to put that into the rule with the liberty of some adaptations

I haven't included

the referee pointing at the location of execution
the very specific order after the referee drops the ball

because I think this makes it unnecessary complicated, very hard for the referees to enforce and unnatural to play (waiting to move until the ball touches the floor).

Please provide specific suggestion if you feel adaptations are necessary.

14B.9.4 Face-off

To resume the game without penalizing one of the teams, a face-off can be used. ~~For the face-off, the referee drops the ball between two opposing players. The ball should be dropped from below hip height of players in the vicinity.~~ One player from each team may take part in the face-off with all other players' unicycles and sticks at a distance of at least 2 m from the ball. The players participating in the face-off shall position themselves with blades of their sticks on the floor and on the side of the line parallel to the center line and going through the point of the face-off that is closer to their ground line. For the face-off, the referee drops the ball between two opposing players. The ball should be dropped from below hip height of players in the vicinity. Play starts when the ball touches the ground as signalled by the referees whistle. A face-off during the game is executed where the ball was when the game was interrupted but at least 2m from the side line. Exception: Within the goal area, the face-off is executed at the closest corner mark.

(Sentences that I moved are marked differently)

Comment 28 Mar 20:02

14B.9.4 Face-off

To resume the game without penalizing one of the teams, a face-off can be used. One player from each team may take part in the face-off with all other players' unicycles and sticks at a distance of at least 2 m from the ball. In a face-off, each player must begin with the blade of their stick on the floor on the side of the face-off point nearest their own goal. This side is determined by a line through the face-off point that runs parallel to the center line. For the face-off, the referee drops the ball between two opposing players. The ball should be dropped from below hip height of players in the vicinity. Play starts when the ball touches the ground as signalled by the referees whistle. A face-off during the game is executed where the ball was when the game was interrupted but at least 2m from the side line. Exception: Within the goal area, the face-off is executed at the closest corner mark.

Comment 29 Mar 03:39

If this sections should be changed I would prefer to change the order of the sentences as well: "Why - where - how" to execute a face-off.

14B.9.4 Face-off

To resume the game without penalizing one of the teams, a face-off can be used.

A face-off during the game is executed where the ball was when the game was interrupted Exceptions: ~~but~~ At least 2m from the side line. Within the goal area, the face-off is executed at the closest corner mark.

One player from each team may take part in the face-off with all other players' unicycles and sticks at a distance of at least 2 m from the ball. In a face-off, each player must begin with the blade of their stick on the floor on the side of the face-off point nearest their own goal. This side is determined by a line through the face-off point that runs parallel to the center line. For the face-off, the referee drops the ball between two opposing players. The ball should be dropped from below hip height of players in the vicinity. Play starts when the ball touches the ground as signalled by the referees whistle.