Proposal 112: Guidelines for Awarding the 6.5 m Penalty [ Revision 1 ]
Committee: 14. HockeySubmitted on 2025-07-20
Status: Set-Aside (Reviewed from July 20, 2025 to July 28, 2025)
Background
Malte Voelkel:
I would like to start a discussion on when a 6.5 m penalty should be given. In the German league, this is currently applied very inconsistently. Some referees rarely, if ever, award it, while others give it quite frequently (I would count myself among the latter). The vague wording in the international rulebook under section 14B.9.2 states:
“If legal play would have led to a direct chance to score a goal, a 6.5 m is given. An attacking player is fouled in the opposition goal area while in a strong position to score. An attacking player is fouled when moving towards the opposition goal with a single opponent in front.”
I find this very unclear, and even the two listed examples don’t really help to address the many grey areas.
Proposal
Old:
14.B.9.2 6.5 m Penalty
If legal play would have led to a direct chance to score a goal, a "6.5 m" is given. The following situations are a prevention of a direct chance to score and should be punished with a 6.5 m penalty:
• An attacking player is fouled in the opposition goal area while in a strong position to score.
• An attacking player is fouled when moving towards the opposition goal with a single opponent in front.
The ball is placed at the 6.5 m mark. A player of the defending team goes to the goal and must sit with the bottom of the wheel of their unicycle within 0.5 m of the goal line. The other team chooses a player to shoot the 6.5 m. All other players must leave the goal area. After the referee's whistle the goalkeeper must ride the unicycle freely and not rest on the goal. The 6.5 m is direct. The player executing the 6.5 m may only touch the ball once. The ball shall be hit with the stick, not dragged, flicked or lifted on the stick. If no goal is scored, play continues as soon as the ball touches the post, the keeper touches the ball or the ball crosses the extended goal line. A 6.5 m awarded at the end of, or after a time period has ended, is still executed but play does not continue after an unsuccessful shot.
New:
14.B.9.2 6.5 m Penalty
If legal play would have led to a direct chance to score a goal, a "6.5 m" is given.
The following situations are a prevention of a direct chance to score and should be punished with a 6.5 m penalty:
A 6.5 m penalty should be given in the following and similar situations:
- An attacking player is fouled in the opposition goal area while in a strong position to score.
- An attacking player is fouled
whenwhile moving towards the opposition goal with a single opponent in front. - If an attacker’s shot is illegally blocked (e.g., by a defender who is not riding their unicycle), while the ball was travelling directly toward the goal, even if a goalkeeper was still in position.
- If the last defender commits a fouls during an attacker's shot attempt, even if a goalkeeper was still in position. It must be assumed that the attacker would have had a promising shot on the goal.
- If a goalkeeper fouls the attacker during a shot attempt, and it is assumed that the attacker would have had a promising shot on the goal.
The ball is placed at the 6.5 m mark. A player of the defending team goes to the goal and must sit with the bottom of the wheel of their unicycle within 0.5 m of the goal line. The other team chooses a player to shoot the 6.5 m. All other players must leave the goal area. After the referee's whistle the goalkeeper must ride the unicycle freely and not rest on the goal. The 6.5 m is direct. The player executing the 6.5 m may only touch the ball once. The ball shall be hit with the stick, not dragged, flicked or lifted on the stick. If no goal is scored, play continues as soon as the ball touches the post, the keeper touches the ball or the ball crosses the extended goal line. At this moment, the executing player may play the ball again. A 6.5 m awarded at the end of, or after a time period has ended, is still executed but play does not continue after an unsuccessful shot.
Body
Benjamin Fischer:
The current wording of 14B.9.2 leads to inconsistent interpretations. This is not due to the rule's underlying intention, but rather to the fact that it only lists two specific scenarios—without clarifying whether this list is exhaustive.
Herbie Herrmann:
The 6.5 m penalty is the most complicate rule with vague wording. This rule does't say "examples"...
References
This proposal refers to the discussion: "Guidelines for Awarding the 6.5 m Penalty" https://iuf-rulebook-2025.committees.unicycling-software.com/discussions/142