One rule that has always annoyed me is when the ref blows their whistle when someone is simply guarding on the perimeter. When they come in hot and obviously foul the player…fine…but if they are simply playing good defense? Why do they love blowing that whistle on the perimeter? What is the actual rule?
There are lots of rules in play there. A general rule of thumb is that if the player has ball-in-hand there shouldn’t be a foul unless it’s overly aggressive.
But if the ball is not in hand, it is not unordinary (though frustrating) for a ref to call a quick foul for a reason as simple as wanting to be more attentive to another area of action.
1 Like
The one that really annoys me, is when two players are swimming side by side on a counter, and the one that is half a body length ahead, takes a 45 deg turn right in front of the other, to cut them off, so that the other player swims over them and gets called for an exclusion. Usually the weaker swimmer will do this because they can tell the other swimmer is going to pass them.
Or it’s a strategic move to force the kid wider, stay in front of them and have more space to drive to the post while keeping the defender behind them. If there isn’t a counter advantage the lead swimmer will often slow their pace to prevent the defender from being able to get back and double team the set etc. A lot of kids could have a larger impact on the game if they understood how to vary their counter swimming.
2 Likes
In NCAAW last few years I saw that called a contra multiple times - which is insane! If I get up on a counter you have to go vertical if I cut off. Even if I initiate contact by cut off you don’t get to keep swimming over the top of me and get a contra call. Btw those contras lead to goals 90% of the time bc everyone is swimming the opposite direction.
Yeah but that’s… just good offense…
Swimming in straight lines is not water polo. Water polo is dynamic and multi-dimensional..
If I dive underwater to draw the ejection that’s a clear contra-foul.. You cannot go underwater to gain an advantage position. However, if I cut you off on offense and you swim over me that’s on you. You could’ve swam around me.
It’s also how most officials are taught to officiate: Good Offense > Good Defense > Bad Offense > Bad Defense.
2 Likes
Would be lovely if refs called contra or just no-call on Bluetooth fouls like swimming under on a counter.