New Corner Signal

[Irishpolo]

What do people think about the new corner signal? Should the old one be re-instated?

[Stuart Midgley]

Hi All

I quite like the new signal, it makes sense and I think simplifies refereeing a bit. Just one less then for people to learn.

Stu.

[Poloboy]

I haven't played in a proper competition with the new rules so I don't know yet but I can imagine there would be some confusion if the ball went out close to the sideline/corner. How would a player tell the diff. if they didn't see the ball go out? Corners are supposed to be taken with your body in the corner so if you thought it was a sideline you could get called for it...

[IrishPolo]

I think the old corner signal should be changed. It could easily be confused with the sideline signal. At least the players knew for definate that the two hands pointed over the head was a corner. What I am starting to see is that players are going to take sidelines when the signal is given.

[IrishPolo]

Sorry my last reply sound confusing. The old coner signal should be re-instated

[tcrees]

(Roughly cross-posted from message board)

My reasons for not liking the new signal are:
1. As a ref, it's harder to make the compound decision that a defender touched it last, therefore I need to point in THIS direction, than to realise a defender touched it last and automatically raise your hands above your head.
2. As a player, many refs (including me when I was reffing) made the mistake of pointing the wrong direction, even though they fully intended to award a corner - this might be partially due to unfamiliarity with the new signal, but bear in mind that it's a common mistake with regular side-line throws too.
3. As a ref NOT on the goal line, do I point at the corner (i.e my arms are at an acute angle) or straight down at the sideline where I happend to be standing? The former is awkward, the latter is misleading.
4. Rule 24.2.2 states that "The player taking the throw must position their body in the corner of the playing area." so there needs to be a real distinction between a corner throw and a side-line throw.


I vote for re-instating the old (rooftop style) signal.

[Jeff Cottrell]

The comments made about the player being confussed as to whether the signal is a corner or a side line throw prompts me to ask the quextion: Is there an advantange to the attacking teams or disadvantage to the defending team if the corner is taken from further down the side line rather than exactly in the corner?
If there is no advantage then it does not matter if the restart is not taken exactly in the corner just that it is taken from the side of the field. The referee would then have the same discression as he has with a side line throw in ensureing it is taken approximately where the ball went out.
Most of the problems I have found with corners is the player trying to take the throw from along the end line and this new signal would simplify the player having to understand that they must go to the side line to restart the play. When signaling a sideline throw I normally point to the spot I want the restart to occur as I give the player the ball (Given we mainly play in pools and so the ball is on the pool deck and has to be passed back to the player).
Interestly the Goal Line restart signal follows the same logic as my right hand is pointing to the centre of the field on the end line showing the player from where I want them to take the throw. Therefore all the restarts where the ball has left the field of play now indicate with one hand where the point of re-entry should be.

[roo]

Played this weekend to the new rules. Only a few minor misunderstandings but generally there is an improvement to the game.

The new corner signal works really well. It's just tricky for the old refs to get the right signal. Once you've reffed and played a few games it all falls into place.

There may be some advantage to an attacking team by not playing right from the corner, but I would suggest it isn't significant.

People aren't clear on the new goalie status and associated issues, which I feel is far more important than worrying about the corner signal.

Some other pals thought it would be more fun to make ALL penalties against a goalie!!

roo

[Andy]

I certainly think it would be good to take all penalties against a goalie, for one reason: when a penalty is awarded it is normally for a foul on a player in the act of or preparing to shoot. The chance of that player scoring is the chance of the attacking player beating the defending goalie *before* the foul was committed. By then taking the penalty WITH the goalie what you are in fact doing is redressing the balance to approximately what it was before the foul disrupted play (In real life the attacker probably has more chance of scoring than before, and so there is still some punishment for committing the foul). Penalties are currently too easy, and reduce the spectacle of the game somewhat. Please bear in mind, however, that I am primarily a goalie - and hence very biased on this subject.

http://www.canoepolo.co.uk

[roo]

If all penalties were against a goalie there is one situation where a penalty will be awarded and be a disadvantage to the attacker.

Assume the attack are breaking to an open goal, a defender within reach has the opportunity to perform a "professional foul" on what would otherwise be essentially an open goal.

Thus during game play penalties should probably remain an open goal to discourage dangerous but perfectly reasonable (not acceptable) game winning play. Assuming you play to win!!

roo

[TheMasterG]

What signal do the goal-line judges give now if it's a corner? There was a definite distinction between old corner signal and goal-line throw, now I think there could be confusion between refs and goal-line judges???

[conor]

In the major inter-continenial comps, ie Worlds and Europeans, line-judges ususlly have two different coloured flags. A corner is signalled by holding one of them vertically in the air and a goal line throw is signalled by holding the other flag parallel to the goal line at waist height(ie pointing towards the goal from where the line-judge is standing). It is up to the ref to give the relevant signal.

I know this won't be the case at many comps as line-judges are normally absent. In the case of there being line judges they should hold out / up their hands in the same manner as above.

[clyde]

Conor is right in the use of Green and Red flags, but in practice, it wouldn't go a miss for the line judges to simply pint in the direction of play.
Nice and simple !!!