Giving advantage is good – but not always
by Christer Ahl (IHF/PRC President)

Being able to anticipate the next move in a situation, so that there is no unnecessary whistle, is a matter of prestige for a top referee. We want to avoid interruptions in the game, and especially we want to avoid a whistle that takes away a good scoring opportunity.

It is necessary to understand that a strong player often can pass the ball, perhaps to someone who his alone at the 6-meter line, even if the player is being hold or pushed. In such situations, it is really frustrating if a whistle signal comes when the ball is already on its way to a teammate.

O course, giving advantage is not possible if the foul forces the player with the ball to take too many steps or to displace another defender. Then the game must be interrupted quickly, especially to avoid an escalation of fouls. Similary if a player is foul in a typical “free-throw situation” it is not correct to let the momentum of the player tend another body-contact and a more complicated situation at the 6-meter line.

Also when a player is trying to score at the 6-meter line, it is tempting to allow a goal, even if the player was in fact touching the floor in the goal area before releasing the ball. In such cases it is instead necessary to disallow the goal and award a 7-meter throw.

The series of picture shows a very good example for giving advantage during a counterattack situation.

 

1. The spanish team starts a counterattack in the second wave. The spanish player without the ball in the middle of the field tries to start into the free area on the right side. The swedish defender holds this player from behind.

 

2. The referees don´t interrupted this attractive counterattack situation and gave advantage ! But: the field referee showed a handsign into the direction of this swedish player (No. 5) while he is running to the other side. This means: This player must be punished after the next interruption! A very good noverbal communication between both referees !

3. The spanish left back starts immediatly a one-on-one action.

 

4. Pass from the left back to the centre back but one Swedish player is pushing the attacker while he is jumping.

 

5. Foul from the swedisch player (no. 17). The referees whisled free throw.

 

6. Direct after whistling the referees punished the swedish player No. 5 who tried to destroyed the opponent`s counterattack right at the beginning. Here the referees showed in averv good way, that they understand the tactics of the game.