Offensive Kicking?

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by Adam

The committee has stated, clearly, that the intent of the rule is to make players play the ball with their hands. This isn't soccer.

And in both sports, it's only an infraction when it's done DELIBERATELY. There are a lot of parellels between both sports in this area.

For example, in basketball, if A-1 looks to pass the ball past B-2, B-2 jumps, and the pass hits the ball in his leg, we generally have a kicking violation here. The leg motion may not be toward the ball, but the defender has, in essence, made himself bigger, and caused the kicking act. The same goes in soccer: if a defender puts his arms out to stop a pass ("making himself bigger"), it's a handling foul.

Another parallel: People will incorrectly cry for an whistle immediately when a basketball touches a foot or a soccer ball touches a hand.

To the OP's point, the most common "offensive" kicking violation I see is the rare instance when loose ball that a player tries to secure on the floor, between his thighs.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by bainsey

For example, in basketball, if A-1 looks to pass the ball past B-2, B-2 jumps, and the pass hits the ball in his leg, we generally have a kicking violation here. The leg motion may not be toward the ball, but the defender has, in essence, made himself bigger, and caused the kicking act.

I'd only agree with that IF, by jumping, you mean that the player stuck a leg out to the side while jumping...which is not a natural part of the jumping movement. Jumping up alone with not be a kick in my games.

To me, it isn't about the leg moving toward the ball but moving or being into the path of the ball such that it is not a natural part some other movement (e.g., running, shifting, etc.).

[constable]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

Sometimes, during a loose ball and/or scrum, I observe a kick. Intentional? Not sure, but when the leg is in the air and the ball very obviously and noisily caroms in some random direction, it's hard not to put air in the whistle.

Then I notice the "kicker" was from the team in control. So we're going the other way, and I get a few incredulous looks from the bench. Like they didn't think it was possible for the offense to commit a kicking violation.

In truth, I admit it doesn't feel normal to call this violation on the team in control. Like it's not the intent of the rule. Anyone else ever experience this conundrum?

Wrong. The intent of the rule is thou shall not intentionally kick. It makes no difference whether it is offense or defence.

[Kelvin green]

Wasn't their an interpretation where pinning the ball between feet and legs constituted a kick? Because you don't use feet or legs to control the ball? ...

[#olderthanilook]

I've seen it and called it many times. Especially in lower level ball i.e. men's wreck league.