Attacking Team. Players of the attacking team are not to obstruct defending players from attempting to effect a touch. A player in possession must not run or otherwise move behind the referee or other players in the attacking team in an attempt to avoid a touch.
Obstruction here is defined as a deliberate attempt by an attacking player to gain an unfair advantage by preventing a defending player from effecting a touch.
RULING - A penalty awarded to the defending team at the mark where the infringement occurred.
Defending Team. Players in the defending team are not to obstruct or otherwise interfere with the attacking players supporting the player in possession.
RULING - A penalty awarded to the non-offending team at the mark of the infringement providing the stoppage is not to the disadvantage of the attacking team.
A player supporting the player in possession is entitled to run as necessary to obtain the best supporting position. However, in moving to a supporting position, attacking players must not deliberately interfere with defending players.
Referees should note any changes in the line of support adopted by attacking players. If the player in possession notices an obstruction by a team mate, the player may stop and wait to be touched without being penalised.
Accepted sub-unit skills such as wraps or run-arounds do not constitute an obstruction.
If a player in possession or a defender runs into the referee or the referee runs into either of the players, "play on" should result if there is no advantage either way. However, if the incident has an effect on the proceedings, a Rollball should be called with no effect to the touch count.
An attacking player runs behind one of their team mates and impedes a defender. He/She realises the error and immediately stops to allow a defender to effect a touch on him/her.
Touch counts. No obstruction no team has gained an unfair advantage.
A defending player after effecting a touch, attempts to retire, but has the player in possession run at him along the same retiring path, hoping to solicit a penalty for offside, or gain an advantage by having the referee call "play on". Is the defender entitled to retire in any direction from the Rollball area?
A defender can retire in any direction after effecting a touch, but once they change their line of direction, whether they interfere passively or not, they are still subject to a penalty if they are within the area between the Rollball and the five metre line.
A defending player, attempting to retire, without interfering in the play, has the player in possession running at him and is penalised for not retiring quickly enough. Is such a decision correct?
Each such circumstance is different depending on the perception of the referee as to the defender"s intentions and actions. A defender should not be penalised for not retiring at a fast speed, however they must retire immediately, not change their line of direction until they have reached the five metre mark, and passive or any other interference is subject to a penalty.
A player takes a quick tap following the awarding of the penalty and the indication by the referee of the mark. An offside defending player, with their back to the player in possession, obstructs an onside defender from getting to the ball carrier to effect a touch. The defender appeals to the referee that the attacking player used the offside defender as an obstruction.
According to paragraph one of Rule 14.1 the attacking player can only be penalised for obstruction if another team mate from the attacking team aids in preventing the player in possession from being touched. Paragraph two of Rule 14.1 must only be read in conjunction with paragraph one, which specifically refers to attacking team players.
Offside defenders should never be penalised if they have their backs turned to the team in possession, provided they are physically retiring. As to the onside defender who claimed the obstruction, the referee would simply call "play on".
The player in possession uses an offside retiring defender as a "shield" preventing him from being touched by another defending player. Is such action deemed to be an obstruction?
The referee cannot interpret this action as an obstruction, as only an attacking player can obstruct the player in possession.
N.B. If such actions were allowed, the defending team would constantly claim obstruction and consequently receive possession as the result of the deliberate action by one of their offside players.