Referee Hand Signs
Comments about this discussion:
Started
Two years ago we introduced three new referee hand signs (look at https://iuf-rulebook-2016.committees.unicycling-software.com/discussions/45). I think these referee hand signs are an added value for our sport. The communication between the referees and also from the referees to the timer and secretary as well as to the spectators is better with these hand signs. I did really use the new hand signs.
Therefore I'd like to introduce one or two more hand signs. I know more hand signs is more difficult for the referees, but i think hand signs are not difficult to remember and they really can be used.
I want to introduce a hand sign for slashing (the same as in ice hockey). If you all do agree to introduce more hand sings we also could introduce a hand sign for unsporting behavior.
Comment
I think we can do a lot more getting better refs than adding more hand signs. I'm going to organize a tournament in April I already need to hustle now to get 3-4 refs (who'll ref all games) and make sure we're all on the same page with regards to the rules. The players also rarely know all the hand signs so typically the ref needs to explain what was wrong anyways.
Further it's worth pointing out ice hockey is much more violent than unicycle hockey with fights frequently breaking out on the ice. If I saw someone swing their stick at an opponent I would stop the game and send them off the field for unsporting behavior. Having a new handsign to remember for a situation that may or may not come up will not make it easier for the refs to communicate to the players or each other.
Comment
A referee who doesn't lead a game the first time and players who play games in competition from time to time will know the referee hand signs fast. For them it is not an issue to have one additional hand sign.
Maybe "slashing" is the wrong word. The hand sign for slashing would not be for such violent things like in ice hockey. We have the rule that it's slashing when the stick of the opponent is raised to a high stick. I think this takes place every few games or even more often. Also the rules state that "The players must take care not to hit an opponent with their stick, ...". If this takes place a referee could show the hand sing for slashing.
If we have bad referees having one hand sing less doesn't change anything! I totally agree that we have to get better referees but this is another discussion (which could be opened). Don't mess up having bad referees and improving the rules.
Comment
We don't really know or use the hand signs much in Denmark so a lot of people would just be confused about this. At unicon it also didn't matter much with the hand signs since lots of other teams didn't know them too and it had to be explained.
Anyways, compared to ice hockey unicycle hockey players are sitting much more upright and so the main rule to keep in mind is high sticking. It happens every now and again, especially with new players and most teams are looking out for it. We also have rules for SUB and SIB so I personally don't think there's many situations that are not accounted for with stick movements.
As for unsporting behavior I think it's a catch all offense where the ref will need to make sure to call everyone together and explain why the ruling is as it is. If a particular avenue of unsporting behavior became very common we would make a specific rule (and handsigns) against it. As I understand the rule unsporting behavior it can really include anything that's clearly distracting to the game or the other team, even if it's not explicitly mentioned in the rules. I don't think I've ever seen a ref invoke the rule, even if it may have been a minor factor in deciding if a particular advantage should be played.
Comment
We have the rule that it's slashing when the stick of the opponent is raised to a high stick.
I still rule this as a high stick Nicolai and use the high stick hand signal. What changes is who is penalised as it is a high stick against the person who hit the stick up.
Magnus you will be amazed how easy it is to remember the signals when a referee uses the signals while yelling the infringement. If I yell HIGH STICK and hold my hands overhead in the air after like 2 instances most people realise that is high stick.
My guess is you don't know the hand signs much in Denmark because you don't use them much in Denmark. Use them for 3 months and everyone will understand them. The benefit of hand signals is we have players who don't all speak the same language, if they understood the signal it wouldn't matter what language we spoke when calling the infringement.
We have 13 hand signals. From my brief google ice hockey have 36 signals. We are very far away from that.
Also for the majority of our hand signals I think they are standard signals that do help the reffing make more sense, (goal, no goal, advantage, time out, penalty box for 2 mins, penalty box for 5 mins).
I cant imagine how it would screw up the game if we didn't have signals for goal and advantage. The signals are things like high stick, sub/sib, obstruction, face off etc etc.
If we have bad referees having one hand sing less doesn't change anything! I totally agree that we have to get better referees but this is another discussion (which could be opened). Don't mess up having bad referees and improving the rules.
I agree with this, learning the hand signals was soooooooo easy as almost every one of them is intuitive to the penalty that occurred.
Having less hand signals will not fix the issue that our referees are bad.
I do think I will make a point in our next season to increase the hand signals used by referees in our competitions.
Comment
"I still rule this as a high stick Nicolai and use the high stick hand signal. What changes is who is penalised as it is a high stick against the person who hit the stick up." - I agree with this.
However, I think we could have a hand sign in this case - "Also the rules state that "The players must take care not to hit an opponent with their stick, ...". If this takes place a referee could show the hand sing for slashing."
I'd like to also suggest we have hand signs for:
- Hooking
- Insults
- Delay of Game
The flow of 14C.2.7 Referee Hand Signs should also flow the same as the 'situations' occur in the rulebook. To me, this is more logical. Could we adjust them to:
- Goal
- No Goal
- No Foul
- Free Shot
- 6.5m
- Face-off
- Penalty box for 2 minutes
- Penalty box for 5 minutes
- Time out
- Obstacle
- Body Contact
- SIB and SUB
- High Stick
(if you don't consider the brief mention of rules in 14A.2 Rider Summary)
However, a few of us mentioned the flow of the rulebook here https://iuf-rulebook-2018.committees.unicycling-software.com/discussions/35 , which of course could change this.
Comment
Summary:
Suggestion about introduction of hand signs
Proposed possible hand signs
Slashing (Alternate name needed): Raising opponents stick to high stick. "The players must take care not to hit an opponent with their stick, ...". If this takes place a referee could show the hand sing for slashing.
Hooking
Insults
Delay of Game
Comment
I have no issue with introduction of hand signs.
Currently I rule hitting someones stick high as a high stick so I am not sure if a different signal is needed for that or not. Also with players hitting an opponent with their stick I would rule as contact as they made contact with the player or unicycle with their stick.
Hooking I could see a hand signal for.
Insults and delay of game I wouldn't bother as due to the rare nature of these fouls being called it requires the referee to learn a sign for maybe one use in 150 games. In 4 years I have never penalised someone for insults and I have never penalised someone for delay of game so far. I have given warnings for backchat or told teams to hurry up but never has anything been close to a penalty.
Comment
After internal discussions this weekend nobody lifted his arm for more hand signs. If a referee decision maybe unclear the referee should request a time stop and he should oral explain his decision. We are/ I am happy with the numbers of existing hand sighs. Therefore from me no vote for more hand signs whatever.