What else should you do? Just let them keep going forward with the ball?
checking & pinning
Edit:
Surprised there wasn't already a checking/pinning thread given all the tangent posts about it in other threads.
My original question has been answered, I guess do as you will with this thread.
edited oq;
at a friendlies this past weekend, there was some pretty heavy contact, and questionable plays regarding checking into the boards. the main scenario of pinning x player to the wall and then laying a check to take x player out while going near full speed, thus leaving x player with no outs as far as footdowns and/or avoidance.
this call brought out a small discussion at the friendlies, with the vague resolution that it was a dick move and that you can't both pin and check at the same time.
but what is the national consensus? is this an illegal move?
point was not to take ball but take player out.
I shouldve prefaced this thread with I'm close to neutral about it, the friendly plays were amiably settled. I just want to know if this is considered bushleague, if it is then how to go about it, if it isn't then I'll start joining in.
I was surprised there wasn't a thread about checking (that I could find), and with the new espi rules, I'm curious as to what direction tournament play is going.
we haven't been playing that long, but when someone comes up the boards with the ball I will move to cut them off and force them into the wall or slow down and try to go around. if they try to force past me down the boards, i will body them and/or try to pin them so they can't move forward, leaving me in a good position to steal the ball away and maybe making them footdown. some of the most fun I've had is battling with people up against the wall (from both sides).
i say it is absolutely o.k. to pin and check at the same time. it is the offensive players responsibility to slow down/avoid the check, or face the consequences of trying to force past at speed. that said, some people don't have a internal limiter on "this action could really hurt someone". we "play others as hard as they play you" for the most part...there are some people who I play very physically and aggressive and others where I might go a whole day without making body contact. if you can explain that, or even point out examples while watching another game, to someone that is being overly aggressive and dangerous you will not at all be a prick. they might not even realize what they are doing is dangerous and if you explain it nicely (while making sure they know what's acceptable and what's not acceptable) first, then you can get more "prickish" if they keep doing the same thing.
Pining for cherri is not illegal. Feelings are natural, laws of the state do not apply.
For polo, however, pinning a player against the boards is part of the game. The checking part is tough to call. The locals/refs/officials should take responsibility to set the tone for acceptable aggressive play.
This brings back memories of Doug putting me in the chain link on Memorial Day. I was fair pissed and bruised. I even shouted at him a bit. He told me to get over it, and I did. A certain other person used to think it was fine to t-bone anyone at any time, including when the person was going down the fence/boards. Now that's a pin that should be illegal. Front wheel to frame/leg/pedal against the boards = dick move. He plays much better now.
the key here is that it *is* avoidable to not get pinned and checked up against the boards-- just use your brakes and don't go in there. you have plenty of options to not line yourself up to be taken out along the wall. if the defender's wheel is even with or ahead of yours on the check it's a great and legal play.
slamming people into the wall isn't the greatest way to bring new people into the game mind you, just like screaming 78 mile-an-hour goals through the wheels of newbies sitting in goal isn't. this isn't about the rules it sounds like, but more about how to deal with differing skill levels, dick levels, and integrating new people into what can be an extremely physical activity. each club should use their own judgement on how to balance the tougher more experienced players with the fresh meat.
the rule part comes, if you can't cut off someone's line in open court play (where also player could use brakes)- what's the difference when it comes to the walls?
where does one call begin and the other leave off?
that's the thing-- you *can* cut off ball-carriers in open court play, there is no line. just because you have ball possession does not give you an open route to the goal, any player may obstruct you so long as they don't crash into you with their front wheel, which is t-boning. skid tackles have also been deemed illegal and dangerous. that the question involves the wall doesn't distinguish it from the same play at centre court.
most clubs play with some etiquette here, yelling "watch out!" or "heads-up!" when someone can't see a cut-off coming, especially when dealing with newer players. europeans are playing with a "no-blindside-hits" rule which i think is smart and safer, but may be difficult to enforce.
when playing tournament games i have to know that every player on the other team is trying to obstruct me 100% of the time i have the ball. it's a big part of the game to keep your head up and avoid having to get up off the pavement after being expertly cut off by rory.
He is annoyingly good at that!
"skid tackles have also been deemed illegal and dangerous"
isn't this just bike on bike in most instances?
this is the best thread i've seen in months. thanks, cherri. :)
this gets crazy when the boards are 3ft high pieces of plywood and getting 'pinned' means you're going over
What is pinning? What is checking? Pinning sounds like a low speed maneuver while checking sounds like it could happen at different speeds. Advanced apologies for my ignorance.