{"id":3915,"date":"2013-04-17T14:45:31","date_gmt":"2013-04-17T19:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/texasrugbyunion.com\/?p=3915"},"modified":"2015-08-19T19:05:14","modified_gmt":"2015-08-19T19:05:14","slug":"law-question-fending-to-the-face","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/texasrugbyref.com\/2013\/04\/17\/law-question-fending-to-the-face\/","title":{"rendered":"Law Question: Fending to the face"},"content":{"rendered":"

from SoCal Referees<\/a>:<\/p>\n

7 A ball carrier may hand off an opponent. Can 10.4 (e) apply?<\/p>\n

Question:<\/h3>\n

T\"\"<\/a>he attacking ball carrier is allowed to fend with an open hand to the chest or face. Is it possible to give a guideline to when a fend becomes dangerous and how a referee can identify and judge that action?<\/p>\n

Response:<\/h3>\n

The law is very clear on this:<\/p>\n

Law 7<\/strong><\/p>\n

A ball carrier may hand-off an opponent\u00a0and is clearly defined:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

Hand-off: An action taken by a ball carrier to fend off an opponent by using the palm of the hand.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Referees that penalize hand-offs to the head are making law up as they go along and should stop doing so. You are illegally removing a key skill from the game.<\/p>\n

There is a very clear and easy distinction:<\/p>\n

The hand that goes to the face and holds the opponent at arms length or pushes them away is NOT illegal.<\/p>\n

Perfect example:<\/p>\n