Hi Folks, and before I get the comments, no - the title doesn't mean what you do to Referees who's calls you dislike! :-)

I'd be very interested in people's opinions on the following:

If you have been playing for a while, especially at a high level, I suspect that at some stage most of you will have had someone swerve (or dummy, or feint, or whatever you want to call it) past you with the puck guided against their outstretched forefinger.

If you look at rule 14.1.2 - vol 2: "Only the “playing area of the stick” may be used to move the puck. The “playing area” is that area of the stick which is not covered by the player’s hand when the stick is gripped in a natural manner excluding any part of the stick which extends past the protected little finger";

Because of this rule, when seen, this action has traditionally been called as an infringement (advancing the puck with something other than the stick). Having said that - it's REALLY hard to see most of the time unless you are in exactly the right position (looking down the line of the stick, or having it done to you as an opposing player!).

Further to the above, while refereeing at the Australian Nationals recently, and pulling up lots of people for this (sorry Sophia!), plus watching a very good Barbarians vs Australian Open squad game (no refs), it was quite striking how well the people who were doing this managed to avoid getting 'beaten up', compared with the people who didn't. It really did allow players to get away from the melee that forms when the defender does 'intercept' them. This was particularly noticeable in the BaBa's vs Aust game as there were no refs so players knew they could get away with it!!! :-)

What I was wondering is what people think of the idea of legalising playing with an extended forefinger to facilitate more open play!? Revolutionary, I know, but I personally think we do need some way of trying to open play up more, and this might go part of the way towards doing it? Alternatives would to go to deeper water, or 5 players per side!? :-) Both of which I've suggested before!

Downsides: More broken fingers? Can't think of many others, except that it detracts from the ability of the people who HAVE worked to develop a really good swerve (which would be as good a reason as any not to do it perhaps?). Having said that - many (though not all) of the people regarded as having great swerves actually do this most of the time! :-)

Comments welcome. I have no position on this (apart from as someone who probably calls it up more than most people!). Am genuinely interested in everyone's comments.

Cheers,

Simon