Quote: Shifty Cat "I've watched just about every game this season, our own and those on SKY and a ton last season and it seems that in our game that the majority of players don't play the ball correctly (i'd say something like 8 out of every 10 as a guesstimate), as in they place the ball on the floor and use their foot to roll it back.
It seems to me there are 2 ways that most players use nowadays and that's the roll it between their legs technique, or lift their leg up and roll it underneath it without the ball touching the foot.
I'd have thought if the refs really thought it was a real problem, they'd have spoken to the teams at the start of the year and then punish every player who doesn't do it the proper way but I suppose they'd be about 50 penalties a match for quite a while. it's something that's gradually crept more and more into the game the past decade or so.
Personally though, I don't have much of a problem with it, as long as the player has gained his feet and plays it post to post.
The one thing that does get on my nerves, that players have taken advantage of because refs have not been punishing it as much as they did say 5 seasons ago, is the second markers at the PTB not standing square. Second markers seem to think as long as they have hold of the shirt of the marker they can stand where they want, which is an obvious penalty but refs just hardly penalise it, just one or two if your lucky/unlucky a match. Compared to the PTB issue, imo the second marker not standing in line is far more benefitial for the defendig side.'"
I think the rules are that they have to show they’ve made an effort to play the with their foot, it doesn’t actually have to make contact with it. So a player who lifts their foot up and motions would be fine, but some who just rolls it between their legs with no real attempt would be penalised. That’s roughly what Stuart Cummins said. Personally I’d penalise everyone who doesn’t play it correctly, and with in a couple of weeks I reckon the problem would be solved. Kids are taught it from a young age, it’s nothing new.