Obstruction
Illegally impeding an opponent's movement or progress, typically by getting in the way rather than fairly playing the ball.
Definition
Obstruction covers situations where a player blocks or shields an opponent instead of making a genuine attempt to play the ball. The essence is impeding movement — stepping into a running lane, standing between an opponent and the play, or shielding the ball while not within playing distance of it.
The term is applied differently across sports. In field hockey, obstruction — including third-party or 'shadow' obstruction — is a core offence because players may not use the body or stick to shield the ball from an opponent. In football (soccer) the modern law speaks of 'impeding the progress of an opponent,' and in cricket a batter can be dismissed for 'obstructing the field.'
Meaning by sport
This term is used differently across sports:
- Field Hockey
- Using the body or stick to shield the ball from an opponent, including third-party obstruction.
- Football
- Impeding the progress of an opponent when not within playing distance of the ball.
- Cricket
- 'Obstructing the field,' a form of dismissal for wilfully interfering with the fielding side.
Where you’ll hear “obstruction”
Sports that use this term:
Field Hockey
An outdoor team sport that uses curved sticks to move a ball, built on agility and teamwork.
Football
The world’s most popular team sport — endless running, teamwork and community in one game.
Cricket
A bat-and-ball team sport where sides take turns to bat and to bowl and field, scoring runs.
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Obstruction to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Rules
- Ball-handling faultsVolleyball faults for catching, carrying or double-contacting the ball rather than cleanly hitting it.
- TravelingA basketball violation for moving illegally with the ball without dribbling it.
- Out of boundsThe rule that a ball or player leaving the marked playing area is out of play and possession is decided at the boundary.
- Double dribbleA basketball violation for dribbling with two hands at once, or for dribbling again after picking up the ball.
- GoaltendingA basketball violation for interfering with a shot while the ball is on its downward path to the basket or above the rim.
Playing surfaces
- WaterThe medium for aquatic sport — pool or open water that supports the body with buoyancy and resists movement with drag rather than giving footing.
- ClayA soft, granular racquet-sport surface of crushed brick, stone or shale that slows the ball, gives a high bounce and lets players slide into shots.
Sports communication
- Signalling availabilityShowing a teammate you are open and ready to receive — often through movement, body position or a gesture rather than a shout.
- Post-match reflectionLooking back after play — as an individual or a group — to notice what happened and what to work on, calmly rather than in the heat of the moment.
Officiating
- Out-of-Bounds CallAn official's ruling that the ball or a player in possession has left the legal playing area, stopping play and handing a restart or possession to the opponent.
- JudgeA judge is an official who scores performance in judged sports, awarding marks for execution and difficulty rather than counting goals or timing a race.
Decision making
- When to keep possessionJudging when to hold and recycle the ball rather than force a forward option — choosing patience and control over immediate progress.
- Adapting to conditionsAdjusting your decisions as the conditions around you change — weather, surface, equipment, fatigue or an opponent's style.
- Positioning choicesDeciding where to place yourself — often before the ball arrives — to cover space, stay ready to act and shape what an opponent can do.