Lesson #25: No pack situations ============================== *by Stephen Lorimor / Axis of Stevil* `Watch this lesson on YouTube `_ Last updated: June 20, 2018 Failure to reform ----------------- - An illegal action whereby a blocker does not attempt to reform a pack - All actions to reform the pack must be done immediately - Leisurely reforming is insufficient - No penalties are issued if the pack immediately reforms - Blockers who are directed to the penalty box cannot reform the pack - Blockers in the back group must cease blocking and skate forward - Blockers in the front group must cease blocking and brake to a halt - Blockers in the front group are not required to skate clockwise, but may do so. - Blockers in a middle group (if any) may either stop or skate forward - The entire group need not perform the same action - Out of bounds blockers who can legally re-enter must do so if reentering would help to reform the pack. - Skaters in a position that prevents an opposing blocker from directly returning in bounds (i.e.; the opponent will receive a cut if they reenter) must skate forward until the skater may re-enter. - Penalties go to the most responsible person (if any) in either group that fails to reform - Priority goes to a blocker who initiates a new block or continues an existing one - This includes positional blocks - Next priority goes to the blocker closest to the other group who fails to reform - This could also be a blocker who fails to move forward allowing an out of bounds skater to return to the track without skating clockwise - When skaters are equally responsible the penalty goes to the closest blocker - A penalty should be issued to the most responsible blocker per team who fails to reform - Sustained failure to reform warrants additional penalties No pack situation handling -------------------------- - “No pack” is announced. - The Rear IPR typically does this. Front IPR less often. On rare occasion an OPR. - Destruction penalties are issued (if applicable) - These are typically issued by the referee who announced “no pack” - If a pack will reform quickly the destruction penalty is sometimes delayed until the pack reforms - The front IPR issues failure to reform penalties to the front group as warranted - The rear IPR issues failure to reform penalties to the rear group as warranted - OPRs watch for blocks that cause an opponent to fall or go out of bounds - If an immediate failure to reform penalty was issued and the pack is not yet reformed, an IPR re-calls out “No pack!” - Some referees consider this optional while others maintain this is good practice - Repeat this process until the pack reforms - “Pack” or “Pack is here” is announced when the pack is reestablished.