Cam HughesCoach, England

Hey Sarah,

In the situation where the Wing Defence (WD) or Goal Defence (GD) are blocking the Wing Attack (WA) or Goal Attack (GA) from entering the goal third before a centre pass, the appropriate call would depend on the specific actions of the defenders.

1. Obstruction: If the defenders are within 0.9 meters (3 feet) of the attackers and are using their body to block the attackers' movement, this would be considered obstruction. The rule states that a player must be at least 0.9 meters away from the player with the ball or the player they are marking .
2. Delaying Play: If the defenders are intentionally wasting time or preventing the attackers from taking their positions, this could be considered delaying play. According to the rules, any intentional action to waste time or delay the game is penalised as delaying play .

In this case, it sounds like the defenders might be obstructing the attackers if they are within the 0.9 meters range. If they are further away but still preventing movement, it could be seen as delaying play.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the rules on obstruction and delaying play in the knowledge base.

I hope this helps,

Cam