Pushbacks:

[Skummy]

xxxZx
xPDQx
xxOxx
xxAxx

X is open space. Player A gets a pushback result on player O. Can player A push player O into player D and have player D move player Z? I am 90% certain that it is not possible, but a member of my league has asked and I can't find anything in the LRB that indicates secondary pushbacks must go to open space if possible.

Well, exept for common sense.

[Asmodan]

I assume the rule that say that you must push the first player into an empty square also apply for a second pushback.

Asmodan

[Nighthawk]

I totally agree with Asmodan - no pushback into an occupied square if there are some vacant ones

[High & Mighty]

There aren't any rules on secondary pushbacks in the LRB. But the phrasing of the section on pushbacks is sufficiently vague that it could be construed to apply to secondary ones as well. Something like "If a player is pushed back as the result of a block, you can push him back to the squares diagramed below."

He was not pushed back by the block, but it was as the result of the block.

[Skummy]

I agree with all of you, but would really appreciate an official ruling on this, as it has a direct effect on the difficulty of doing a one turn score with rookie players.

[DoubleSkulls]

No you can't. Secondary pushes are handled exactly the same way as the initial push back.

Push Backs: A player that is pushed back as a result of a block must be moved one square away from the player making the block, as shown in the diagrams. The coach of the player who made the block may decide which square the player is moved to. The player must be pushed back into an empty square if possible. If all such squares are occupied by other players, then the player is pushed into an occupied square, and the player that originally occupied the square is pushed back in turn.

[Skummy]

Many thanks for the quote with empahsis, Ian. I'll pass it along to my group.

[Balrog]

Our league allows the secondary pushbacks to be chosen by the player's coach, as opposed to the one doing the initial block. It makes things a little simpler.

-Balrog

[StillGas]

I don't mean to over complicate things but how do you deal with the following:

a) all squares occupied, lets say 1 with Goblin, 1 Orc, 1 Ogre.
Do you still allow players free choice as to where the initial chap goes or do you think he's far more likely to be shoved into the Goblin than the Ogre thus eliminating choice

b) diag blk on guy next to side line. Space on pitch (which he would go ordinarily) occupied. Shoved out or into occupied square?

Thankyou.

[Hox-ii]

a) Still doesn't matter. He goes where you want him to go.

b) Off the pitch he goes!

[Grumbledook]

well for b) you could shove the player if you wanted to i think

[Sneaky Rat]

When you are forced to make a secondary push, does it matter if one of the players is prone? In other words, if you are forced to push a player into someone, do you have to push him into a standing player over a prone one, or does being prone make no difference?

Sneaky Rat

[Grumbledook]

no

[D'Arquebus]

Until the recent LRB I have always played, and ruled for my league, that the second player should go into an empty square first or then into the middle of the three squares of the "pushback tamplate".

That is, a straight on push would have him go back directley towards the endzone or sideline (depending upon facing). If on the diagonal then he would be moved into the point of the triangle, or follow the diagonal 'momentum' of the pushback.

This always made sense to me as I imagined it to be difficult to choose the direction of the player behind the one you are actually hitting. That said, I have now adopted the official rules. And I can also bring to mind 'real life' examples from Gridiron where one player got his pads lower and drove one opponent back into someone from his own team tripping them both.