by Bobby Coles

Created on: March 03, 2009

Diving, or embellishment as it is sometimes referred, is a penalty called for unsportsmanlike conduct. This two-minute trip to the sin bin is aggravating to coaches and players alike. The infraction is whistled by an official when it is deemed that the player intentionally 'dove' in order to have a penalty called on the opposing team. By trying to officiate the game for themselves, a player is actually ruining his team's chances by taking such a silly penalty. The game should be left in the hands of the officials, who are great some nights, and quite mediocre on other nights.

The diving penalty is not called very frequently, but when it is, it usually accompanies another call. This is the area where hockey pundits and purists have the difficulty with this penalty call. If a player supposedly dives in order to get a call against the opposition, why should the other player receive a penalty? Consequently, if there was indeed a trip, why should a dive be called on the victim?

Referees tend to call this penalty when it is either far too blatant, or if they feel that the player is trying to show them up for some missed calls earlier in the game. Either way, this penalty causes nightmares for all involved, since the ebb and flow of the game has been compromised. The penalty is rarely called on its own, since the diving usually goes hand in hand with some type of indiscretion. Several players have become well known as divers, most notably former Leaf whiner Darcy Tucker.

When diving is called, it usually negates the pending power play, causing ire nevertheless. A player that embellishes the effects of a trip or hook is hurting his team twofold. First, the coincidental penalty call takes away the potential power play opportunity, and secondly, if the player takes to the ice, he has removed himself from the play. If no penalty is called either way on said play, then that player is now caught out of position.

Often, referees miss calls, or simply neglect to call them for whatever obscure reason that they may have, but a player should never intentionally dive in an attempt to get the referee to notice an infraction. Once a player gets a reputation for being a diver, or Greg Louganis as they are referred to in the hockey world, then that player will tend to get less calls for him in the future. Referees have great memories, and they will never forget a bout of showmanship that is unsportsmanlike.

The best thing to do when being checked, whether legally or illegally, is to just continue playing through until the whistle. Turnabout is fair play, and the hockey world tends to work in a cyclical manner.

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