Reffing as a Snitch
Photo Credit: Isabella Gong
As a snitch your main priority is defending your tail. But you have also been entrusted with the power of an official.
Your role as an official has two main components.
#1 You are the eyes and ears of the LAR and HR
The HR and LAR will rely on your input so they can make the correct call.
As an official, you may advise the other officials on any call. But it is crucial that you focus your attention on seeker - seeker, and seeker - snitch interactions.
The best way to help the HR is to be always aware of your surroundings and what is happening to you so you can give a clear explanation to the HR upon a successful catch attempt.
#2 Helping oversee your component of the match
During live play you can send players back to hoops during certain circumstances, covered in the next section. It is up to the LAR whether the penalty warrants a card for the fouling seeker.
Snitches do not have the power to give cards or to stop play for penalties. Please rely on your LAR to make those calls and to get the attention of the HR. You can indicate to the LAR to raise their hand for a stoppage if you believe a card-able offense occurred.
Your priority is to defend your tail. Beyond that, you can trust the LAR to make any necessary calls while you concentrate on snitching.
Important Rule Book Passages for Snitches (Rulebook 14)
https://www.usquidditch.org/files/USQ_Rulebook_15.pdf
2.3.3 The snitch: Requirements for snitch equipment
4.4 The Snitch Catch: What is necessary for a valid snitch catch; how to signal the catch
6.3 Seekers and The Snitch Runner: the rules regarding how the seekers may / may not interact with you as a snitch
6. Physical Contact and Interactions: the normal rules for contact applies to seeker on seeker interactions
8. The Snitch Runner: misc snitch rules; snitch timing; snitch code of conduct; how to down yourself
10.1.9 The Snitch Runner: the snitch as an official; areas of oversight; relationship with other refs
What is your "component of the match?"
Snitches may make a "back to hoops" call for any penalty that occurs in and around seeker play.
These penalties include but are not limited to:
Knockouts (including beats and dismounts)
Illegal contact committed by a seeker against the snitch or another seeker
Seekers illegally pursuing the snitch during stoppage or the 3-2-1 countdown.
But snitches do not have exclusive power over these areas. If you and another official disagree on a direct call, you must defer to the other official while play is live. The disagreement can be sorted out at the next stoppage but never during live play. You can also loop in the HR if necessary.
What to do if there is a potential snitch catch?
Down yourself and get the attention of the LAR to pause gameplay
There should always be a discussion between the snitch, the LAR, and HR (unless the catch is obviously invalid)
Try to not jump to any conclusions related to whether the catch is good. Your job is to relay the circumstances surrounding the catch to the HR, who is tasked with making the ultimate decision on the catch. For example, the HR will decide if you were illegally impeded in a way that contributed to the catch.
KEY TO REMEMBER: It is not your decision whether a catch is good. If people second guess the decision after the game, remember that the final decision rests with the HR.
What if I've been "impeded"?
What is impeding?
Impeding is physical contact that interrupts the movement of a snitch.
The simplest way to think about it impeding: I want to go in a direction BUT some contact is keeping me from going in that direction.
To clarify, if the snitch does not attempt to move in a direction in which they would be impeded, then they are not impeded.
Many kinds of contact can lead to impeding. This is why the final decision is always up to the HR.
Examples of impeding contact:
Seeker grabs the hands or arms of the snitch
Seeker pulls on the snitch's back while the snitch attempts to retreat backwards
Seeker steps on the snitch's foot as the snitch tries to run away
Snitch back-peddles into a beater of the catching team
Examples of contact that are not impeding:
Pushing the snitch's arms or hands
Knocking a snitch off balance or off their feet without charging
Reaching one or both arms around a snitch's waist without squeezing the snitch or limiting backwards movement (incidental contact is ok)
A bludger hitting the snitch, excluding head beats, and distracting the snitch
Seeker steps on the snitch's foot while the snitch was standing still
Remember: impeding contact only invalidates a catch if done by the catching team (or any ref) and the contact contributes to the catch
Photo Credit: Tom "Chiddy" Powers