What is embellishment in hockey?

In hockey, embellishment, also sometimes called diving, is when a player exaggerates or fakes contact from an opponent in order to draw a penalty.

Here's a breakdown of embellishment in hockey:

• Goal: The player's goal is to trick the referee into thinking they were fouled more severely than they actually were, hoping to get a power play advantage for their team.
• Faking Contact: This can involve throwing themselves to the ice, flailing their arms dramatically, or contorting their face in a grimace of pain, even if there was minimal or no contact.
• Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Embellishment is considered a form of unsportsmanlike conduct and can result in a penalty for the player who embellishes.

How Referees Spot Embellishment:

• Experience: Referees are experienced in watching hockey games and can often tell the difference between a genuine foul and an embellished one.
• Severity of Reaction: They look for inconsistencies between the severity of the player's reaction and the apparent severity of the contact.
• Delayed Reaction: Sometimes a delayed reaction to a supposed foul can be a sign of embellishment.

Penalties for Embellishment:

• Minor Penalty: If a referee determines a player is embellishing, they can call a minor penalty for diving or embellishment. This means the player who embellished will have to sit in the penalty box for two minutes.
• Loss of Power Play Advantage: If a team draws a penalty due to embellishment, the referee may negate the call, essentially taking away the power play opportunity.

Fair Play:

Embellishment is frowned upon in hockey because it goes against the spirit of fair play. It wastes time with unnecessary stoppages in play and can lead to frustration among players and fans alike.

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