They players know what they are doing is blocking. Otherwise they would run back behind the player to be able to support the next phase. The game / referees could get rid of this with a couple of penalties. If players were penalised as part of a 4 man wall, they wouldn't complain. They would be happy that they got away with it for so long.
What's the tangible difference (that can be identified by match officials) between this and running back towards where the ball will land - but blocking?
Players are allowed to retreat backwards towards where the ball is - and they are not offside. Running backwards on the same line is not blocking.
yes - IMO it's a form of obstruction as they have no "intent" to compete for the ball and they are preventing the other team from competing for the ball.
It's a game based on competiton. What option does the chasing team have?
Run around them.
They can't push them or tackle them. It's completely unfair to the chasing team.
It's not - because anyone running in the direction of the ball could realistically be judged to wanting to compete for possession.
Are we going to start penalising people for the speed at which they run? Just because they are running back at a slower pace doesn't mean they should be compelled to get out of the way of players running faster than them.
The ball is in the air so no team is in possession and every player from both teams on the field has the right to run towards it following the most direct path. If that path is shared by 2 opposed players than neither has any more right to it than the other.
I can perhaps accept one player tracking back as they can run around them but a "wall" is problematic and is another trend like the "caterpillar" that should not be allowed.
It's more problematic for the team who usually takes possession because the moment someone catches it then those players in front are compelled to move out of the way and give direct access to the ball carrier.
This is not that deep.
