The Rules of Hockey

The Rules of Hockey

Hockey in Brisbane is governed by the International Rules of Hockey as drwan up by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

THE RULES CYCLE

The move in the last edition of the Rules of Hockey to a two-year cycle for the production and publication of the Rules of the game was widely welcomed. It indicated that the Rules would remain stable for the period concerned. In fact, this period was extended by continuing with the last set of Rules into the fi rst part of 2009.

The Rules in this new publication become effective from 1 May 2009 at international level. National Associations have discretion to decide the date of implementation at national level.

A starting date is specifi ed but not an end date. We will avoid implementing changes to these Rules before 2011 and perhaps beyond. However, in exceptional circumstances the International Hockey Federation (FIH) retains the right to make changes which will be notified to National Associations and published on the FIH website : www.worldhockey.org.

RULES CHANGES

One of the objectives of the FIH and therefore of the Hockey Rules Board is to decrease the number and duration of interruptions to the flow of play and to increase the length of time the ball is in active play. With this in mind, the Rule specifying how a free hit is taken has been reviewed. The player taking the free hit may use a “selfpass”. Full details are provided in Rules 13.1 and 13.2.

Additionally, attacking free hits taken inside the 23 metres area have been reviewed in general and in relation to the “self-pass”. The Hockey Rules Board is concerned that the ball is often played hard, indiscriminately and therefore potentially dangerously into the circle. Rule 13.2 now specifies that the ball must not be played directly into the circle.