Updated Rules

Latest rule changes January 2007 ----Latest rule changes January 2007

                Links to recent documents from English Hockey

                1. Statement from the Board of England Hockey on the new goalkeeping rules.

                2.Click here for up to date links to England Hockey

                RULES PRESENTATION TO HGWHUA, JANUARY 2007

                Click here for: GOALKEEPERS    Forehand hit    Saving a high shot at Goal    Protective equipment for field players

                                          The bow of the stick     Raised ball   Feet   Other small changes

                I will deal with the changes in a “common sense” order, rather than looking through the new Rules book page by page. There are a number of changes of working or order that have

                no substantive effect that I will not deal with this evening.

                1.  GOALKEEPERS:

                A team may now choose from 3 options:

                      1.   To play with a fully equipped goalkeeper (with at least helmet, pads and kickers).

                      2.   To play with a goalkeeper equipped with at least a helmet plus a contrasting shirt

                      3.   To play with 11 field players and no goalkeeper

                      In cases 1 and 2, where the team chooses to play with either a fully equipped or partially equipped goalkeeper, that goalkeeper has full goalkeepers privileges.

                     If the team chooses option 3, and plays with 11 field players, then no-one has any goalkeeping privileges, and so no-one can use anything other than their stick to play or save the  

                     ball.

Notes:

(i)                                If a team chooses to play with 11 field players, they may NOT substitute on a goalkeeper to defend a penalty corner (PC), but are allowed to substitute on a goalkeeper to defend a

                           penalty stroke (PS)

(ii)                               A field player defending a PC can opt to wear a face mask (see the note on this new rule) but can only save any shot at goal with their stick. If they make a save with any part of

                           their body, then you have to award a PS and if deliberate, a yellow card.

(iii                       A field player defending a PS can opt to wear a face mask. They can only attempt to save the stroke with their stick.

               There are some significant changes in the way in which goalkeepers can behave:

               1.   A fully equipped goalkeeper may only play within their own 23m area (unless they come up to take a PS)

                     2.   A partially equipped goalkeeper (ie wearing helmet and contrasting shirt only) can only play the ball inside their own 23m area. However, they can opt to remove their helmet (but

                         retain their contrasting shirt), in which case, they can play anywhere on the pitch. They must replace their helmet before attempting to defend either a PC or PS.

               Notes: What does a partially equipped GK do with their helmet as they advance out of the 23m area? Rule 9.17 forbids them to throw it onto the pitch!

(ii)                         Since rules 2.2, 4.4 state that goalkeepers MUST wear protective headgear (ie a helmet), what happens if a partially equipped GK removes their helmet to play up field, and then

                           retreats into their own circle and uses goalkeeping privileges without replacing their helmet – presumably, this is a deliberate foul, and has to be dealt with by at least a PC plus

                           yellow card.

                    2.  No substitutions can be made at a PC unless a GK has been suspended or injured. The FIH guidance on the new GK rules states that a substitute GK under these circumstances must

                     only be equipped to the same level as the GK who had to go off.

                    3.   If a fully equipped GK is to be substituted, time should be stopped, and the substitution should take place on the goal line, by the goal.

                    4.   Field players substitute within 3m of the half-way line, whereas goalkeepers (whether fully or partially equipped) can only substitute on the goal line by the goal.

 Note:

(i)                                What happens if a team chooses to substitute a field player for a partially equipped GK, when time does not have to be stopped? Can they bring such subs on and off very quickly and

                           at different areas of the pitch?

                    5.   Goalkeepers are allowed to use their stick, protective equipment or any part of their body to push the ball away, deflect the ball in any direction or stop the ball. This permits a

                     goalkeeper to move the ball away, but only as part of a goal-saving action. They are NOT allowed to propel the ball forcefully so that it travels a long distance.

Notes:

(i)                               The FIH guidance states that the privilege to move the ball away applies in any situation where attackers have an opportunity to score a goal, to attempt to score a goal, or to deny

                           an attacker possession of the ball. This can (for example) include a case where a goalkeeper intercepts and pushes away a pass across the face of their goal (not going towards the

                           goal), or to sweep the ball away from an attacker’s stick.

(ii)                              The distance that the ball can move is not specified, and the FIH guidance is not helpful here either. You should use common sense (but remember that the materials that

                           goalkeepers wear can be very bouncy!).

(iii                      If the GK plays the ball away forcefully (and so breaks that part of the rule), or is they play it away when no attacker has a chance of possession, then they should be penalised with a

                          PC (not a PS).

                    6.   If the team has chosen to play with 11 field players, then they can have 5 field players back to defend a PC (but none of them has goalkeeping privileges).

                2. FOREHAND HIT:

   1.  Players may not hit the ball hard on the forehand with the edge of the stick.

               Notes: forehand is defined as playing a ball  which is to the right of a player, in the forward direction.

(ii)           This does NOT forbid playing the ball gently, raising it over an opponent’s stick or a prone GK, tackling with the edge on the forehand side, or hitting the ball with the forehand edge if there is a sweeping motion  of the stick along the pitch before contact. 

3. SAVING A HIGH SHOT AT GOAL:

1. The rule itself has not been changed. What has been changed are the notes that accompany the rule. They now state that the defender’s stick can be moving towards the ball as they save the high shot. Only if the ball is genuinely HIT away from goal above shoulder height should a PS be awarded.

2.  If the player uses a high stick to stop or deflect a high ball that  was not going to go into the goal, they should be penalised with a  PC not a PS.

3.  If the high save is dangerous, they should be penalised with a PC not a PS (but see the first note above).

Note:  The supporting umpire could well be key applying these notes properly!

4. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR FIELD PLAYERS:

          1. Players can wear protective goggles (plastic lenses, smooth frames),

   soft protective headgear, or a facemask (smooth, plastic, flush-fitting, single colour) throughout a match if they have a medical condition that justifies it.

         2.  Defenders can wear a smooth, plastic, flush-fitting single colour face mask to defend a PC or PS. It must only be worn for the duration of  the PC or PS.

        3.  Protective gear (other then gloves) cannot be worn in any other  circumstances by field players.

Notes:

(i)          Strictly, before a player can wear protective kit throughout a match, it has to be medically approved – but how can we tell this?

(ii)          The FIH guidance says that a player must discard his face mask once a PC is complete (as defined in the rules). However, it does not suggest how they get rid of them if they are heavily engaged in play at the time. I suggest that you apply simply common sense.

(iii)         The FIH guidance says that, if a defending field player plays outside their 15m circle wearing their face mask, then the appropriate penalty is a free-hit. A second (or subsequent) offence is a free hit and appropriate card. 

5. THE BOW OF THE STICK:

1.     This is now limited to 25mm maximum.

Note: You can get a measuring cylinder to test this if you really wish from umpiring kit suppliers!

6. RAISED BALL:

1.   The main change here is that a defender is not allowed to run into a raised shot or into an attacker who is raising the ball unless they are attempting to play the ball with their stick. If a defender does so, they should be penalised for dangerous play.

2.   This also applies at a PC, where defenders are not allowed to run straight at the first shot (or flick).

3.    However, the rule that, if a raised ball hits a defender above the knee when they are standing normally, then that raised ball is to be judged as dangerous also still applies.

Notes: At a PC, this should be relatively easy to umpire. The FIH guidance states that its intention is to prevent “suicide runners”

(ii)          At other situations, most commonly the short side-line ball, where the ball is played 1m, stopped and then flicked high, it will be much harder, as defenders will tend to be attempting to play the ball with their stick as they run in (and, even if you have got them a god 5m back, will be well within 5m as the ball is raised). Use common sense, and remember that dangerous play is our over-riding concern!

7. “FEET”:

1.   This rule was re-written some time ago – foot / body contact with the ball is not automatically a foul.

2.   There has, however, been a significant change in wording. Out has gone “unless that player or their team benefits from the contact”. Instead, in comes “if they voluntarily play the ball with their feet / body / hand, or position themselves with the intention of stopping the ball in this way”. So, it is the intent that you have to judge.

Note: The FIH guidance states that this change in wording should NOT alter the way in which the rule is applied.

8. OTHER SMALL CHANGES:

1.   Players are not allowed to deliberately run behind either goal.

2.   If a “bench” player is awarded a yellow card, then the team on the pitch have to play with one less player for the duration of the suspension.

3.  If a “bench” player is awarded a red card, then the team on the pitch have to play with one less player for the duration of the match.

Note: You cannot make a team remove a player if their coach / physio / manager misbehaves. You can require the offending official to leave the bench, or you can warn (and then if the misconduct persists) yellow card the Captain instead. (It is the Captain’s responsibility to control their bench).

4.  There have been some trivial changes to the pitch and goal specification.

5.  There has been a change in the wording of the rule about the pre-match toss-up.

Peter Wheatley      Jan 2007

Replacing a Goalkeeper - England Hockey - January 16th 2007

Clarification to 2007/2008 Outdoor Rules
I understand that since 1st January 2007 there have been a number of enquiries relating to goalkeepers and in particular with regard to Rule 2 - Composition of Teams.

In an effort to reach as many umpires as possible, can I ask that you use your communication systems/networks to confirm to all that the FIH confirm that at penalty corners an injured or suspended goalkeeper can only be replaced by a similarly equipped goalkeeper? So if the 'GK' on at the time was fully equipped, the replacement must be the same. If they were equipped with only protective headgear, then the replacement can wear only the same.
In essence, the issue that we need to get straight is that a goalkeeper wearing only protective headgear may not be replaced by a fully equipped goalkeeper."

Thank you all for your cooperation.

JANE NOCKOLDS
National Development Manager - Technical, Officiating & Volunteers
ENGLAND HOCKEY
 

Use of Forehand edge of stick - January 2007.

Stick Bow Rule - January 2006