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Rule Changes for this season

Rule Changes for this season

Rachel Maunder3 Sep 2019 - 19:20
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So, what are the new rules this season?

England Hockey has now confirmed that it supports the implementation of all FIH rule changes, with the exception of one. The following major changes will be implemented at all levels of the sport in England from the beginning on the 2019/2020 season.

> Removal of Player with Goalkeeper Privileges (PwGKP)
Mandatory Experiment: a team no longer has the option to play with a player with goalkeeping privileges. This means that teams either play with a Goalkeeper, or 11 outfield players

> Penalty Stoke
Clarification added to the awarding of a Penalty Stroke if the ball hits a piece of equipment lying in the circle and a probable goal is prevented, a penalty stroke may be awarded.

>Amendments to Attacking Free Hits within the 23m
Guidance concerning the re-start after awarding a Free Hit to the attacking team within 5 metres of the circle they are attacking.
The introduction of a quick self-pass for these Free Hits allows the defenders to stay within the circle, within 5m and not interfere with play until the ball can legitimately enter the circle.
If there is no quick self-pass, then ALL defenders, regardless of location in the 23m, have to retreat 5m if they wish to legitimately play the ball once the Free Hit is taken.

> Defensive Free Hits awarded within the defensive circle
A free hit awarded to the defence within the defensive circle can be taken anywhere in their circle OR taken up to 15 metres from the back-line in line with the location of the offence, parallel to the side-line. A player cannot take a self-pass re-start whilst wearing a face mask

> Amendment to ruling around Attackers entering the circle early at a Penalty Corner
If an attacker enters the circle at a Penalty Corner before permitted, the player taking the push or hit from the backline is required to go beyond the centre-line and the Penalty Corner is taken again.

> Ending of a penalty corner in “overtime”
The penalty corner is not over when the ball leaves the circle for the second time – the normal rules apply about when a penalty corner is over

HALVES OR QUARTERS? – no change for us

England Hockey strives to apply a consistent set of rules across all levels of the sport. However, the proposed change to 15-minute quarters has caused concern as to the full implications this change would have. Therefore the Board of England Hockey has agreed the following changes, with the view of continuing their research into how this would affect all levels of the sport.

1. To apply 17.5 minute quarters (without the clock stopping at Penalty Corners) to the elite domestic club game specifically:
a. All Divisions of the England Hockey Leagues (the Investec Women’s Hockey League and Men’s England Hockey League);
b. Tier 1 of the Adult Club Championships.
2. For season 2019-20, to leave the rest of the club game played as halves, usually of 2x35 minutes (or shorter formats in the junior game as appropriate).

Read the full article at https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=46512&itemTitle=Application+of+the+rules+of+hockey+in+England+for+the+2019%2D20+Season%2E&section=22

Our Chairman, Paul Meacher, is hosting an event on Wednesday 11th September at The View starting at 6:45pm to go through these changes and to answer any questions that we may have. We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.

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