Hockey Rule Changes 2015
RULES CHANGES
The FIH Tournament Regulations which have been incorporated into
the Rules of Hockey for 2015 are breaking at a penalty corner, the
two minute green card and the use of the stick above the shoulder.
The breaking at penalty corners Regulation has effected a signficant reduction in the number of breaks at Tournaments, by both attackers and defenders. As a consequence, the requirement that a penalty stroke be awarded for defenders persistently crossing the back-line before permitted has been deleted. Breaking at penalty
corners can now be managed with this new Rule, noting that the
penalty stroke provision was only rarely invoked.
The two minute green card will now provide an additional management aid to umpires at all levels.
The ability to play the ball with the stick above the shoulder .
.
Two Rules changes have been included.
The first is the ability to take attacking free hits, awarded within 5 metres of the edge of the circle, from the point of the offence. The ball still has to travel at least 5 metres before it can be played into the circle, or alternatively has to be touched by another player of either team, other than the player taking the free hit..
The second change concerns the re-start after the ball has unintentionally been played over the back-line by a defender or deflected by a goalkeeper or player with goalkeeping privileges, and no goal is scored. Play will now be re-started with the ball on the 23 metres line and in line with where it crossed the back-line
Another Rules deletion is that of the ability to progress a free hit by up to 10 metres.
23 7.4 When the ball is played over the back-line and no goal is scored
:
A if played by an attacker, play is re-started with the ball up to 15 metres from and in line with where it crossed the back-line and the procedures for taking a free hit apply
B if played unintentionally by a defender or deflected by a goalkeeper or player with goalkeeping privileges, play is re-started with the ball on the 23 metres line and in line with where it crossed the back-line and the procedures for taking a free hit apply
With the ball being placed on the line, the re-start is effectively within the 23 metres area and the provisions for taking a free hit are applicable
9.7 Players may stop, receive and deflect or play the ball in a controlled manner in any part of the field when the ball is at any height including above the shoulder unless this is dangerous or leads to danger.
.
13.7 For an offence during the taking of a penalty corner
:
A the player taking the push or hit from the back-line does not have at least one foot outside the field
: the penalty corner is taken again
B the player taking the push or hit from the back-line feints at playing the ball, the offending player is required to go beyond the centre-line but is replaced by another attacker : the penalty corner is taken again
If this feinting leads to what otherwise would be a breach of this rule by a defender, only the attacker is required to go beyond the centre-line.
C a defender, other than the goalkeeper, crosses the back-line or goal-line before permitted, the offending player is required to go beyond the centre-line and cannot be replaced by another defender : the penalty corner is taken again
37 If a defender at this or any subsequently re-taken penalty corner crosses the back-line or goal-line before permitted, the offending player is also required to go beyond the centre-line and cannot be replaced A penalty corner is considered as re-taken until any of the conditions of Rules 13.5 and 13.6 for its completion are met A subsequently awarded penalty corner, as opposed to a re-taken penalty corner, may be defended by up to five players If a defender crosses the centre-line before permitted, the penalty corner is taken again
38 d a goalkeeper, or player with goalkeeping privileges, crosses the goal-line before permitted, the defending team defends the penalty corner with one fewer player
:
the penalty corner is taken again The defending team nominates which player is required to go beyond the centre-line, and they cannot be replaced by another defender If a goalkeeper, or player with goalkeeping privileges, at this or any subsequently re-taken penalty corner crosses the goal-line before permitted, the defending team is required to nominate a further player to go beyond the centre-
line, and they cannot be replaced A penalty corner is considered as re-taken until any of the conditions of Rules 13.5 and 13.6 for its completion are met
A subsequently awarded penalty corner, as opposed to a re-taken penalty corner, may be defended by up to five players
38e an attacker enters the circle before permitted, the offending player is required to go beyond the centre-line : the penalty corner is taken again Attackers who are sent beyond the centre-line may not return for re-taken penalty corners, but may do so for a subsequently awarded penalty corner
f for any other offence by attackers : a free hit is awarded to the defence. Except as specified above, a free hit, penalty corner or penalty stroke is awarded as specified
elsewhere in the Rules
41. 14 Personal penalties
14.1 For any offence, the offending player may be
:
A cautioned (indicated by spoken words)
B warned and temporarily suspended for 2 minutes of playing time (indicated by a green card)
C temporarily suspended for a minimum of 5 minutes of playing time (indicated by a yellow card)
For the duration of each temporary green and yellow card suspension of a player on or off the field, the offending team plays with one fewer player.
D permanently suspended from the current match (indicated by a red card).
For each permanent suspension, the offending team plays for the remainder of the match with one fewer player A personal penalty may be awarded in addition to the appropriate penalty