Own goals can now be scored and aerials thrown directly from free hits as part of two major new rule changes being implemented at all levels of Irish hockey for the 2012/13 season.
The Irish Hockey Association have adopted a series of significant of rule changes that will impact on all levels of hockey throughout the country having previously been used at EuroHockey League and international level. Three main changes will come into effect from September 1.
Firstly, a player will now be allowed to intentionally raise the ball from a restart (a free, 16-metre free out, hit-off, sideline ball etc) but not by a hit. In other words, an aerial can be thrown directly from a dead ball with all the usual rules relating to danger applying.
Next up is the introduction of the ‘own goal’ rule across all levels of hockey. A goal can now be scored if there is any touch in the circle prior to the ball going into the goal, namely from an attacker’s stick or any intervention by a defender’s stick, foot or body or a goalkeeper’s padding. The latter method will be referred to as an ‘own goal’.
These two rules will be fully introduced across the board by the FIH on January 1 with the IHA pre-empting these changes for the new season.
The third change sees an experimental rule applied throughout all hockey in Ireland with a green card resulting in a two-minute suspension.
A proposal about the management of this rule in games where a technical table is not available has been put forward to the IHA and is currently under discussion.
Words with thanks to Stephen Findlater/The Hook
Firstly, a player will now be allowed to intentionally raise the ball from a restart (a free, 16-metre free out, hit-off, sideline ball etc) but not by a hit. In other words, an aerial can be thrown directly from a dead ball with all the usual rules relating to danger applying.
Next up is the introduction of the ‘own goal’ rule across all levels of hockey. A goal can now be scored if there is any touch in the circle prior to the ball going into the goal, namely from an attacker’s stick or any intervention by a defender’s stick, foot or body or a goalkeeper’s padding. The latter method will be referred to as an ‘own goal’.
These two rules will be fully introduced across the board by the FIH on January 1 with the IHA pre-empting these changes for the new season.
The third change sees an experimental rule applied throughout all hockey in Ireland with a green card resulting in a two-minute suspension.
A proposal about the management of this rule in games where a technical table is not available has been put forward to the IHA and is currently under discussion.
Words with thanks to Stephen Findlater/The Hook
As an umpire I think the introduction of the “2 minute suspension” for a green card is a great idea. It now gives an umpire a less severe way to control a game, especially at lower levels where new umpires might be not as confident to give a yellow card!
We introduced the 2 minute suspension in Scotland and it does work a treat. Makes a massive difference at the higher levels especially.
I like the scoop from a free hit rule too. Think it will make the game a touch safer.
This is balanced out by the own goal rule which will result in far more balls being shelled in the hopes of connecting with anything. Not so keen on that one. Makes awarding a goal a lot easier though!
Completely disagree with the aerial pass direct from a free being banned. It was the only real way of changing a point of attack. It was up to the umpires to stop defenders charging the ball down, the player was deliberately moving to create a danger so engineering a free. I thought that the olympic tournament was boring with the ball being stuck in corners for long periods with the defence happy to give away soft frees and just swamping that side of the pitch with up-to 8 players and the attack being stiffled by the need to retreat to the dotted line. Definately a rule that needed changed and was again ignore. It has killed the advance that the self pass rule brought in. Plus I cannot see the reason for encouraging players to shell a moving ball in to the circle when they have made it virtually impossible for attacking teams to hit a ball in with the previous rule changes banning a direct hit. Personally I can see far more players being injured with this new rule.
Not a great advance in my view it will not make a game more attractive to the two men or woman and a dog that watch our league games and will not encourage young players to keep playing the game or even start playing the game. As a sport it is under huge pressure and these changes have probably helped increase the numbers paying other sports.
@Stephen
Either I’m misreading your comment or you may have misread the article?
You say “Completely disagree with the aerial pass direct from a free being banned” – this is not the case, all that has changed is you no longer have to move the ball first before launching the aerial, which should in fact make it easier to take the free quickly in that style to change the point of attack.
The own goal rule, however, is another matter…
Sorry misread on the stupid I phone thing.
Not many of the rule changes would make me want to watch the game, they have been instigated by international coaches who work with elite players and dare I say it elite umpires. The game is completely different at grass roots and these changes have not helped really. Self pass yes but only between 25 to 25 but then it slows down is extremely boring and predictable what is going to happen.
Sorry but these new changes will make little or no difference as most players still need to move a ball to throw an aerlial and the opponent will always get the benefit and the free even though they are creating the danger in my opinion.