The rules of hockey are constantly under review by the powers to be with the specific purpose of improving the game. As someone who started his hockey life learning the art of the roll in from the sideline when the ball went out of bounds and still playing, I have witnessed the rule changes over the last 50 years. To our sports credit we are constantly going forward in terms of making hockey more spectator orientated but debatably not at the expense of game safety. Going forward is a must. As hockey moves more to become a recognised professional sport at elite level worldwide and where videoing of games help televise hockey to a growing viewer audience any change in rules should have a positive effect on these sport changing factors.
In 2013 there are two new rules that can open up the game. These being the own goal and using the aerial ball [flick or scoop ]from a free hit. We have watched at international level the implementation of these rules and like every hockey player and watcher we can formulate our own feedback on good and bad associated with the changes.
Go Hockey News has asked former Australian hockey player and International umpire, Stewart Dearing if he would share his thoughts on these changes. These are listed below the rule changes.
THE FIH 2013 RULE CHANGES
1. Rules of Hockey
Based on recommendations from the FIH Rules Committee, the FIH Executive Board has agreed changes to the Rules of Hockey and the Rules of Indoor Hockey. These changes formally take effect from 1 January 2013. However, advance notice of the main changes is provided here so that Continental Federations and National Associations may, if they wish, implement the changes sooner for matches within their jurisdiction.
Changes to the Rules of Hockey (with reference to the numbered Rules in the 2011 edition) are as follows:
Rule 8.1: method of scoring. The way a goal is scored is amended; it now includes what is sometimes referred to as an “own goal”. That is, a goal can now be scored after the ball is touched in the circle by either an attacker or a defender. It is anticipated that the detailed text will read:
8.1 A goal is scored when:
a the ball is played by an attacker, or touches the stick or body of a defender, within the circle
b after either of these actions, the ball does not travel outside the circle before passing completely over the goal-line and under the cross-bar.
This is described as a “Mandatory Experimental Rule” so that it applies at all levels of hockey but, because it is a significant change, it will be monitored closely. After a period of review, the FIH Rules Committee will decide whether or not it becomes a permanent change to the Rules.
Rules 13.2.d and e: procedures for taking a free hit, centre pass and putting the ball back into play. The ball may now be raised intentionally and directly using a push, flick or scoop action; this action must be conducted safely. This is essentially an evolution of what is known as the “self-pass” from a free hit. By having the option to raise the ball immediately, opposing players will not have had the opportunity to get closer than five metres; a raised ball should be safer. It is anticipated that Rules 13.2 d and e will read:
d the ball is moved using a hit, push, flick or scoop
e the ball may be raised immediately using a push, flick or scoop but must not be raised intentionally using a hit.
Rules 13.2.f and g: as a consequence of the changes above, these Rules have been deleted.
FIH Rules Committee
June 2012
Stewart Dearing’s review of these two changes is;
A] OWN GOAL
- From an umpires perspective it is brilliant. An umpire does not have to no longer discern if it is a long corner.
- Spectator wise it is good because when a ball goes into the hockey net at any time spectators are excited and if they are an inexperienced hockey spectator they do not quite understand why it is not a goal
- From a goalkeepers perspective it is frustrating when he or she saves a goal and it rebounds into a defender and then into the net as an incidental breach. What once was a penalty corner is now an own goal.
- It is now seen as a less skilful way of scoring a goal where in the case of a crowded circle an attacker outside of the circle simply ‘smashes the ball’ at the net with a ‘hope and see’ tactical approach.
- Similarly in the case where a non deliberate breach occurs between the dotted line and the circle line a player will use more as a non skill dangerous tactic of merely shifting the ball from the free hit 5 metres then again ‘smashing’ the ball into a most probable crowded circle with a ‘hope and see’ tactical approach
B] FLICKING OR SCOOPING FROM A FREE HIT
- From an umpires perspective this change is ‘clean’. Previously the player taken the free hit had to move the ball a metre before executing a flick or scoop. This was always contentious as defender[s] would rush immediately the ball was moved which automatically created a dangerous situation especially if the defender was positioned at the required 5 metres away. Now the defender cannot move therefore eliminating the dangerous breach caused by a player being able to move within the 5 metres previously.
- Beneficial for the player in executing a flick or scoop in that they can execute the skill from a stationary position rather than having to move, control and execute as previously required. Also because of the stationary position and time available to execute the flick or scoop one can hope the executor will make a better tactical decision for using the flick or scoop, e.g., finding space, finding a player where previously the opposition positioned themselves between the ball and the player, and changing the dynamics of an opposition ‘full press’.
- This rule change would be supported by the European country teams who found themselves in recent years under pressure from Australian forwards who would perform ‘full presses’ on them to counteract their system control play.
- One negative associated with this new rule change is that there will be a tendency to utilise the flick or scoop more often because of its advantages. If the skill is wrongly executed it could be more dangerous as a defender 5 metres away might ‘wear’ the misfired flick or scoop.
- From a coaches perspective if the skill is used more often and is wrongly executed and a ‘cheap turnover’ is the end results of its execution especially if there was an easier alternative was available then this tactical decision needs revisiting. The jury is out to see if this new rule can be tactically worked consistently to advantage. At elite level yes where the skill level is high but at lower levels one might find it slowly declines in use as the end result of its execution is valued up.
These views on the rule changes are open for further discussion if you have something further to contribute this post then leave a reply below and submit.
Go Hockey News invites any reader who has a post they wish to share about umpiring and technical aspects of our game with Go Hockey News readers or you have umpiring photos or videos that wish to share with readers then submit to editor@gohockey.com Your input will be valued.
STEWART DEARING JOINS THE GO HOCKEY NEWS TEAM
GO HOCKEY NEWS is pleased to share with readers that Stewart Dearing will be one of Go Hockey News writers. He has a wealth of hockey knowledge, having represented his country as a goalkeeper and now as an International Umpire. We would like to share Stewart’s achievements with you
Stewart Dearing began his hockey career in Newcastle as a 5 year old, playing, all his junior hockey with West Newcastle Hockey club. He first represented Newcastle on the field in the Under 10’s. Changed to goalkeeping at 11 years of age.
REPRESENTATIVE CAREER
- Under 12 NSW State team
- Under 17 NSW State team
- 1984-89 Under 21 NSW State team
- 1985 – 12 month AIS scholarship in Perth, highlight of that year playing in the Junior World Cup in Vancouver.
- 1986 – began playing for Moorebank Liverpool (Sydney) and first made NSW Senior team. Played for Moorebank 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993 and 1994.
- 1986-1996 – NSW Senior teams and in 1987 another AIS Scholarship in Perth.
- 1989 – Member of the AIS team that toured Europe and in the same year he was a member of the NSW’s team that won the Australian Championships for the first time in 34yrs.
- 1990 – Gained selection in the Australian Seniors team [now known as the Kookaburras] after and again in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. Member of the Australian teams which won the Champion’s Trophy in 1990 and 1993
UMPIRING
- 2002 – Gained international Umpires badge.
- 2004- Started rep coaching for Newcastle under 11’s teams
- 2006- Newcastle under 11’s and 13’s coach.
- 2007 – Gained FIH Grade 1 international badge.
- 2009 – Appointed to World Cup qualifier in New Zealand as umpire
- 2012 – Umpired at the inaugural Bridgestone World Series Hockey in India. He umpired the final in Mumbai in front of a crowd of 9,000, with 30 million television viewers.
As a player umpire and coach Stewart continues his hockey life, especially now he has three boys. He has come a long way from the 5 year old that terrorized all on a Sunday from the roof of the toilet block at Smith Park hockey grounds.
