FIH releases new rules of Outdoor Hockey

Although there have been no major changes to the rule of the game from the last edition of rules of Hockey 2015, the minor changes which came to force in February 2016 have now only been formally incorporated to the rule book.

· Rule 1.10      No equipment etc. to be placed inside the goals

·Rule 2.2        Clarification that any change between goalkeeping options, even for Players with Goalkeeping Privileges, either on or off the pitch, must take place as a substitution

·Rule 4.2        Change of the description of ‘gloves’ to ‘hand protection’; specification of the size of hand protection which may be used, both for normal play and to defend Penalty Corners; addition of guidance regarding the use of knee pads when defending Penalty Corners

·Rule 9.8        Adjustment to the guidance to ‘A ball is also considered dangerous …’

·Rule 9.16      Addition into guidance that if a ball hits discarded Penalty Corner defence equipment then a Free Hit will result if outside the circle or a Penalty Corner if inside the circle

·Rule 13.7d    Tidying up of two paragraphs of repeated guidance concerning the completion of Penalty Corners

·Rule 13.8e    Addition of ‘once the whistle has been blown to start the Penalty Stroke’ for no movement of the Goalkeeper’s feet at a Penalty Stroke

·Addition of the new ‘Corner’ signal in the Umpiring Signals section