So the new rule book is out but you're hoping someone else has gone through all the dirty work of figuring out what's been deleted, what's been added and what it all means? You've come to the right place, because after all – we're rules superheroes.
These rules come into effect globally on January 1, 2013. However, many national associations that have outdoor seasons beginning in September and span over the turn of the year are implementing the rules from opening day of their leagues, whether that is confined to the top domestic level or is nation-wide. If you're confused as to what rules you're currently playing under, your best bet is to check with your national association for clarification.
Rule 2.4
What's New:
Leaving and re-entering the field as part of play (eg when a defender puts on a face mask at a penalty corner) takes place at any appropriate part of the field.
What It Replaces:
Added as guidance to 2.4.
What it means:
Just in case someone out there was being particularly picky about the wording of the substitution rule, an argument could have been made that players were not permitted to leave the pitch by stepping behind the goal and kitting themselves with penalty corner defence equipment. Now the provision makes this universal practice explicitly within the rules.
Rule 3.3
What's New:
Captains must wear a distinctive arm-band or similar distinguishing article on an upper arm or shoulder or over the upper part of sock.
What It Replaces:
Captains must wear a distinctive arm-band or similar distinguishing article on an upper arm or shoulder.
What It Means:
The common practice of wearing captains' bands over the sock or the captains' ribbon on the rear shoulder of a sleeveless top is now explicitly allowed.
Rule 5.1
What's New:
If time expires just before an umpire would otherwise have made a decision, umpires are permitted to make that decision immediately after the end of the first period or the match.
What It Replaces:
Added to the existing guidance.
What It Means:
For example, umpires can now explicitly and properly call a goal when the ball crosses the goal line before the end of time but they were not able to signal the goal until after the hooter/whistle has sounded.
Rule 6.5.a
What's New:
A bully is taken close to the location of the ball when play was stopped but not within 15 metres of the backline and not within 5 metres of the circle.
What It Replaces:
A bully is taken close to the location of the ball when play was stopped but not within 15 metres of the backline.
What It Means:
Despite the advent of the rules prohibiting attacking free hits to be taken from within 5m of the circle in the 2011-2012 rules, it was possible that a bully could be awarded from a stoppage occurring within the circle that could be taken on the circle edge. The common practice of umpires directing the bully to be conducted on the 5m hash line has now been made explicit.
Rule 8.1 – Mandatory Experimental Rule
What's New:
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.
What It Replaces:
8.1 A goal is scored when the ball is played within the circle by an attacker and does not travel outside the circle before passing completely over the goal-line and under the cross-bar.
What It Means:
It is now possible for a “own goal” to be scored in hockey, as it is no longer required for an attacker to touch the ball inside the circle before it crosses the goal-line. Umpires no longer have to make sometimes virtually impossible distinctions between opposing players' sticks when the ball is flying about at incredible speeds.
However, we need to be careful about balls that are sent in at speed and height towards the goal from outside the circle. Danger is still something to watch for, and although attackers still cannot hit the ball straight in to the circle from within the 23m area, they may feel more inclined to give it a try when even a missed trap from a lone defender or a mis-timed lift of the kicker by the goalkeeper may result in that touch that sends the ball over the goal-line for a goal.
Also, it's important to note that it is still against the rules to intentionally raise a hit except for a shot at goal, and a shot at goal can only come from inside the circle.
In practice, umpires should think about their positioning knowing that any touch in the circle may result in a goal. Being in the right position to see that touch no longer is the difference between a corner and a 15m hit, but a 15m hit and a goal.
Rule 9.7
What's New:
9.7 Players must not play the ball with any part of the stick when the ball is above shoulder height except that defenders are permitted to use the stick to stop or deflect a shot at goal at any height.
…
Final wording to be determined, but will follow this explanation in the Briefing:
“Defenders may stop or deflect a shot at goal with the stick above their shoulder. This also applies if the ball is likely to enter the goal, as a result of Mandatory Experimental Rule 8, under the new ‘own goal’ provision.”
What It Replaces:
Addition to the guidance.
What It Means:
This addition has been made in the 2013 Outdoor Umpires' Briefing and is on the way for the text of the Rules of Hockey, so if you don't see it yet don't panic. The Rules Board realized that the definition of a “shot at goal” required an action by an attacker sending the ball towards goal from within the circle in order for a defender to use their stick above their shoulder to stop it. However, a defender may be in a position to stop a potential goal due to another defender playing the ball high from within the circle where the last attacker touched it outside. This guidance will expressly permit the defender to use their stick above their shoulder legally to stop a potential goal in either scenario.
Rule 13.2(d)-(e)
What's New:
13.2 Procedures for taking a free hit, centre pass and putting the ball back into play after it has been outside the field:
…
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
What It Replaces:
13.2 Procedures for taking a free hit, centre pass and putting the ball back into play after it has been outside the field:
…
d) the ball is moved using a push or hit
e) the ball must not be raised intentionally directly from the free hit
f) if the player taking the free hit is the next player to play the ball, the actions of taking the free hit and of next playing the ball must be two separate actions
g) before another player of the team which took the free hit is allowed to play the ball, the ball must move at least 1 metre
The ball does not have to move 1 metre before the player taking the free hit may play the ball again.
What It Means:
Whew, what doesn't it mean? Just kidding. This is another simplifying rule, in that it gives umpires a few less things to worry about on the free hit.
First of all, players can now lift the ball straight off the free hit as long as it's not a hit. This will help make aerials safer as defenders will not be closing down and getting inside the 5m zone, which should also encourage more aerials to be taken. We still need to watch for defenders properly trying to retreat from the ball, and if the attacker raises the ball dangerously at the retreating player we should be awarding a free hit to the defender.
Second, we don't need to look for two separate actions in playing the ball. This was important because in order to raise the ball in 2011-2012, there needed to be a separate “taking” of the free hit first. This also means that a player can dribble away with the free hit and we don't have to worry about a separate action marking the “taking” of the free hit either.
The corollary of this is that we need to know exactly where the free hit has been taken from, specified by the attacking player stopping the ball. As we know, stopping the ball can be performed so quickly in practice such that without stop-motion cameras we can't be certain whether the ball was ever “stationary” – as the Briefing reminds us, we need to be both strict and sensible in this. In the middle of the pitch where the attackers move off away from defenders with the ball, knowing exactly where the free hit was taken is a moot point – that's the sensible part. Inside the 23m area where defenders being 5m away can be the difference between “play on” and a penalty corner, be strict.
Rule 13.9.a
What's New:
The penalty stroke is completed when: a goal is scored
What It Replaces:
The penalty stroke is completed when: a goal is scored or awarded
What It Means:
Since penalty goals can no longer be awarded in the course of a penalty stroke and cannot be awarded under any other provision in the rules, the wording was superfluous.
Rule 14.1.b
What's New:
At an international match, a green card indicates a temporary suspension of 2 minutes of playing time.
What It Replaces:
Not in 2011 rules.
What It Means:
This guidance codifies the rules variation that's been in place in the FIH Tournament Regulations for the last two years adding the 2 min. suspension for green cards. It also clarifies for domestic players and umpires that it is not a change in the rules for all levels of competition. In the Introduction on page 5, the FIH specifically points out:
The green card has been used this way at international level for some time. This recognises that these matches are played under the control of a technical table, with experienced players and offi- cials. Some other small variations in the playing Rules also occur in these top level matches. It must be understood, however, that they only apply in these matches; all other matches must be played in accordance with the Rules of Hockey unless otherwise agreed by the FIH Rules Committee after submission by a National Hockey Association.
The variation is a part of many top-level competitions around the world, but is not intended to be used for every level.
Applying The Rules
The FIH has also added some rules of importance that they offer guidance on their application in the Introduction of the Rules of Hockey.
The FIH Rules Committee continues to be concerned that some Rules are not applied consistently.
Rule 7.4.c: ball intentionally played over the back-line by a defender and no goal is scored. If it is clear that the action is intentional, umpires should not hesitate to award a penalty corner.
Rule 9.7 specifies that players must not play the ball with any part of the stick when the ball is above shoulder height. For consistency and fairness, shoulder height should be strictly enforced.
Rule 9.12: obstruction. Umpires should penalise shielding the ball with the stick more strictly. They should also look out for a tackling player who by pushing or leaning on an opponent causes them to lose possession of the ball.
Rule 13.2.a: ball stationary at a free hit. Umpires are sometimes not strict enough on requiring the ball to be stationary, albeit very briefly, for a free hit especially if it is taken using a self-pass.
So, did we miss anything (other than changes to the stick and field specifications – even we aren't that detail-oriented)? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook or Twitter.
Also, big thanks to redumpire of FieldHockeyForum.com for his post that was the starting point for this article.
Can an opponent scope the ball from outside the circle into the circle and a goal was scored? What is those the rule says for raising balls into the circle?
Yes Ahmed, an opponent can aerial the ball from outside the circle into the circle, so long as they did not do so from a free hit taken within the 23m (as that would be playing the ball directly into the circle without the ball traveling 5m or being touched by another player first). As always, it’s subject to danger and the rules regarding the reception of aerial balls.