Along with the European Hockey League, the Hockey India League has been a frequent testing ground for new regulations and rules that have sometimes made it into international hockey and thus the rule book we play under worldwide. So it was no small matter when the HIL announced last week that they'd be using a modified scoring system for their upcoming 2016 season:
Scoring
New goal-scoring points.
The first time played in any hockey competition.
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For every Field Goal and Penalty Stroke Goal scored in a match other than resulting from a Penalty Corner: 2 goals
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For every goal scored from a Penalty Stroke resulting from a Penalty Corner where a goal being scored is prevented by a deliberate foul: 2 goals
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For every Penalty Corner scored in a match: 1 goal
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For every goal scored from a Penalty Stroke resulting from a Penalty Corner (where a goal being scored is prevented as a result of the ball hitting a foot or body): 1 goal
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In a shoot-out competition a goal from a direct Shoot-out and a Penalty Stroke: 1 goal
By doubling the value of those goals, the HIL wanted to both promote field play goals and “reduce aggressive moves and maintain discipline among players” that resulted in penalty strokes.
What are your predictions? Will changing the scoring system help create the kind of hockey the HIL is looking for? Moreover, do we want to promote field goals over penalty corner goals? Can you see these changes crossing over to the international rules of the game?
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