HOCKEY NOTES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 185, 19 May 1938, Page 3

HOCKEY NOTES

THE WOMEN’S COMPETITION. AMENDMENTS TO RULES. | (By “Sticks.") Advice has been received by the socjretary that amendments to the rules of I the game have been made by (he All England Women’s Hockey Association and will be brought into foree immediately : Bully—Every other player shall he nearer to her own goal-line than the ball is (except in the ease of a penalty bully) and shall not stand within five yards of the players participating in the bully until the ball is in general play. Penalty Bully—A penalty bully shall be played by the offender and by any player selected by the other team, on a spot five yards in front of the centre of the goal-line. Corner—A player of the attacking team shall have a hit from a point on the side or goal-line within five yards of the nearest corner flag.

Fouls—A player shall not (a) Kaise any part of her stick, above her shoulder when striking at the ball, either at the beginning or at the end ol the strike; (b) Play the ball with the rounded side of her stick; (c) Undercut iho ball. Note—The scoop stroke, which raises the ball is permissible except in the case of a free hit, but the umpire shall penalise the stroke in any particular instance it be either dangerous in itself or likely to lead to dangerous play. The umpire shall have power to penalise a player who continually raises the ball; (d)) Strike, hit, hook, hold or interfere in any way with her opponent’s stick; (e)) Pick up, push, or throw the ball with her hands, or use her hands on the ball except to stop it. The ball may be caught, hut must be immediately released to fall perpendicularly; (f) Kick the ball or use any part of her person except for stopping it. The ‘ball may not be moved in any direction except with the stick. The foot if used for stopping the ball, shall he taken away immediately, and shall not be used to support the stick when the player is tackled by an opponent, (g) Hit or pass the ball between her feet; (h) Trip, shove, push, charge, shin, strike at, or in any way personally handle her opponent; (i)) Obstruct by running in between her opponent and the ball, nor interpose herself in any way as an obstruction; (j) Interfere in the game in any way unless her stick is in her hand.

The goal-keeper shall be allowed to kick the ball in her own striking circle. She shall not he penalised if in stopping a hit at goal, the ball does not fall perpendicularly, having in the umpire’s opinion merely rebounded off her open hand. In the event of her taking part in a penalty bully, these two privileges shall not be allowed her. Should the ball become lodged in the pads of the goal-keeper or wearing apparel of a player, the game shall he suspended and the ball shall be bullied off on the spot where the incident occurred. (Subject to Rule f), Bully). Note—A ball touching an umpire or post is in play unless it goes off the ground.