N.Z. To Compete In Olympic Hockey

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31596, 6 February 1968, Page 15

N.Z. To Compete In Olympic Hockey

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

PARIS.

The International Hockey Federation has named 16 national teams to take part in the Olympic Games later this year.

Apart from the four semi-finalists in the 1964 Games in Tokyo Australia, India, Pakistan and Spain the teams are Argentina, Belgium, France, East Germany, West Germany, Britain, Holland, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico and New Zealand.

The secretary of the federation (General Glitchich) said that Singapore, Trinidad Tobago and Canada had been named as replacements. As one African team had to take part in the Olympic tournament, should Kenya drop out, it would be replaced by Rhodesia or Ghana. The teams are chosen on the basis of their performances since the last Olympic Games. New Markings General Glitchich said the federation had also decided to ask member nations to stage experimental trial matches with new pitch markings. The new pitch would be split into three equal portions along its length as for ice-hockey, he said. This would bring about an important modification in the off-

side rule, as an attacker could only be off-side in that third of the pitch nearest the goal he was attacking. Rule Suggestion

In an effort to make the game more open and to produce more goals, the federation will also recommend to the International Hockey Rules Board that it restrict to six the number of defend-

ers allowed behind the goal line when a long-corner is taken.

In the case of short comers, it proposed that only the goalkeeper could remain between his goal posts, and five other defenders would be allowed behind the goal line, but on the opposite side of the goal from that on which the corner was given.