Experimental Rules For Island Hockey

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32073, 22 August 1969, Page 13

Experimental Rules For Island Hockey

The experimental rules recommended by the international federation will be used in the annual inter-island hockey match, to be played in Christchurch on September 13.

This was decided at a meeting of the New Zealand Hockey Association management committee, at which Mr R. Campbell said the rules would promote more open hockey and reduce the use of defensive tactics around the goal area. The new rules were: The roll-in (from the sideline)—replaced by a hit-in; The centre line dispensed with and a centre spot only to be used; The 25-yard fine replaced by a 35-yard line; A player to be offside !

when beyond the further (attacking) 35-yard line; Penalty corners to be awarded beyond the 35-yard line; When a penalty corner has been awarded, all defending players (except the goalkeeper) must stand on the side of the goal farthest away from where the hit is to be taken, and the five nondefending players wiU remain outside the 35-yard line. A “long” corner will also require five members of the defending team to remain outside the 35-yard line. The association’s opinion on any type of substitution has also been sought by the international federation, i A questionnaire will be distributed after the game to umpires and players, in an effort by the association to gauge the merits of the new rules.