New rules in force

Press, 31 March 1981, Page 6

New rules in force

Men’s hockey teams in New Zealand will have to cope with the new experimental rules when the 1931 season starts this week-' end. The New Zealand Hockey Association’s management committee approved the introduction of the rules last evening, five monhs ahead of the date recommended by the Hockey'Rules Board, September 1.

With one team, and possibly two, due to compete overseas after September 1, it was felt the introduction of the rules this season was. essential to. enable players to familiarise themselves with them. The New Zealand junior team will play in the Asian qualifying zone of the Junior World Cup in Hong Kong in October, and it is hoped the New Zealand team will Qualify for the. World Cup in Bombay at the end of the year, at the present Inter-Continental Cun in Kuala Lumpur. The experimental rules which apply for this season only, include the replacement of the tra-

ditional bully with a pass-bac?. to start and re-start the game, the abolition of the rule; and the abolition of the corner, to be replaced by a free hit from the goal-line. . „ . Other changes allow the ball to be lifted from a free hit, providing it is not dangerous; a hit.to re-start the game after the bell has passed over the side-line; and members of the team t»k»n fc a free hit can be within five metres of the ball. The rules apply to womens hockey, too, but the New Zealand Women’s Hockey Association’ will not introduce them until after Queen’s Birthday week-end. . Ross Gillespie, of Christchurch, the successful coach of the New Zealand Olympic hockey team at Montreal in- 1976. will assume a new role later this year. He was I chosen last night to manage the ( New Zealand team to the Junior World Cup qualifying comDetition in Hong Kong inOctober. Trevor Blake. (Northland) was previously chosen to coach the side.