HOOKING IN HOCKEY

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 January 1931, Page 10

HOOKING IN HOCKEY

ABOLITION FAVOURED

INTERNATIONALS’ TRIAL

Hockey enthusiasts in all countries wherein the game is played should be interested in the results of an experimental match played at Wimbledon recently, by a team from the Philistines Club and a (strong eleven organised by C. T. A. Wilkinson, a noted English international player. For some time past women have abolished the rule permitting the hooking of sticks when within striking distance of the ba'il, as it was considered i a dangerous practice and] detrimental j to the stick, but no such alteration | has been made in the men’s ruling on i this point. On this occasion, however, the game of “knockers,” as it was called to avoid infringing the laws of the Hockey Association, was played on a “.stick’ to hall” basis, hooking of sticks not being permissable, and the players were unanimous in their views that the abolition of the concession has been long overdue. The idea of arranging a match involving revolutionary rules was conceived] by Wilkinson., and it is probable that the proposal of abolishing the rule referred to will soon be placed before the association. The run of the play certainly suggested that hooking should be eliminated for the .game, with that element of danger removed was faster and much cleaner. ~ There was also no “bully” in the game, the hit-off being similar in its way to the kick-off employed in Association football. This speeded up play and conduced to constructive movements on the part of the forwards. While the majority of players were in favour of the hit-off from the centre of the field, opinion was divided recarding hitting off from the twentyfive line, as this movement does, in a way, penalise the defence, it being very difficult to get tlie ball clear from the defending side’s half. Hitting instead of rolling the ball in from the touch-line was another experiment tried, but this appeared to give an unfair advantage to the defending! team when the hit is taken in its half It is possible to send in a shot from the touch-line to flue centre of the field, where the waiting forward can hit a “first-timer” at goal. Officials of the Field Hockey Association of the Unitedl States of America and the Chile Hockey Association watched the experimental match, and expressed themselves as pleased with I the result. The following international players expressed their views after the match: . C. S, W. Maroon: I am definitely m favour of the abolition of hooking, but am against the hit-off from the twentyfive line, as I think that it penalises the defence by its being unable to- get the half away. The hit-off from the centre is an improvement, but the bit from the touch-line is no advantage.. C. 11.I 1 . A. Wilkinson: The game lias •proved that there should be no hooking at sticks. Much has been said about this but nothing has been clone, and the next thing will be for the Hockey Association to take tlie matter up. Regarding the hit-in from touch, it has not .made much difference, and I am all for retaining the roll-in

unless there is anything else which is a distinct improvement. I consider the hit-off an advantage, as it improves forward play. B. G. Lampard-Vachell: The hit-in from touch is fine but I am not sure about the adi r antages of the other alterations, although I think that hooking -should be abolished, a® that eliminates an element of danger and makes play a lot faster. W. J. Berry: The hit-off instead of the bully makes dribbling better, and the hit-in from the touch-line is an. a dvantage.