Hockey players informed about changed rules

Bhopal, Mar 29 (UNI) As the Indian Hockey team gears up its loins for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey tournament to be held in Malaysia, players were today informed about two new rules introduced in international hockey two months back.

Federation of Hockey International (FHI) umpire committee member Shakeel Qureshi provided information to team members, coach and phyisiotherapist, about changed rules with the help of video film.

Mr Qureshi told UNI here that the new rule specified that the player taking the free hit may use a self-pass. This would enable him to play the ball again after taking the free hit.

Besides, attacking free hits taken inside the 25 yard area have been reviewed in general and in relation to the self-pass. The rules specify that these free hits must not be played directly into the circle.

The new rules would be implemented for the first time in a senior-level hockey tournament during the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey tournament. Earlier, the rules were implemented in a junior international hockey tournaments held in Malaysia recently.

Mr Qureshi, who is Umpires’ Development Manager in Indian Hockey’s ad-hoc committee, said he had recently gone to Mayanmar to train umpires about the new rules while Challenger Hockey tournament was in progress.

He served as umpire in several international hockey matches before retiring in 2006.