World body rings dramatic changes in hockey

Biswajyoti Brahma,TNN

NEW DELHI: In a major rule change aimed at making the game more exciting and viewer-friendly, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Thursday announced its decision to reduce the duration of matches to 60 minutes from its current duration of 70 minutes.

It has also decided to divide the game into four quarters of 15 minutes each. Hockey, which made its Olympic debut in 1908, has been played over two halves of 35 minutes each.

The new rule would come into effect from September 1 this year and major FIH events such as the Champions Trophy, Hockey World League Final and 2016 Rio Olympics will be played in the new format which also provides for 40-second time-outs whenever a penalty corner is awarded or after a goal is scored, the FIH said.

FIH said the move to make the game faster and more exciting was based on the model tried and implemented by Hockey India League and Euro Hockey League. “The decision demonstrates our commitment to fan engagement,” FIH president Leandro Negre said.

The move to make hockey more attractive became necessary after the game came under the scrutiny of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In 2013, IOC voted to oust wrestling from the Olympic core sport and hockey barely managed to save itself. Wrestling, however, was later reinstated after it came with some rule changes to make the game more viewer-friendly. Negre had than termed the IOC vote as a “wakeup call” for hockey.

‘Format suits Indian players’

Former Indian coach Harendra Singh welcomed the “major change” and said the format would suit the Indian players, but also pointed out that it would make the job of the coaches more challenging. “This is best for entertainment and it will certainly generate more revenue as matches will be very fast-paced like basketball,” Harendra told TOI.

“As far as players are concerned, I think this format will suit players from the sub-continent. The players will get more breaks during the matches and it will help them start each quarter fresh,” Harendra told TOI. “But it will be a new challenge for coaches as they would have to make optimal use of the players by coming up with good rolling substitution.”

Olympian Viren Rasquinha also agreed that the changes would make the game more exciting. “Shorter duration means more goals,” Rasquinha said. However, he added that to make the most of the changed format, India should start using it in the domestic circuit. “Rolling substitution has been very crucial in the last 10 years. We need to introduce the new format in the domestic structure.”

New Format

Match duration: 60 minutes 4 quarters: Each quarter will be of 15 minutes

40 sec timeout: After penalty corner awarded and after a goal scored

Two-minute breaks: After the first and third quarters. The existing 10-minute half time will remain unchanged.

The new format comes into effect from September 1, 2014

Major rule overhauls in the sport over the years

Artificial turf replaces grass in the 1970s

Introduction of floodlights. With growing TV coverage of major events, artificial lighting was introduced during the evening games in the mid 1970s

Rolling substitution. Two substitutes were first allowed in 1973 but once taken off the field, the player was not allowed back on to the field (like in football). In 1988/89, three substitutes were permitted. Since 1992, multiple, rolling changes were allowed

Off-side rule dropped in 1996 in a bid to ensure more goals during a match

A “self-pass” from a free hit was introduced. It enables the player taking the free hit to play the ball himself again after taking the free hit to encourage free-flowing hockey.

“Own goal” introduced: a goal can be scored after the ball is touched in the circle by either an attacker or a defender.