Following is the press release on high school field hockey rules changes
for the 2008-09 season as approved by the National Federation of State
High School Associations (NFHS) Field Hockey Rules Committee and the
NFHS Board of Directors.
Uniform Change Highlights 2008-09 Field Hockey Revisions
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 13, 2008) - A major change in
uniforms was one of 18 rules changes approved by the National Federation
of State High School Associations (NFHS) Field Hockey Rules Committee at
its January 20-21 meeting in Indianapolis. The rules changes were
subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Effective in 2011, the home team must wear a single solid white
uniform top, and the visiting team must wear a single solid black or
dark-colored uniform top.
According to the committee, it has become increasingly difficult
for officials to differentiate between home and visiting teams because
of the similarity of uniforms.
"This new rule should help officials tell the difference," said
Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of educational services and liaison to the
NFHS Field Hockey Rules Committee. "We want to give the officials the
best opportunity to make rulings and issue penalties."
Revisions were also made to the uniform design, including the
position of the team name, decorative accents and side inserts. The
committee chose to delay implementation until 2011 to give schools and
manufacturers adequate time to update the uniforms.
"Currently, we are preparing follow-up diagrams, pictures and
sketches for manufacturers and coaches to understand," Hopkins said.
Rule 1-7-3d was amended to allow the goalkeeper to move the ball
away from her body with a stick, protective equipment or any part of her
body while on the ground. The change helps reduce the risk of injury by
eliminating the opportunity for attackers to drive the ball into the
goalkeeper's body.
Other changes regarding the goalkeeper include Rule 1-7-3e. The
phrase "may not propel an aerial ball with her body, hand or stick" was
deleted to reinforce the flexibility of the goalkeeper pursuant to Rule
1-7-3d.
To maintain consistency with other playing rules modified for
the goalkeeper position, Rule 8-1-1o was changed to include a foul for a
"goalkeeper striking and/or kicking in an intimidating manner, playing
the ball without the stick in her hand, or placing the ball after a hand
stop of an aerial ball."
Other rules changes include:
* Rule 1-2-4e states that the broken line five yards from each
striking circle from end line to end line is now referred to
as the "broken line circle."
* Rule 1-4-3 clarifies that the winner of the pregame coin toss
has the choice of the center pass or which goal to attack in
the first half. The team that does not win shall have the remaining
choice. Both possession and direction will then
change at the beginning of the second half.
* Rule 1-6-4 adds that, effective January 1, 2009, a player's
stick shall not exceed a bow of 25 mm, which must be visible
and permanently labeled on the stick. It shall also not weigh more than
23 ounces and must pass through a two-inch ring.
* Rule 6-1-3 notes that any goal scored when an ineligible
player is on the field shall not count, and play will restart with a
free hit at the center of the field.
* Rule 6-1-4 was added to state that all goals will stand once
the center pass has taken place.
* Rule 8-1-7b was added and reads "the field player removed by
the coach in order for the team to play short during the
goalkeeper's five-minute suspension may properly substitute with another
field player provided that the team plays short."
* In Rule 8-1-Penalty7c, an exception was added that states, "A
disqualified goalkeeper must be replaced by another
goalkeeper. The coach shall decide which field player shall leave the
game in order to fulfill the penalty of the
offending team playing short. However, a designated field player may
properly substitute with another field player provided that
the team plays short." Also, the rule was amended to note that the game
shall be restarted by awarding the appropriate
penalty.
* Rule 9-2-3 was changed to read that on a free hit, the ball
shall be placed on the broken line circle nearest to where the
foul occurred.
* Rule 10-1-11 was added and states: "Do not stop any penalty
corner when time expires if insertion has already taken
place."
* A change to Rule 11-2-4 regarding the position of the
goalkeeper's feet prior to a penalty stroke, deleted the phrase,
"or lose contact with goal line."
* Rule 12-1-2 Penalty now reads, "The head coach of the
offending team shall remove one field player from the game for
five minutes of elapsed playing time. The designated field player may
properly substitute with another field player provided that
the team plays short. The game will restart with a free hit unless a
penalty stroke had already been awarded."
* The signal chart was also amended to add "Pushing."
The committee also adopted five points of emphasis for the
upcoming season. The identified topics include raised ball, raised
stick, rough and dangerous play, body adornment, good sporting behavior
and coaches' professionalism.
According to the NFHS 2006-07 High School Athletics
Participation Survey, 1,500 schools sponsor a competitive field hockey
team with 63,881 girls participating and 405 boys participating.
