[Closed] Hockey

Thought you couldn't have your stick above head height either?

Many changes in rules, kit and skills since I was at school.

Grass is a bloody funny colour too

MrsbeanZ (, ex county player) tells me as long as your still moving during the tackle its ok .

What I find unfair is a player can deliberately hit the ball at a player and the one who is hit gets penalised, often resulting in penalty corners, or other such draconian punishments.

[may have misunderstood the rule]

In football, a handball is only called if it's deliberate, and if the ball goes off off an opposition player, only a corner or throw in is given, not one of these penalty corners.

Ah ok, cos that rule was a right sod coming from football.

Re the stick above head height, I thought that was only if someone was nearby?

There are some odd rules. I am watching as much hockey as possible to try and learn them.

A huge number of rules changed since I was at school too. There seem to be more set pieces now (lots of short corners).

What I find unfair is a player can deliberately hit the ball at a player and the one who is hit gets penalised, often resulting in penalty corners, or other such draconian punishments.

[may have misunderstood the rule]

That's the game - try and get your ball on their foot & a penalty corner.

If it's lifted above the knee, it's dangerous & hitting player gets penalised.

Dunno but I want make a joke withe punchline black sticks blue but can't link cheese, smut and women's hockey.well

OP yes many rules have changed. The turning your back rule was changed 10 (?) years ago. They've had rolling subs (ie on/off/on) for maybe 20 ? Not sure since when you've been allowed to play to ball above your head or take free hits to yourself.

BTW the reverse stick hit technique is pretty impressive for someone who last played "serious" hockey 25 years ago 😳

[quote=jambalaya ]BTW the reverse stick hit technique is pretty impressive for someone who last played "serious" hockey 25 years ago

Have never played hockey, but that last reverse stick shot by the Netherlands player in the penalty shoot out 😯

The no 1 rule I remember from school was to never ever play against the girls hockey team again. My shins will never ever forget that game, brutal!

The internet says that you aren't allowed to *obstruct* with your body another player trying to play the ball.

So to me that means you can turn even if players are nearby as long as its not during the actual tackle...

There's only one hockey & It's not played on grass.

I last played about 10 years ago and so many rules have changed since then.
Taking a free hit to yourself is one which I think has improved the game lots.
Also, as I used to run 1 on short corners, I wish we had masks to put on..

[quote=esselgruntfuttock ]There's only one hockey & It's not played on grass.

Indeed - makes pedalling too hard work

[img] [/img]

(I've "played" that one, if that's the correct term for my contribution 😉 )

There's only one hockey & It's not played on grass.

Astroturf ftw!

Those girls are tough as nails. Great result, too.

@essel all decent level hockey is played on astroturf these days

Taking a free hit to yourself is one which I think has improved the game lots.
Also, as I used to run 1 on short corners, I wish we had masks to put on..

Yes agreed on both as I used to run 1 and the idea of passing to myself would have appealed 😉

Congrats to the ladies who just made the final via a 3-0 win against the Kiwis with some pretty brave play, they weathered the storm and ran out comfortable winners ! So they will better their London Bronze. Lets go GB lets go.

The FIH revise the rules every two years, the playing the ball over shoulder hight rule was amended in the last update. Self passing free hits has been in the rulebook for seven years now
I'll get my anorak...

I'll get my anorak...

We are in our slippers and dressing gowns reminisng about the distant past so don't worry

esselgruntfuttock - Member

There's only one hockey & It's not played on grass.

Damn right, floorball with a puck

All proper hockey has been played on astro (either water based or sand based) for many years. That is what changed the game the most as it is so much truer surface you dont have to play with upright stick to cope with variable bounce so often. Turning rule was changed years ago and replaced with obstruction, which stops you backing into an opponent but you can turn. Likewise "sticks" only occurs as dangerous play if close to others. The most common reverse stick shot now is played with the inside edge of the stick such that the front faces the surface of the pitch, it is called a tomahawk. You can lift the ball if no opponent is near you.

The "turning" rule was changed about 25 years ago molgrips!!

Sadly my career was cut short by injury 12 years ago - ironically something which the self passing free hit looks to have effectively removed from the game (opposition hit free hit straight into my face from 5 yards away - shattered eye socket and permanently damaged eyesight).

I enjoyed captaining Oxfordshire as a youth and playing North Premier as a student and adult. I took up cycling more seriously when I retired, but the camaraderie was one thing I really missed.

The GB Women have been superb, playing with flair, panache and bucket loads of grit. Bring it home girls!

thegreatape - Member
There are some odd rules. I am watching as much hockey as possible to try and learn them.

Sod all to do with learning the rules Ape - admit it.....

What I find unfair is a player can deliberately hit the ball at a player and the one who is hit gets penalised, often resulting in penalty corners, or other such draconian punishments.

My last season playing was for Chepstow 2nd's 😆 we were a mix of fat old has beens and yoof. Playing Whitchucrh in Cardiff one of their players would stand in front of a free hit about 12 feet, crouched down on his knees, the kid who was taking the hits was getting really flustered and instead of getting it up the pitch would be playing it sideways. I had a word and told him to hit it right at him, give him a bit of a scare. Well he did and holy hell did it have some pretty serious consequences. Ball hit his stick that he was pointing at the hit taker, ricocheted up it striking him on the nose and then eye. Cue lots of blood and an unconscious opponent. Ambulance and everything. Things got a bit out of hand after that. I think we won 2-1 but there was very little shaking of hands.

@pigface.

Oops 😳

I don't think it helps the game as most goals seem to come from set plays these days (well, in the games I've seen).

Also, what happened to long and short corners?

The no 1 rule I remember from school was to never ever play against the girls hockey team again. My shins will never ever forget that game, brutal!

The "turning" rule was changed about 25 years ago molgrips!!

That roughly coincides with the last time I played the game then....

Also, what happened to long and short corners?

Short corners - which are actually penalty corners - are still there, the only major change is that the number of defenders on the line has been reduced to 5 (normally goal keeper + 4 defenders) from 6. The drag flick is possible because of playing on astro

The long corner has been changed (two seasons ago) so that it is taken on the 23m line, in line with where the ball went off. The old long corner used to be easy to defend since it forced the ball into the corner.

As previously said, rule changes happen every two years to make the game 'better'. Some changes have been dropped when they didn't work, but generally the rules are being relaxed to allow the game to flow with fewer interruptions. I am an umpire and unless a player gains an advantage for a foul, we tend to play on.

It is a better game than I started playing 35 years ago, the move to astro, better rules and improvements in equipment have helped all that. However it never will be an easy game to watch on TV as the ball is very small and moved very quickly. (It also does not help that the commentators have no idea about the rules and why the whistle has been blown!)

However it never will be an easy game to watch on TV as the ball is very small and moved very quickly

Much easier than ice hockey, and that seems to do ok on telly in other countries.

It also does not help that the commentators have no idea about the rules and why the whistle has been blown!

Which was noticed last night in the grips household.

Also - what happened to the offside rule?

I've no idea what you mean hammy 🙂

@ourman - ouch. That's dire technique from the other guy and very bad luck.

@Pigface correct advice given imo, not sure why the other team would get the hump really. If we ever encountered that we'd get the player on our team with the strongest hit and have him smash the ball straight at the guy until he backed off.

Changing the offside rule made a huge difference, something football should look at to open up the game. @molgrips that changed years ago, I may have still been playing the odd game. No offside outside the 25 If my memorynserves me correctly

@sadman yes anything to keep it flowing is better imo

It also does not help that the commentators have no idea about the rules and why the whistle has been blown!

Also true in football, the number of times the 'expert' summarisers don't know whay a decision has gone the way it has shows clear ignorance of the laws. at least BT now have an ex ref on the panel who can tell them.

I thoroughly enjoyed last night's game. The only clarification I need is the 'Blood Spillage' crew. These gamesmakers when they volunteer - you need some with people and language skills to help direct the global masses about and answer their enquiries. You need some with driving skills to drive team and official transport. Did anyone specifically volunteer to run on with a bucket and pick up people's teeth and severed appendages or was that the last ones to get handed out? What civilian skills would translate well into that function - suit sporty dentist or abbatoir workers?

I stoped playing 10yrs ago or so. I was (relatively) young and stupid so I used to run 1 and cover the free hits from 5 yards. I now realise this was nuts and red bull rampage is probably safer. Change I've been suprised by is its now played in quarters. When did that happen?

As someone whos played club hockey for 25+ years its always nice to see some respect for hockey. What was always known as a 'girls game' by the vast majority as a kid its great to see the reaction of people who watch or play the game for the first time.

Seen all kinds of injuries over the years. Its a brutal sport and mainly due to the ball and the speed it can be played.
Our captain was #1 on penalty corners, over the years he's managed: Multiple broken fingers, insane bruises on all parts of his body, he's lost his right thumb 3 times (each time the stump gets smaller), broken humerous, broken arm. He is semi mechanical though as I've never seen anyone take hits like him.

The best, or worst time was another penalty corner, this time the attacker hit the ball after it was controlled. Superb strike to be fair by the player but this hit our captain just under his kneecap with a massive thud....which was fine until he went to take another step. That one managed to snap his tibia clean through. He didn't play on this time.

I love the way the rules change, it shows the FIH are trying to create a better game for all. The multiple card system works so well its always amazed me that Wendyball doesn't bring this in. Same with how the umpire can move the ball up the pitch if you give him some verbal (or get sent off as I often did).

[quote=almightydutch ]The multiple card system works so well its always amazed me that Wendyball doesn't bring this in.

I doesn't amaze me at all - it appears that football has no interest in being progressive or in controlling the players. You seem to be confusing football with a sport when it's actually a business.

Far from a unique system anyway - I've not seen 3 levels of card in anything else (I presume there is also a red, having only seen green and yellow shown), but the last time I was carded was 30 years ago, which was 2 minutes off for a yellow for swearing at the ref 😳 (the ref was our club coach and I was swearing at him because he wasn't penalising deliberate foul play against one of the girls in our team!)

I used to be a goalie - great fun, I miss it. I never understood all the outfield rules, my job was to smash into the opposing forwards.

I presume there is also a red, having only seen green and yellow shown

You don't want to get a Red - pretty much the end of your season the way Mrs Dubleyou talks about it.

Same with how the umpire can move the ball up the pitch if you give him some verbal (or get sent off as I often did).

Reds are very rare in Hockey and the consequenses are big suspensions.
The umpires have the option of doing longer yellow cards for bad offences that aren't enough for a red. I've given out a 20 minute yellow before

I think it depends on the teams as to whether you get open field or set piece goals. GB had two penalty flicks last night because they were driving to score field goals and were hacked by NZ. Surprised there wasn't a card thrown for the second one, but the goals hurt them.

International and high level hockey switched to 4x15min quarters over the last two years and it's increased the pace of the game again, especially in the womens game.

I do like how the FIH update the rules to increase the pace of the game but are aiming to protect the players at the same time. I get a lot less injuries now in defence than i did five years ago from being hit by the ball.

Picking the ball above head height was a good rule to introduce last year. The previous interpretation of picking below shoulder height was stupid, especially if you had someone 6ft+ stood near a 5ft kid.

As a club level player and umpire I find it amazing how good the international umpires are, especially at the speed they play at now