Umpire Directives and Recommendations

More Umpiring Directives have been received.

Please read

The Recommendation to Umpires

Umpire Directive - Raised Stick Over Head

Umpire Directive - Lifted Ball

Umpire Directive - Player Back Chat

Umpire Guidance Document for New Rules from England Hockey

This is a document prepared by England Hockey to give guidance to their umpires for their upcoming winter season, when they start playing the 'new' rules. There are some useful pointers in this well written document. Worth reading.

Update to Direct pass into the circle from inside the 23 by an attacker.

A rule update has been received from Charlie Martin.

Up until now umpires have been directed to take a free hit for an illegal pass into the circle taken from inside the 23m area, from where it enters the circle, up to the 15m line.

As from now the free hit is to be taken from where the attacking free hit was incorrectly executed.

As per normal, this free can also be taken up to the 15m line in line with the location of the attacking free, if that was between the 15m and the back lines.

Note that this applies to long corner and sideline hits as well.

See also the FIH 2009 Umpire Briefing Notes.

Umpire Directive - Raised Stick over the head

Hockey Victoria have released a directive to umpires on the issue of sticks raised over the head of opponents. Please read this if you are an umpire.

Latest AHL Rule Interpretations

A further set of rule interpretations and guidelines relating to the new rules have been released by the AHL. Please read them here.

New Rules for 2009

Hockey Victoria has announced that they will be using the new rules in the 2009 season for all Melbourne competitions - all age groups.

Hockey Ballarat has decided that the same rules will apply for the local competition.

The major differences are:

1. the self-pass from a free hit
2. the 5 m rule for all for an attacking free within the 23m zone
3. not being able to hit a free hit straight into the circle from within the 23m zone

The FIH Hockey Rules Board description of the new free hit rule is here.

The Hockey Australia interpretation and guideline is here.

Hockey Ballarat is planning to organise an umpire briefing session and possible demonstartion of the new rules in action before the start of the season.

Tomahawk Rule

   Tomahawk

Following comment from clubs and the widespread use of this shot throughout most of the other states, the ban on the “tomahawk” in Victoria was considered by the High Performance Committee and the RRC.  It has been determined that because the shot requires a high degree of skill it should only be permitted in the U17A, U15A, U17GA, U15GA grades for the 2008 season as a trial. 

Umpires should be reminded that the dangerous play applies in all situations regardless of the legality of the “tomahawk.

The Tomahawk is banned in all Hockey Ballarat Junior Competitions regardless. Within the Senior Competitions it can only be used if it is deemed to be safe