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Rules and Briefings
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 7, 2012) -- In an effort to emphasize coaches' responsibilities, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Field Hockey Rules Committee revised several rules to reduce gamesmanship and improve sportsmanship.
Following the committee's January 11-13 meeting in Indianapolis, 10 rule changes were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
To help reduce gamesmanship by coaches, two changes in Rule 4 were approved. First, when a team calls a third time-out, the coach must remove one field player for five minutes of elapsed playing time. The designated player may properly substitute with another field player but the team must still play short for five minutes.
In another effort to deter gamesmanship by coaches, the committee voted to delete Rule 4-3-2, which allowed a coach to request a time-out to review a possible misapplication of the rules.
"One thing that we have maintained in the history of all of our sports is that you can't question an official's judgment," said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of educational services and staff liaison to the Field Hockey Rules Committee. "An official's judgment is just that, and so removing the article eliminates some of that gamesmanship."
[ED: Th comment above from Mr. Hopkins is, on its face, contradictory. It should be noted that the rule allowing coaches to question officials about a misapplication of the rules has had a long history of support by the NFHS in its rule book for field hockey. Further, the rule was never allowed to be used for questioning an umpire's judgment but only for a misapplication of the rules. For example, awarding a penalty stroke because the ball became stuck in a goalkeeper's pads is a misapplication (code for, the umpire didn't know the rules). We're happy to see the NFHS break with that tradition by removing the permission.]
In addition, the committee stiffened the penalty for coaches' misconduct. On a third offense, the offending team must play one player short for the remainder of the game. For a flagrant foul, the head coach is removed and the team plays short.
In other rules changes, teams no longer will be allowed to substitute prior to a penalty corner. This change brings the NFHS rule in line with International Hockey Federation (FIH) rules.
Since the adoption of the self-pass two years ago, risk of injury on starting play has been reduced. As a result, the 7-yard distance from opponents has been reduced to 5 yards.
Two rules were approved to assist officials. First, Rule 2-1-3 now states that the officials may use personal wireless communication devices for officiating purposes during the game (see related article from 2005, published the year before the NFHS banned their use). This change will assist officials in having a better command, control and vision of the field. Second, Rules 5-2-1 and 5-2-2 were combined in an effort to simplify the restart procedure. This change also aligns NFHS rules with FIH rules.
The final change involves Rule 6-1-3, which will no longer disallow goals by illegal players because of equipment infractions.
With the changes ready for implementation, Hopkins believes that the sport is in a positive standing moving forward with the 2012-13 season.
"The rules are in a good place," Hopkins said. "We're in a good place with a longstanding, tradition-rich sport like field hockey. There shouldn’t be that many tweaks to it. These changes just make it better for our level of competition. We want our athletes to enjoy the sport, graduate from high school, and -- in some way, form or fashion – give back to the sport.
"I think all involved -- coaches, officials and players -- should feel comfortable that the committee always works towards the best interest of the young people we serve."
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