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I believe the proposed change to four quarters to be a good idea not because it would give players more time to recover from their exertions, that is largely unnecessary when we already have rolling subs (with players generally being rotated at 6 min to 8 min intervals) and often several breaks for penalty corners, but because it would give the match umpires the breaks needed to maintain focus on the game. Umpiring requires intense concentration and there is very little opportunity during a 35 min half to relax and "switch off" and that can (does) impact on the quality of umpiring. Such breaks would also give the umpires (and coaches) opportunity to communicate and to fine tune during a match.
There is even the possibility, with the introduction of four quarters, to substitute the two umpires in each quarter – employing a total of four umpires, each two alternating in the quarters of a four quarter match. Why not (given that sufficient umpires are available), they are all applying exactly the same Rules and in the same way – right? Well possibly not, but that might be one way of helping them to do so. In fact, given that the two umpires are likely to be the least physically conditioned of the participants and that game speed and intensity are both likely to increase (and umpires are already struggling to cope with game speed according to some international coaches) it may become necessary to substitute umpires or devise a way of increasing the number of match officials (four flag officials and one umpire for example) or do both.
Time stopped when a goal has been scored is a long overdue change but whether or not it is necessary to allow forty seconds "for celebrations" is debatable. Time to organize for a penalty corner has been part of the European League for some years now, its adoption into full Rule was to be expected and forty seconds is not excessive when extra protection has to be donned (why extra protection should be considered necessary during a penalty corner is another matter altogether)
What I find disappointing about what has been proposed for implementation on 1st September (in specified international tournaments) is that the extra breaks in play are to be introduced at the cost of playing time. I would much prefer that playing time was increased to 80 mins. (4 x 20 mins) rather than reduced to 60 mins. (4×15). We are at base being "offered" advertising in place of hockey.
The average soccer league match is around 95 mins. (plus the half-time break) because any playing time considered lost during the match is added to each half. Television in Europe (television being the main reason given for the changes) commonly allocates a two hour slot to a Premier League or International level soccer match (and cricket and golf goes on for days), yet hockey "bends the knee" just to get any attention at all from mainstream television.
It will no doubt be pointed out in the initial debates (where any debate is permitted) that these changes are to be implemented only at elite levels. But introducing changes only at the higher levels of the sport leads to a two-tier (or even three-tier) rule system which will, sooner rather than later, create Rule muddle at the boundary between club (at least 95% of all hockey played) and representative hockey and between Junior and Senior hockey, so in the long term (i.e. when trial is concluded – and we should be having Mandatory Experiments not changes made to Tournament Regulations every few months) any changes made should be universally applied (introduced into full Rule) or not continued with at all.
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Here we go. (29th March, 2014) Hockey India have announced implementation of the "new Rules" in domestic hockey, even before the FIH have published the amended Tournament Regulations which will used in specific International Tournaments from September 1st. 2014 – all we have had so far from the FIH is a media release detailing the proposed changes and stating in which International Tournaments they will be introduced.
Article The Times of India. NEW DELHI: The new hockey rules announced by the international sport governing body, FIH, will be introduced in India for its domestic competition from June 1 this year, Hockey India (HI) said on Saturday.
HI implemented the new FIH tournament rules featuring four quarters of 15 minutes, in all domestic tournaments from June 1 at its 22nd Executive Board meeting held here.
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There is little doubt that in any case, once accepted at the higher levels and "bedded in" with "umpire interpretation" (the umpires telling us what the Rule is), there will be no further discussion before adoption into full Rule, so such discussion should be taking placed now, before any implementation.
It is simply insulting to suggest that the 40 sec. breaks will give an opportunity for replays to be shown, when it is perfectly clear that any breaks will be filled with advertising at the earliest opportunity. Replays can in any case be accommodated by a short delay in live broadcast - and the only reason that would not be considered would be the involvement of the "betting industry" - but that is a problem for the bookies to resolve, betting should not impact on the conduct of the sport.
Do we (participants and spectators in general) want these changes? Did the FIH ask National Associations or the FIH Rules Committee before going ahead with the eight year television agreement which has resulted in this proposal?
Going back to soccer, any suggestion from FIFA that Premier League or International matches should be played to a different format or different Laws from other soccer would, quite rightly, be considered madness – why hockey should vary the Rules played to (via Tournament Regulations or otherwise) according to the level of play is frankly bewildering and not a little insulting when, as it often is, the differences between the playing levels are linked to the intelligence of participants i.e. their ability to understand and comply with the Rules, rather than just to youth and physical fitness. It is also ironic, because a great many international players obviously have no idea what the Rules are and/or are coached in a way that ignores or "bends" them.
See complete article via the provided link or visit martinzigzag.wordpress.com
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