About the new hockey rules for 2009 / 2010

The New Hockey Rules for 2009 / 2010

New for the 2009 / 2010 hockey season are the self pass and free hit in the 23 metres area hockey rules that some of us have been getting to grips with over the summer.

The self pass rule allows you play the ball to yourself from a free hit. View the You Tube video to the right which provides a fairly good explanation of the new rule. This means that that game can get restarted after a stoppage much quicker and so the speed of the overall game increases. This provides the attacking team much more advantage as they don't have to wait for their team mates to be in position before play can continue.

The other rule change is that you are no longer allowed to pass the ball directly into the D from a free hit in the 23 metres area. It was felt that that the ball is often played hard, indiscriminately and therefore potentially dangerously into the circle from free hits in the attacking 23 metres area.

Any free hits awarded in the 23m area must be taken out to at least the 5m dotted line around the edge of the D. From there the ball must be moved indirectly before being played into the D.

You can see the new rules being played in the Euro Hockey League website, or search for 'New Hockey Rules' on You Tube.