The FIH has announced changes to the structure of the game that will result in a higher intensity, faster paced and more exciting game of hockey. As of 1 September, major FIH events such as the Champions Trophy, Hockey World league Final and Rio 2016 Olympic Games will assume a new format that includes moving to four 15-minute quarters and having 40-second time-outs when a penalty corner is awarded and after a goal is scored.
Federation of International Hockey (FIH)’s changes in the structure of the game, moving away from two 35-minute halves to four-quarter format of 15 minutes each in a match received supports from Indian head coach Terry Walsh and High-Performance Director Roelant Oltmans.
Overall game time will move from 70 minutes (previously two 35-minute halves) to a 60-minute game with four 15-minute quarters. The additional time-outs for penalty corners and after goals ensures that the new 60-minute format is primarily actual playing time and eliminates the dead time associated with penalty corner set up while allowing for teams to enjoy their goal celebrations,” the FIH said in its website.
The new format will be implemented from September 1st and thereon will be executed in Asian Games (September 19 to October 4) and others FIH events such as the Champions Trophy, Hockey World league Final and Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
leandro Negre, President of FIH, said: “The decision demonstrates our commitment to fan engagement. With the additional breaks, fans will have the opportunity to enjoy more replays and be more engaged with the event, whether in the stadium or watching from a far, while hockey commentators will be allowed more time to provide sport analysis between plays. In addition, coaches and players will see improvement in their performance with the additional opportunities to re-hydrate and re-strategize.”
Under the new rules, 40 seconds will be given to a goal scored and penalty corner execution.
Wlash welcomed the move saying the more breaks makes it easier for the teams to recover.
“The actual logic is time-outs for goal and penalty corner. It’s ok. I think the breaks make it easier for the teams and its players to recover and regroup. It will be really effective,” the Australian told reporters, besides ruling out the lapse of rhythm which will be caused by extra breaks.
Oltmans also felt that the doubt of extra breaks taking away the rhythm of the game could be taken care by few adjustments and adaptations.
The Dutch also opined that it is good for commercial part of the game. “Today without any commercial interference, you can’t play any professional game anymore. So, I think it is a good move. Four quarters’ game is quite common in other successful tournaments like European Hockey league (EHl) and the Hockey India league (HIl),” he said.
“It has an advantage in top players playing for longer time in a game because of the quarters breaks. And coaches will also get the chance to change few things and pass few more extra information inside the team. So, it’s good,” he said.
Meanwhile, talking about the ongoing national camp at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Walsh said that the players are competing hard against each other for places in the World Cup squad which will be held on May 31st in The Hague, the Netherlands.
“ tt is good to see that players are under psychological pressure as they are aware that a selection process is on and which is even physically draining them as they are giving their best. This is a real challenge for the players and they are competing hard. It is nice seeing how the players are reacting under such a circumstance,” he said.