Hitting the ball with the edge of the stick

At its March 2006 meeting, the Executive Board agreed proposals for rules changes recommended by the Hockey Rules Board. Most of the changes will apply from 1 January 2007 but one change was agreed for immediate implementation. It relates to use of the forehand edge of the stick to hit the ball hard. This action had already been referred to and prohibited as an interpretation of current rules but is now reinforced by a formal change to the rules. The following applies in 2006.

PLAYERS MUST NOT HIT THE BALL HARD ON THE FOREHAND WITH THE EDGE OF THE STICK.

The forehand is defined as playing a ball which is to the right of the player in a forwards direction. This does not prohibit use of the edge of the stick on the forehand in a controlled action in a tackle, when raising the ball in a controlled way over an opponent's stick or over a goalkeeper who is lying on the ground or when using a long pushing motion along the ground.

The use of the edge of the stick on the backhand has developed as a technical skill and is permitted subject to danger.

This rule change is incorporated in the 2006 Rules of Hockey published on the FIH website. It will be fully integrated in the 2007/8 rules when they are published later in the year.

ENDS….

As one might expect, there has been quite a substantial amount of correspondence about this change - essentially from players and umpires looking for further clarification. England Hockey when unsure of answers has sought clarity from the FIH and in an effort to provide more detail and attempt to pre-empt further questions please see below.

This is a relatively new technique where the ball is played with the edge of the stick (anywhere along it’s length) on the forehand.

This action is considered to be dangerous. This is because the ball must be hit very precisely at the correct spot, otherwise it is likely that the ball will be raised at high speed and in an uncontrolled manner. Also, the direction of the ball from these hits is not predictable by opponents and in most cases not even by the player hitting the ball. This action can be executed accidentally or can be disguised as a different action so opponents have little or no chance to react if the ball is raised.

This applies only to a hard hit of this type. It is not considered dangerous to use the forehand edge of the stick in a controlled action such as the “jab” tackle, raising the ball in a controlled way over an opponent’s stick or goalkeeper who is lying on the ground or when “sweeping” the ball along the ground on the forehand.

A number of people expressed concern that many umpires would penalise any 'hard' shot from either edge of the stick on the forehand side. Actually those umpires would be correct … and indeed, they should penalise any hard hit and not just those that are shots!

The reference to “face down” has also been deleted since the interpretation first issued in January 2006 to make it clear (and hopefully a bit easier for umpires!) that use of either edge on the forehand is prohibited.

The word ‘hard’ is not defined – it is a matter of judgment like other things in the rules. Acting prudently and with common sense is the expectation.

The word ‘edge’ is also not defined explicitly – but experience with the use of ‘backhand’ edge of the stick to play the ball (which is permitted) shows that there is a common and acceptable understanding of this term.

There is a link to other rules about danger – but there is also an important difference in this case. The FIH are not saying that it is permitted to use the forehead edge so long as it is safe; instead they are saying that it must not be used at all because it is potentially dangerous. Referring to it this way will help players, coaches and umpires; it is not a case of waiting to see what happens as a result of a hard hit of this sort – but, quite simply, saying “Don’t ever hit the ball hard using the edge of the stick on the forehand”!

This is the approach the FIH are trying to take. It’s to be seen as a simple prohibition and not one that gets ‘bogged down’ in definitions of ‘hard’ or ‘edge’.