FIH: Trials to Create More Space and Goals.  x3
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| Planet Field Hockey |
June 4, 2001 
FIH
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Three optional trials were proposed by the Hockey Rules Board following their meeting in Brussels in April. The trials are designed to help research into how best to create more space and produce more shots on goal. The Board regard this as part of their work to try to make the game more attractive to watch and enjoyable to play.
National Associations and organisers of appropriate competitions at a variety of levels are being encouraged to trial one, two or all of these new ideas.
The Trials
The number of defenders in defending areas of the pitch restricted.
The scoring zone enlarged.
Simplify and open up the corner awarded when the ball is played over the back-line by a defender.
Less crowded defences
Trial 1. At least three players must stay outside their defending 23 metres area. Eight defenders are allowed in the are, at most.
Trials already conducted in Australia indicate this helps to reduce crowding in and around the circle and encourages attacking options.
Hard hits into the circle are fewer because it is more effective to build ball possession and to penetrate the circle for a shot at goal. There are more shots on goal and the number of goals scored in a match increases a little. The circle and surrounding area are safer.
Larger scoring zone
Trial 2. This allows goals to be scored from anywhere in the attacking 23 metres area.
In the past, there have been occasional trials with bigger scoring zones which had the aim of making the game simpler to understand and more attractive. Some of the outcomes were positive but, on balance, it was decided then to retain the circle as the scoring zone.
However, now that space has been opened up in attacking areas because there is no offside and the whole width of the pitch is used more for attacking play, it is timely to conduct another trial.
Ball over the back-line
Trial 3. The trial (long) corner is based on the current penalty corner though the ball will still be injected from the existing corner spot - on the side-line five metres from the corner flag.
Eight defenders will be required to be behind the back-line, with their remaining team-mates beyond the 23 metres line. Attackers must be outside the circle.
This (long) corner will be awarded whether the ball is played intentionally or unintentionally over the back-line by a defender. That should be simpler for players, umpires and spectators to understand.
It is believed more open play will result and that there will be more goal scoring opportunities. This should discourage defenders from intentionally playing the ball over their own back-line.
Conducting the trials
The detailed instructions for these trials and ways of evaluating them are being prepared by the Hockey Rules Board. These will be circulated to national associations and will also be posted on the FIH website.
Members of the Board will work closely with those conducting these trials.
The Hockey Rules Board is very keen to see the game develop in appropriate ways while not losing its existing distinctive and attractive characteristics. It believes these trials are likely to result in positive developments in the game.
They will be reviewed later in the year and could possibly lead to mandatory experiments (which must be played throughout hockey) after the World Cups in 2002. 
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