The Years of Rule Changes recorded - booklets on Outdoor and Indoor rules  x2
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| Planet Field Hockey |
February 4, 2001 
FIH
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To mark the centenary of the Hockey Rules Board (1900-2000), the International Hockey Federation have published a fascinating 20 page booklet, “Chronological Evolution of the Rules of Hockey”. It has been
researched and produced by Ernest Wall (Sco), Evlyn Raistrick and George Croft.
The booklet reveals the leading role played by the Board to ensure that hockey players at all levels have been able to enjoy their game under controlled, authoritative, yet user-friendly world-wide rules.
It highlights the general changes to the Rules and, while it is not intended to be a complete list of all changes, it is not far short of that.
A set of Rules was actually drawn up by several men’s clubs in London in January 1876 following the establishment of the first, but short-lived, Hockey Association (England) the year before.
Prior to that date the captains had agreed the Rules under which each game was played, including the number of players per team which varied from eight to eleven.
An interesting rule, taken from the minute book of Surbiton Hockey Club, said:
Rule 7. The ball may be stopped, but not carried or knocked, by any part of the body.
No player shall raise his stick above his shoulder.
The ball shall be played from right to left, and no left or back-handed play, charging, tripping, collaring (pulling a shirt) or shinning (hitting the leg), shall be allowed.
The chronology starts with 1886 when one of the rules allowed hooking of sticks “but only within striking distance of the ball”.
The International Rules Board (later the Hockey Rules Board) was formed on 23 April 1900 in London by the men’s hockey associations of England, Ireland and Wales. The first meeting of the Board was held on 25 July 1900. Scotland joined the Board in 1902.
It was not until 1907 that umpires were allowed to apply the Rules without waiting for an appeal. Prior to this time appeals had to be made by players before an umpire could give a decision. Some habits die hard.
It was not until 1938 that any form of interference with the stick of an opponent, including hooking of sticks, was forbidden as was the use of any part of the body, except the hand, to stop the ball.
The radius of the circle was increased from 15 to 16 yards in 1950 but this was not incorporated in the women’s game until 1968.
The booklet is based on the rules for men’s hockey and does not include details of the Rules for women’s hockey before the Rules were combined into one common code.
Few people can remember what year many of the rules changed. This well presented booklet has nearly all the answers.
Indoor hockey
The story of The Rules of Indoor Hockey has also been produced. This has written by Ernest Wall (Scotland).
The only rule book for indoor hockey up until 1966 was one produced by the German Hockey Association which was used in both East and West Germany and, after translation, by other European countries.
Rene Frank, a former President of the FIH who was then Honorary General Secretary, persuaded the Germans to hand over responsibility for the rules to the FIH Indoor Hockey Committee in 1966. The first FIH Indoor Rules Book was published in three languages, German, French and English.
It was in 1968 that the FIH recognised the indoor game, decreeing in its Constitution that hockey included indoor hockey.
It was not until 1988 that responsibility for the indoor rules was transferred to the Hockey Rules Board. The FIH Indoor Hockey Committee was abolished that year and the European Hockey Federation took control of competitions in Europe.
Copies of both booklets can be obtained from the International Hockey Federation.
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