Hockey: FIH allows face gear within 23 metre area, relaxes aerial ball play

In its bid to make the sport safer for athletes, the International Hockey Federation has allowed players defending penalty corners to keep their protective equipment on even after the ball goes outside the striking circle, but must remove them at the first opportunity inside the 23m area.

Earlier, the players defending penalty corners were bound to remove their protective equipment immediately inside the circle once the flick is executed.

But the FIH has tweaked its Rule 4.2, which relates to removal of penalty corner protective equipment.

“Rule 4.2 has been changed to allow for defending players using Penalty Corner protective equipment to continue to play the ball outside the circle after an interception during the taking of a penalty corner. Players can now continue to run with the ball while keeping their protective equipment on but they must remove that same equipment immediately after, at the first opportunity to do so and always inside the 23m area,” FIH Sport Director and double-Olympian Jon Wyatt said in a statement.

Elaborating further on the subject, Wyatt said: “No player using PC protective equipment can play the ball outside the 23m area at any time. This has been introduced to protect athlete safety so that the focus can be on the…

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