ENGLAND HOCKEY

HEAD OFFICE

Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1RR

T. 01628 897500 F. 01628 897544 E. info@englandhockey.org

www.englandhockey.co.uk

Patron. HRH The Countess of Wessex

RULES OF HOCKEY 2009-10 FREE HIT GUIDANCE ISSUED TO UMPIRES (May 2009)

For free hits (including centre passes, corners and all sideline restarts after the ball has been outside the field)

- All opponents must be at least 5 metres from the ball

For free hits awarded to the attack within their attacking 23 metre area

- All players must be at least 5 metres from the ball

In all situations - if taken quickly and a player is within 5 metres of the ball but is not playing, attempting to play the ball or

influencing play, the taking of the free hit does not need to be delayed – be consistent in your judgment of this

Attacking free hits awarded within 5 metres of the circle must be taken back to the nearest point 5 metres from the circle

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

A player taking a free hit, centre pass, corner or sideline restart can be the next player to play the ball – a ‘self-pass’: -

- Taking the free hit and the next playing of the ball must be two distinct and separate actions. The ball

does not have to move 1 metre before the player may play the ball again.

At a free hit, which is not a ‘self-pass’, the ball must move at least 1 metre before it can be played by a teammate of the

player taking the free hit

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For free hits (including corners and sideline restarts) taken by the attacking team inside the 23 metre area the ball cannot be

played directly into the circle

- At a ‘self-pass’ the ball must travel at least 5 metres from the point of the free hit (not necessarily in a single

direction) before the taker himself can play the ball into the circle.

- Alternatively the ball must be touched, deflected, hit or pushed by any other player before either it enters

or can be played into the circle

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For free hits (including corners and sideline restarts) taken by the attacking team inside the 23 metre area

- Be pro-active and use your common sense regarding the placement of free hits either close to the circle or

the 23 metre line

- Be flexible, only penalise if the ‘wrong spot’ for the free hit is chosen in order to either gain an unfair

advantage or for reasons which are against the spirit and aim of the Rules

- Intentionally moving the location of an attacking free hit outside the 23 metre area to create an opportunity

to play the ball directly into the circle must be seen as an unfair advantage and penalised accordingly

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

For a free hit taken by the attacking team within their attacking 23 metre area which is played directly into the circle

- Do not penalise unless and until the ball actually enters the circle. A free hit is awarded to the opposing team from the

spot where the free hit was incorrectly executed

- Award the appropriate penalty for infringements and be aware of break down play situations, intentional interference

with free hits etc. Use technical and personal penalties as required or appropriate.