The Samsung Indoor Hockey World Cup earlier this year demonstrated that indoor hockey is exciting to watch and enjoyable to play. The event played in Vienna, Austria was a celebration of indoor hockey at the top level but the game is also played at many other levels and in many locations. It is a game in its own right with distinctive characteristics.

Against this background, the FIH Hockey Rules Board (HRB) is keen to consider ways in which indoor hockey might develop further. It has established a taskforce which is viewing matches, consulting players, coaches and officials and investigating possible rules changes. Only a small number of changes are envisaged but the taskforce wishes to be sure they will benefit the game.

Two rules trials are therefore being launched. To create more playing space especially for the attacking team, one trial requires at least one player always to be outside half of the pitch their team is defending. In the other trial, a free push taken by a team inside the half of the pitch they are attacking must not be played directly into the circle. This trial aims to avoid the negative and possibly dangerous action of hard pushes into a crowded circle.

Rules trials of this sort are conducted voluntarily by national associations, continental federations and other competition organisers. The Hockey Rules Board hopes the trials will be conducted widely so that reliable feedback is obtained and decisions can be based on evidence. This is a practical way in which competition organisers can assist in the development of indoor hockey.

Please click here to go to a page on this website which provides links to a detailed explanation of the trials and to a feedback form.