2015-16 NFHS Field Hockey Rules Interpretation - B. Elliot Hopkins, MLD, CAA Director of Sports, Sanctioning and Student Services

National Federation of State
                High School Associations

 2015-16 NFHS Field Hockey
    Rules Interpretation
       B. Elliot Hopkins, MLD, CAA
Director of Sports, Sanctioning and Student
                  Services

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Rule 1-5-6 Penalty
 PENALTY: A field player wearing an illegal
  uniform shall be removed from the game
  … she has complied with the rules, or she
  may be replaced, in a manner consistent
  with the substitution rules. Misconduct
  penalties will be assessed to the head
  coach, using the card progression.

Rule 1-5-6 Penalty (cont.)
 Rationale: The rule was modified to not
  penalize the offender’s team by changing
  possession, but by requiring that the head
  coach is aware and responsible for the team’s
  uniforms to be in compliance with NFHS field
  hockey playing rules.

Rule 1-6-5
 ART. 5 . . . All field players shall wear eye
  protection that meets the current ASTM
  standard for field hockey. (Note: Effective
  January 1, 2019, all eye protection shall be
  permanently labeled with the current ASTM
  2713 standard for field hockey). Other
  protective devices…unyielding headgear
  (even if padded).

Rule 1-6-5 (cont.)
 Rationale: Currently all protective eyewear
  must meet the ASTM standard and several
  products are not labeled on the eyewear but
  on the eyewear packaging. Coaches are not
  able to ensure that their players are using
  current ASTM standard eyewear unless they
  have the eyewear packaging in their
  possession.

Rule 1-6-5 (cont.)
 Rationale: The rules committee felt that it
  was in the best interest of all involved to have
  the eyewear permanently labeled that it
  meets the current ASTM 2713 field hockey
  standard. The committee also felt that the
  manufacturers needed time to comply with
  the new requirement.

Rule 1-6-11 Penalty
 PENALTIES:
 1. For a field player wearing/using illegal
  equipment and/or not wearing/using
  required equipment, the player shall be
  removed from the game at the first
  stoppage of play following the discovery
  of the violation.

Rule 1-6-11 Penalty (cont.)
 The removed player may re-enter if she
  has complied with the rules, or she may be
  replaced, in a manner consistent with the
  substitution rules. Misconduct penalties
  will be assessed to the head coach, using
  the card progression.
 2. For a field player deliberately removing
  or not wearing required equipment, it shall
  be penalized as unsportsmanlike conduct
  misconduct against the player using the
  card progression.

Rule 1-6-11 Penalty (cont.)
 Current #3 becomes #2. Should read as
  follows: 2. If an entire team has no mouth
  protectors, shin guards or protective
  eyewear that meets the current ASTM
  standard for field hockey, and they are not
  immediately available, that team shall
  forfeit the game.
 Rationale: The penalty was modified to
  support the abovementioned rule change (1-
  5-6) to hold the head coach responsible for
  the team’s equipment being in compliance
  with NFHS field hockey playing rules.

Rule 1-7-7
 ART 7. . . For a goalkeeper wearing/using
  illegal equipment and/or uniform, the game
  shall be temporarily suspended at the first
  stoppage of play until she complies with the
  rule or is replaced. Misconduct penalties will
  be assessed to the head coach, using the
  card progression. If the offending team
  cannot provide a goalkeeper in compliance
  with the equipment/uniform requirement, then
  that team shall forfeit the game.

Rule 1-7-7 (cont.)
 Rationale: The similar rule was modified to
  reflect the change of the field players’
  equipment and uniform and not penalize the
  offender’s team by changing possession, but
  by requiring that the head coach is aware and
  responsible for the goalkeeper’s uniforms and
  equipment is in compliance with NFHS field
  hockey playing rules.

Rule 2-2-4
 ART. 4 . . . At the end of each half, the timer
  shall sound an audible device to indicate that
  time in the half has expired. The umpire’s
  whistle shall signal the official end of each
  half. When a visible scoreboard is available, it
  shall be the official clock and shall remain on
  until the clock runs down to zero.

Rule 2-2-4 (cont.)
 Rationale: At the end of each half either the
  timer’s sounding an audible device or the
  visible scoreboard’s signal device may
  indicate that the half is completed, but it is the
  umpire’s whistle that officially ends each half.

Rule 3-2-11
 ART. 11 . . . Playing the ball is stopping,
  deflecting or moving the ball with the stick.
  The goalkeeper may play the ball with leg
  guards, kickers, hand protector, or any part of
  the body while in the circle. Players may
  stop, receive and deflect or play the ball in a
  controlled manner in any part of the field
  when the ball is at any height including above
  the shoulder unless this is dangerous or leads
  to danger. Players must not play the ball
  dangerously or in a way which leads to
  dangerous play.

3-2-11 (cont.)
 Players have been well coached and have
  grasped the concept playing the ball in any
  part of the field at any height including above
  their shoulders as long as certain criteria
  exists.

Rule 5-2-1 #5 Exception
 EXCEPTION: If play is stopped because of
  an injury or any other reason during the
  taking of a penalty corner at the end of a
  prolonged first or second half and a bully
  would otherwise be awarded, the penalty
  corner must be taken again.

 Rationale: This rule was added to prevent
  coaches from having a field player fake an
  injury during a penalty corner near the end of
  the first or second half.

Rule 8-1-1a
 a. Players may stop, receive and deflect or
  play the ball in a controlled manner in any
  part of the field when the ball is at any height
  including above the shoulder unless this is
  dangerous or leads to danger.
 NOTE: A stick raised high in front or back
  when players are approaching or within
  playing distance, is dangerous and/or
  intimidating.

Rule 8-1-1a (cont.)
 Rationale: Rule 8-1 defines fouls and their
  penalties if the stick is raised above the
  shoulders when players are approaching or
  are within playing distance or in an
  intimidating or dangerous manner.

Rule 10-3-2g
 Old 10-2-12g becomes new 10-3-2g.
 Sub-articles a-f remain the same.
 g. If play is stopped because of an injury or
  any other reason during the taking of a
  penalty corner at the end of a prolonged first
  or second half and a bully would otherwise be
  awarded, the penalty corner must be taken
  again.

Rule 10-3-2g (cont.)
 Rationale: There are different procedures on
  how to restart play when a stoppage occurs
  during the taking of a penalty corner at the
  end of a prolonged first or second half that is
  different than taking a regular penalty corner.

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     High School Associations

Editorial Changes

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Rule 1-5-1m
 One American flag, not to exceed 2 inches by
  3 inches, may be worn or occupy space on
  each item of uniform apparel. By state
  association adoption, to allow for special
  occasions, commemorative or memorial
  patches, not to exceed 4 square inches, may
  be worn on the uniform without compromising
  its integrity.

 Rationale: Editorial.

Rule 1-5-4
 Combined text from old rule 1-5-1 to current rule 1-5-
  4.
 ART. 4 . . . Individual players may wear…warm-up
  pants. Players are permitted to wear solid color
  undergarments, either short-sleeved or long-sleeved.
  Undergarments, if worn, shall be white for home team
  and black or dark for the visiting team. All players on
  the same team who choose to wear an undergarment
  must wear the same color.

 Rationale: Editorial.

1-8-1 Note
 NOTE: Refer to Rule 12-1 Penalties.

 Rationale: Editorial.

Rule 5-1 and 5-2 Changes
   The old Rule 5-1-1 becomes the new 5-2-2.
   The old 5-1-2 becomes the new 5-1-1.
   The old 5-1-3 becomes the new 5-1-2.
   The old 5-1-4 becomes the new 5-1-3.

 Rationale: Editorial.

Rule 8-1-1gNote
 NOTE: See Officials’ Guide V. A. Aerial Balls
  – General Information Points 1-6.

 Rationale: Editorial.

Rule 9-1-2
 ART. 2 . . .If the defense is awarded a free hit
  within 16 yards of the end line of the circle,
  the hit may be taken anywhere in line with the
  violation up to 16 yards from the inner edge of
  the end line. Opposing players must be at
  least 5 yards away from the spot where taken.

 Rationale: Editorial.

Rule 10-2-11 & 12
 Old 10-2-11 becomes new 10-3-1.
 10-2-12 becomes new 10-3-2 with
  modification.
 ART. 2 . . .The penalty corner awarded at the
  end of a prolonged first or second half shall
  be considered completed when:…

 Rationale: Editorial.

Officials’ Guide I. B. 9.
 9. Ensure that official time is correct.

 Rationale: Moved from I. D. 1a (Official
  Positioning) for clarification.

Officials’ Guide V. A. V. Comment
    COMMENT: Players are now allowed to play
     the ball with their sticks above their shoulders
     provided it is not dangerous.

    Rational: Editorial.

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         High School Associations

2015-16 Points of Emphasis

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Properly Marked Eyewear
 With the ASTM standards 2713-09, 2713-14
  being in place since 2009, the standardization
  of the performance of protective eyewear is
  more important now than ever before. It is
  incumbent upon the coaches and players to
  use the properly marked protective eyewear
  as it was manufactured.
 Combining various protective devices is
  potentially harmful and immediately voids any
  manufacturer’s warranty.

Properly Marked Eyewear
 By rule, required equipment shall not be
  modified and shall be worn as intended by the
  manufacturer.
 Manufacturer’s spend hundreds of hours
  researching and testing products before they
  are released to the public. They ensure that
  their products will perform at the highest level
  possible if it is worn properly.

Properly Marked Eyewear
 The NFHS makes a significant investment in
  time and resources to identify appropriate
  equipment for field hockey, for the sole
  purpose of minimizing risk.
 That is why there is a new rule requiring that
  all protective eyewear that meets the current
  ASTM standard be permanently labeled
  effective January 1, 2019.

Rough and Dangerous Play
 Officials must be able to recognize dangerous
  play and penalize it appropriately. Although it
  is recognized that the possibility of injury is
  inherent in field hockey all participants have
  the obligation to minimize risk whenever
  possible.

Rough and Dangerous Play
 Overly aggressive play and lack of regard for
  everyone’s safety is unacceptable in the sport
  of field hockey. In both practice and game
  play coaches need to teach the safe use of
  the stick and good body control. Players
  need to accept the possibility they could inflict
  serious injury.

Good Sporting Behavior
 Officials and coaches need to work together.
  Each contest is another opportunity for
  coaches and officials to teach not only field
  hockey, but also model good sporting
  behavior as well.
 The positive values that are learned will serve
  the players long after their field hockey
  experience has concluded. Game situations
  typically provide a coach the opportunity to
  identify a teachable moment to reinforce good
  sporting behavior.

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    High School Associations

Officials’ Guide

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Official’s Guide
  Penalty Stroke - X. B. 4.
 B. After the penalty stroke
 1-3 remain the same.
 4. If the penalty stroke is to be retaken, the
  lead umpire signals the penalty stroke and
  advises both the stroker and the goalkeeper
  of the reason.

 Rationale: Provides additional direction and
  explains the duties of the lead umpire when
  they are administering the penalty stroke.

Official’s Guide
    Aerial Balls – V. A. 7.
 A. General Information
 1-6 remain the same.
 7. If an opposing player is closer than 5 yards
  to the receiving player, the opposing player
  may not move toward the receiving player
  until the ball is safely played and on the
  ground.

 Rationale: To reflect the recent changes of
  rules 3-2-11 and 8-1-1a.

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       High School Associations

NFHS Sports Medicine

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NFHS Sports Medicine
          The 2013-14 season has continued to have one of
           the lowest injury rates.
          Overall, field hockey injury rates have significantly
           decreased over the last six year surveillance period.
          For the 2013-14 season:
             • Strain/sprains injuries (35.7%)
             • Head/face injuries (21.8%) remained the most
               common injured body site
             • One eye injury was reported.
             • Knee injuries (16.9%)
             • Concussions (20%)
          2014-15 injury data will be released September 2015.
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Courses Currently Available at
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Inclusion of Students with Disabilities
Guidelines for Schools and State Associations for
       Consideration of Accommodations

2015 NFHS Field Hockey Rules
      Book as E-Book
  Electronic Versions of the NFHS Field Hockey
   Rules is now available for purchase as an e-
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