New FIH rules to be introduced in India from June 1

New Delhi: The new hockey rules announced by the international sport governing body, FIH, will be introduced in India for its domestic competition from June 1 this year, Hockey India (HI) said today.

HI implemented the new FIH tournament rules featuring four quarters of 15 minutes, in all domestic tournaments from June 1 at its 22nd Executive Board meeting held here. As of September 1, hockey will be played in four 15-minute quarters instead of two 35-minute halves while forty-second time-outs will also be introduced and be implemented when a penalty corner is awarded and after goals are scored, the FIH had said earlier this month. The body also discussed issue of Harbir Singh who was denied a visa for participation in the Commonwealth Games 2014 at Glasgow. HI secretary general Narinder Batra has been authorised to take further action on this matter after consultation with Indian Olympic Association. Among other decisions, HI appointed Sports Mechanics to provide video analysis to each of the four national teams including men and women teams in senior and junior category. Food Corporation of India`s associate membership was ratified by the Board. Further the decision was taken to introduce a new category of membership for Hockey India named as Hoc-Key member for under-15 teams. Hockey Citizen XI membership in the category of Hoc-Key member was ratified," the board said in a statement. Five new academy members - R D T Academy, Chennai, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Academy, Punjab, Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy, Tamil Nadu, Nehru- NDMC Hockey Academy and Hubli Hockey Academy, Hubli - were also added. Bjorn Isberg was appointed as Tournament Director and Craig Gribble as Umpires Manager for the Hero Hockey India League 2015 was approved, it added. The performance and activities of existing Hockey India members were discussed and a decision was taken to relegate Hockey Andhra Pradesh from permanent member category to Associate member for changing their president without any prior intimation to the parent body. A decision was taken to disaffiliate Hockey Hyderabad, who was an Associate member, and said they would not be participating in any of the national championships conducted by Hockey India in 2014. A decision was taken to disaffiliate Hockey Delhi on grounds that they changed their president and constitution without prior intimation or approval.