International Super Series: Something new and innovative from Hockey Australia
Hockey Australia has diverted from the traditional patterns to some innovative hockey series named International Super Series with some newly introduced rules in order to make the sport more appealing to the fans. This series is to take place at the Perth
Hockey Stadium from October 20 to 23.
The Chief Executive of Hockey Australia Mark Anderson stated that this stadium will serve as the perfect field for an exhilarating world-class hockey tournament.
"We have been in discussions with the West Australian Government to have other events sit alongside CHOGM because it will be an exciting time in Perth and from a hockey perspective we are pleased to be part of that. We are excited to have a tournament that
sits alongside a major event which provides a fantastic opportunity to showcase our sport,” Anderson quoted.
The series will comprise of five nations India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Malaysia and the World Champions Australia. The series will be conducted for both Men’s and Women’s hockey teams where both the International Australian hockey teams Kookaburras and Hockeyroos
will face-off the World’s best teams.
The new rules will help reduce the unnecessary delays, speeding up the game and increasing the match’s excitement for the spectators.
Formerly, many suggestions were given for changing the sport’s format in order to make the game more appealing. The major twist put-in the Super Series is more like the Twenty20 cricket where nine players will be sent to play in the field rather than the
usual eleven.
A total set of new rules has been put forward by Hockey Australia and national coaches Adam Commens and Ric Charlesworth that are given as follows:
-All teams have a maximum of 9 players on the field (instead of 11 players) with 2 players having to stay in the attacking half at all times
-Each match consists of two 15 minute halves (instead of 2x35 minute halves) with only 5 minutes break for halftime
-The penalty situations have been simplified to make it more broadcast friendly and easier to understand for new viewers:
Penalty corner Four attackers vs two defenders + goalkeeper
Penalty stroke 1-on-1 “Face-off” between a player and the goalkeeper with the player starting at the 23 metre line and having a 1-on-1 challenge against the waiting goalkeeper
-To end a drawn match, use of a “sudden death” system with 1-on-1 face-offs until one team fails to score
-More tolerance of foot and stick contact to reduce unnecessary stoppages in play. If the ball hits the foot outside the circle and it does not influence play. Normal foot rules apply as normal in the circle
-Players and coaches interaction to give fans an inner sanctum view of how the best teams in the world operate
-A goal inside the circle will be worth two goals. A goal outside the circle up to the half-line will be worth one goal. The ball must enter the circle no higher than knee/ backboard height from outside the circle for it to count as a goal.
This event is of great importance in the international arena and running the series parallel with it allows the opportunity to show how exceptional the sport hockey is.
Anderson commented over the innovative series by saying that Hockey Australia was looking forward to make changes and experiment with the sport for improving the excitement, pace and goal scoring so that not just the hockey fans but some new audience also
gets to love the sport.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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