The New Field Hockey Self - Pass Rule

The new self pass rule is coming this fall to high school field hockey play.

What is it? Yes I know a lot of you have never heard about this new rule. I believe this to be an amazingly good rule.The money has been used to transform a patch of derelict land adjacent to the school into a small garden with storage units to house the school's wheelbarrows, gardening tools and outdoor play equipment. Lynda Edwards, a reception class teacher at the school, said: "We are absolutely delighted the donation from P&G has allowed us to transform the patch of land into a useful storage unit."One of the changes focuses on a �self-pass� from a free hit. In essence, this enables the player taking the free hit to play the ball again after taking the free hit. This will encourage free-flowing hockey. An associated rule change will stop attacking free hits taken inside the 23 meters area from being played directly and potentially dangerously into the circle. Both changes will be introduced as mandatory experimental rules with effect from 1 May 2009 for international hockey and was soon adopted at the collage level.Let's walk through the steps, shall we.I for one can�t wait for the new rule to be as common as dribbling the ball or driving the ball. With time it will be an every day part of the wonderful game of field hockey. I know with the high school team I coach and my travels team that this will only help make the game be played at a much faster pace, with many more scoring opportunities. This in turn will help the game grow at all levels and that is what every coach including myself works so hard for.Hey remember when all we heard on television is how the GOP was the party of "No?" What now?Even the hyper liberal New York Times cannot stomach the Democratic inaction. "What exactly are the Democrats proposing as their alternative to get the budget back into long-term balance?" the Times editorialized recently. "Rather than coming up with original ideas and sensible policies to counter the extreme ones pouring out of the House, it simply votes down House bills, or refuses to take them up."As one House Republican official told FIuman Events, "It's not a matter of him agreeing with Rep. Ryan, but the President is a leader and leaders need to act, not simply talk, and he has not done that yet."

I for one can�t wait for the new rule to be as common as dribbling the ball or driving the ball. With time it will be an every day part of the wonderful game of field hockey. I know with the high school team I coach and my travels team that this will only help make the game be played at a much faster pace, with many more scoring opportunities. This in turn will help the game grow at all levels and that is what every coach including myself works so hard for.

Author: Coach Ken Humphreys