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Self Pass Rule 2009

For the new season we have a new rule - the "self-pass" rule. We will all be playing this rule so please take a few minutes to read these notes. You can download the East-Hockey guidance to umpires here. There is also a video produced by the USAFH and recommended by England Hockey (yes they are too tight to make their own!) which you can view here.

For free hits (including centre passes, corners and all sideline restarts after the ball has been outside the field)

  • If the hit is to the attacking side within their attacking 23 metre area than all players must be at least 5 metres from the ball, otherwise all opponents must be 5 metres from the ball.
  • Attacking free hits awarded within 5 metres of the circle must be taken back to the nearest point 5 metres from the circle

A player taking a free hit, centre pass, corner or sideline restart can be the next player to play the ball – a ‘self-pass’.

  • Taking the free hit and the next playing of the ball must be two distinct and separate actions. The ball does not have to move 1 metre before the player may play the ball again.
  • At a free hit, which is not a ‘self-pass’, the ball must move at least 1 metre before it can be played by a teammate of the player taking the free hit

For free hits (including corners and sideline restarts) taken by the attacking team inside the 23 metre area the ball cannot be played directly into the circle.

  • At a self-pass the ball must travel at least 5 metres from the point of the free hit (not necessarily in a single direction) before the taker himself can play the ball into the circle.
  • Alternatively the ball must be touched, deflected, hit or pushed by any other player before either it enters or can be played into the circle.

For free hits (including corners and sideline restarts) taken by the attacking team inside the 23 metre area

  • Intentionally moving the location of an attacking free hit outside the 23 metre area to create an opportunity to play the ball directly into the circle must be seen as an unfair advantage and penalised accordingly.
  • If the ball is played directly into the circle then a free hit is awarded to the opposing team from the spot where the free hit was incorrectly executed.