Under the FIH Rules of Hockey, Rule 9.7 states that “Players must not play the ball with any part of the stick when the ball is above shoulder height except that defenders are permitted to use the stick to stop or deflect a shot at goal at any height”.

The new EHL ruling allows a player to “stop, receive and/or deflect the ball in a controlled manner in any part of the field when the ball is above the shoulder”. However, players must not play the ball dangerously or in any way that leads to dangerous situations for any player. The EHL hope that the rule change will “add an extra element of excitement” to the game.

Three other rules were also confirmed for inclusion in the EHL statutes which the IHL is guided by. Firstly, the breaking the line at penalty corner ruling has been tweaked to be consistent with FIH regulations.

The rule now reads as follows: “Any defending player breaking the line at a penalty corner will be removed to the centre line and will not be replaced. The defending team will therefore defend the PC with one player less.”

The FIH regulations also require that an attacking player who enters the circle before the ball is played should also be removed to beyond the centre line.

“If an attacking player enters the circle before the ball is played, the offending player(s) shall be
required to go beyond the centre line and can be replaced by another attacker.”

For Temporary Player Suspensions, the EHL rules clarify that the umpire shall immediately restart the game after the issuing of a green or yellow card unless there is another reason to stop time, such as for attention to an injury.

The Video Umpire procedure has been changed but, as yet, is not a factor in the Irish Hockey League while the EHL have followed a move taken in the IHL already in penalty shoot-outs, increasing the number of one-on-ones to five from three.

** For more clarification on any of these rules, umpiring expert Ray O’Connor is available to answer queries. Leave a comment below or email hookresults@yahoo.com

** The document outlining the changes can be found here

The former Old Alex player has long been one of the world’s best whistle-blowers, going to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2010 World Cup in Argentina, and was given her golden whistle for her 100th international on June 24 this year at the Champions Challenge in Dublin.

Officiating at her third Europeans, she told The Hook it is always an honour to be involved at such a high level tournament and says that, given the level of preparation the teams put in, the training for umpires is equally important. She conducted the final in conjunction with Argentine Soledad Iparraguirre (pictured just prior to the final), a tie the Dutch won 3-0.

“I loved umpiring in Monchengladbach,” she said. “Obviously, there is such a lot at stake for the teams with Olympic qualification on offer. Teams train very hard and I think it is an umpire’s responsibility to have a high level of fitness also.

“This includes lots of physical training, also mental training with DVDs of matches, keeping up to date with latest rules/interpretations, going to tther tournaments and practice matches and so on.

Crowds for the final weekend of the competition were close to a capacity of 12,000 in Warsteiner Park, much larger than the vast majority of hockey events.

But, having umpired in the Olympic arena, Metchette says that rather than getting nervous before such ties, they are moments to savour.

“I enjoy the challenge of umpiring the top players especially in front of a big crowd. It really gets the adrenalin going!

“I enjoyed the final very much, it was very special to be selected to umpire it. It often can be hard to fully appreciate the skill on the pitch as you have to look out for lots of things going on and off the ball.

“You need to concentrate for the whole game, one wrong decision can be crucial. The other umpire and I would have a good pre-match chat about what we are looking for, areas of the pitch where we can help each other and use the radios.

“It was quite a tight game, the teams know each other so well. There was not as much flow to it as I hoped but there was a great atmosphere in front of a packed stadium all looking for a home win!”

Both Irish men’s and women’s sides have taken a break from hockey in the wake of a busy summer. For Metchette, the break is quite short, though, as she prepares for a potential second Olympics.

“I’ve had a busy year with lots of tournaments so the plan at the moment is to take a few weeks off and introduce myself to my family again! Not too long though as I’m going to the Pan American games in Mexico in October.

“I am on a ‘Road To London’ panel of 25 umpires at the moment. It will have to be cut down to 15 for the Olympics. We are graded at every tournament we go to, have to send in fitness/preperation reports regularly.

“All umpires on this panel will go to an OCQ [Olympic qualifier] or the Champions Trophy. I am going to the CT in Argentina in January so no OCQ for me. It would be amazing to be selected; who knows….fingers crossed!!”

The aim of the seminar is to encourage greater consistency of approach and interpretation across Ireland for the coming season. An invitation has issued to all clubs in the IHL and Irish Senior Cup (Men and Women) for their 1st XI coach or club representative to attend a forum on Sunday, September 4 at 3pm.

The forum will be hosted by Ray O’Connor and the aim is to advise of developments that have taken place over the weekend and also to discuss issues/concerns that clubs/coaches may have. It is hoped that this will become an annual event and will be rotated around the provinces over the coming seasons.

** The Irish Ladies Masters O45s are hosting 2 invitational games against the English O45s masters this weekend in Park Avenue, Railway Union’s grounds. The match on Saturday is at 12noon and on Sunday at 10.30am.

The side are looking to improve on recent results against Engalnd (0-9 in June in Sheffield v the O40s; and 0-4 in Cardiff 2 weeks ago v the O45s) and are continually seeking to add new players to the squad.

There is a possibility that the side can participate in a Masters World Cup, to be hosted by England in 2012, to coincide with the Olympics – with plans in hand to get authorisation for this tournament.

Olympic umpire Carol Metchette will once again have an extremely busy summer following the confirmation of her place on the roster for the EuroHockey Nations Championships in Monchengladbach in August.

This coming weekend, she will officiate at the conclusion of the women’s EuroHockey Club Championships finals in the Hague and will be involved in a pair of world level events – the Champion’s Challenge I in Dublin and the Pan-American Games in Mexico.

Geoff Conn heads to the men’s equivalent of the Europeans as well as being Ireland’s Champion’s Challenge II representative in Lille while fellow senior umpire Kieran Boger is off to the Pannonia Cup in Slovakia in July – an event where Douglas Grey has been named as the TD.

There are plenty of call-ups for Ireland’s up-and-coming whistle-blowers with Simon O’Connor, Moira Flahive and Ali Keogh all appointed to international tournaments.

Martin Caniffe and Paula Jenkins undertake judging roles while new Leinster administrator Claire Kelly, Karen Eppel, Ray O’Connor and Tom Goode have umpire’s manager positions.

Umpires: Simon O’Connor (Men’s Youth Nations Championships); Kieran Bolger (Outdoor Men’s Pannonia Cup); Geoff Conn (FIH Champions Challenge II, EuroHockey Nations Championships); Moira Flahive (Celtic Cup);Alison Keogh (Women’s Youth Nations Championships); Carol Metchette (Women’s Club Champions Cup – Den Bosch, FIH Champions Challenge I – Dublin, EuroHockey Nations Championships – Monchengladbach, FIH Women’s Pan American Games – Mexico, EHL/EHCCC finals – The Hague)

Judges: Martin Caniffe (Indoor Men’s Club Challenge I, EHL KO16); Paula Jenkins (EuroHockey Women’s Nations Championship II, FIH Champions Challenge I)
Umpire Managers: Claire Kelly (Women’s Club Champion’s Cup); Karen Eppel (Outdoor Women’s Club Champions Challenge III); Ray O’Connor (FIH Indoor World Cup, EHL KO16); Tom Goode (Men’s Club Challenge II)
Tournament Director: Douglas Grey (Men’s Pannonia Cup)

The poll is also still open for the Hook’s Contributor of the Year with the nominees for Junior Player of the Year (those operating for first teams outside of men’s and women’s division one) set to go live later today.

Nominees for these awards have come about from proposals in the various categories, seeking to honour the broad spectrum of Leinster hockey.

Voting will be open up until March 30 with the winners being announced at The Hook’s Awards Night and end of season party – held in conjunction with Glenanne SC – on April 2 in Kobra on Leeson Street.

To secure your ticket for the event, contact Gary Shaw on 087 986 1942 or email shawsie14@gmail.com. Tickets costs €10 and will also include free entry into NV nightclub while there will be finger-food and spot prizes on the night.

Here are the five votes online thus far:

I would argue that once the injector swings his stick in any way it’s not a deflection and, therefore, has to hit the backboard. In my eyes, a deflection is a stick that doesn’t move and isn’t swung in any way.

YMCA’s second goal against Monkstown sparked this debate where YM were arguing that it was a deflection but Monkstown were arguing that he moved his stick toward the ball. Could you please ask Ray to clarify this principle?

Ray’s response: The question was made easy for me, when the query mentioned a “slap”. So, I will quote the piece on page 13 of the FIH rulebook:

“If the first shot at goal is a hit and the ball is, or will be, too high crossing the goal-line it must be penalised even if the ball is subsequently deflected off the stick or body of another player.

A “slap” is defined in the rulebook as “hitting the ball, which involves a long pushing or sweeping movement with the stick before making contact with the ball, is regarded as a hit.”

** If you have a query over an umpiring decision in a game which you would like clarified or interpreted by Ray, email stevie_findlats@yahoo.com

It is the fourth year that the Leinster Hockey Umpire’s Association have supported the programme, allowing the group to experience a variety of different games with each umpire officiating a match under the watchful eye of mentor Ray O’Connor.

For some, such as Cypriot Anthoulla Nestoros, it was an entirely new experience as she umpired Loreto, Beaufort senior 4′s against Loreto, Foxrock in her first ever 11 a-side match.

For others, such as Scot Sarah Wilson and Slovakian Michal Margolien, it was a chance to taste some top Irish hockey, taking charge of Old Alex against Randalstown and Corinthian’s tie with Lisnagarvey, respectively, in the Irish Senior Cup.

Nelma Dias from Portugal enjoyed Beaufort senior 2 against Mount Anville while Slovenian Saso Sukic oversaw the local men’s division three derby between Corinthian and Three Rock Rovers’ second string.

Three Rock Ladies’ whistle-blower Alison Keogh continued her work in ladies division two battle between Loreto and Our Lady’s while Margolian and Wilson teamed up for a second time on Sunday for and U-16 fixture between Corinthian and Avoca.

The programme aims to support these new umpires as they progress from 2010-2012. This was the group’s first practical session together, giving mentor O’Connor an opportunity to see them individually, before offering them some advice from his wealth of experience.

Each group member found the weekend to be immensely helpful and were delighted with the reception they received while in the country.

The site contains plenty of information, including links to hockey’s rules, details on the association’s member’s successes and updates on the LHUA Academy with more info to be added in the coming weeks.

The Academy is continuing for a second season and is now open for this year’s nominees.

The site hopes to reach out to those who may be interested in umpiring and what it can offer while, in the short term, they hope to be able to add a totally web based appointment system where LHUA umpires can confirm appointments or change their availability.

To visit the site, follow this link.

- Rule 9.15: “players must not force an opponent into offending unintentionally”. This rule will be deleted.

- Rule 13.1: the location of a free hit – this former Mandatory Experimental Rule becomes a full Rule of Hockey.

- Rule 13.1.d: “a free hit awarded inside the circle to the defence is taken anywhere inside the circle or up to 15 metres from the back-line in line with the location of the offence, parallel to the side-line”. The option of taking the free hit “anywhere inside the circle” is deleted.

- Rule 13.2: taking a free hit, centre pass and putting the ball back into play after it has been outside the field. This former Mandatory Experimental Rule becomes a full Rule of Hockey.

- Rule 13.3.h: “taking a penalty corner … until the ball has been played, no attacker other than the one taking the push or hit from the back-line is permitted to enter the circle”. When an attacker enters the circle before permitted, the penalty corner is taken again except that when attackers persistently enter the circle before permitted, a free hit is awarded to the defence. In the full printed set of Rules, the penalties which apply for an offence during the taking of a penalty corner will be listed in detail.”

- Rule 13.9.a: “for an offence during the taking of a penalty stroke. If the stroke is taken before the whistle has been blown and a goal is scored, it is taken again.”

- Rule 13.9.c: “for an offence during the taking of a penalty stroke … for any other offence by the player defending the stroke which prevents a goal being scored”. Instead of a goal being awarded, the penalty stroke is taken again. This means that Rules 13.9.c and 13.9.d both now lead to the penalty stroke being taken again.

* If you have any queries on any of the above changes for The Hook’s resident umpiring expert, Ray O’Connor, do not hesitate to leave either a comment below or send an email to stevie_findlats@yahoo.com

Smyth made his senior debut back in the 1960s and has since served as captain of many club teams as well as taking on the club captain and president roles while also serving as an umpire for the LHUA.

He was also instrumental in setting up the Park Avenue club’s colts section in which he still coaches 25 years on. From that youth system, daughter Emma has risen through the ranks to take her place in the senior international set-up to add an extra cherry on top of an outstanding contribution to the sport in the province.

* Carol Metchette has been confirmed as one of just four European umpires to be included in the roster for the Women’s World Cup, set to be played in Argentina later this year.

Metchette is currently in San Diego where she is officiating in the first of the three World Cup Qualifying tournaments.