Hook Hockey

• Smyth lines out for 6th decade: News in brief

  

  * There was a special moment last Saturday as Railway Union legend Brendan Smyth lined out to play for the first time in his sixth decade of adult league hockey in Leinster, drawing a guard of honour from both UCD III and his own fifth eleven. Smyth made his senior debut back in the 1960s [...]

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• Ask Ray… about a "Swing and a Miss" and "Dummy Hits"

  

  The Query: If while attempting to hit the ball an attacking player misses but the act of attempting to hit causes a defending player to check his/her stride because of the flailing stick, can there be an argument that the defending player has been disadvantaged and could be awarded a free hit? The usual response [...]

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• Ask Ray… about auto-passes and captains

  

  Two questions this week for Olympic and World Cup final umpire Ray O’Connor to dig his teeth into: Query 1: Can we get some clarification on the five yards on the auto pass rule from Ray? I was at a game on Saturday where a team were constantly being penalised for not being five yards away [...]

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• News in brief: Ali Keogh named in EHF UDP

  

  * Three Rock Ladies Alison Keogh has been named as one of eight young umpire’s to be included on the European Hockey Federation’s Umpire Development Programme for 2010 to 2012. She will be mentored by England’s international whistle-blower Margaret Hunnaball who will oversee her progress along with three other umpires from Italy, Slovenia and Cyprus. [...]

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• New overhead interpretation introduced for 2010

  

  At its meeting in November 2009, the FIH’s Hockey Rules Board took the decision to amend the interpretation of Rule 13.2.h – the rule relating to the procedures for taking a free-hits. The rule itself is unchanged but the following interpretation has been added: “It is permitted to play the ball high above the attacking circle [...]

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• Ask Ray… about dangerous overheads

  

  The Query: “When pressing a defender who then chooses to flick the ball clear, when is it considered dangerous enough to be a free in?” Ray’s response: This is a excellent question: If you don’t mind, I will be a little bit like a politician and not answer the question the way it was asked. [...]

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• Ask Ray… about yellow cards

  

  Ask Ray is back for a second season and will appear as regularly on a Wednesday as queries come in. This week the Olympic and World Cup final umpire deals with multiple yellow card offences: The Query If a player receives a yellow card for a specific infringement, do all other players who subsequently make [...]

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• LHUA UDP underway: News in Brief

  

  * The Leinster Hockey Umpires Association launched their Umpire Academy (LHUA UDP) last week at Grange Road with nine young umpires (male and female) committed to improving their knowledge, pitch presence and umpiring capabilities. They will work in three groups, each of which has an experienced mentor who wil continue with training sessions throughout the [...]

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• Suttonians coach; Conn promoted: News in brief

  

  * Suttonians, due to a large increase in the club’s ladies membership, are currently looking for an assistant coach for the ladies section for the 2009/10 season. The right candidate would need to be available for training on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and for matches on Saturdays. A suitable package and support is available. All enquires to [...]

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• Ask Henrik and Peter: world's best recount their lives in umpiring

  

  With the Leinster Hockey Umpires Association introducing a number of initiatives to promote that aspect of the sport, the revitalisation of the organisation is well underway. Over 100 people turned out to Ray O’Connor and Geoff Conn’s preseason briefing on the new rules and ten people have already signed up to the Umpires Development Programme [...]

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About the Blog

Launched in August 2007, The Hook has set out to provide news and information for hockey in Leinster. The site has developed since then to cover all levels of the sport in Ireland and beyond, providing stories on schools, club, interprovincial and international. Working in tandem with the superb Irish Hockey Photographers, The Hook aims to offer the best coverage of the sport in the province. Should you have any queries or suggestions, please email founder, Stephen Findlater, at stevie_findlats@yahoo.com.