FIH abolishes extra time,puts cap on PC period

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has decided to do away with the concept of extra-time to decide the outcome of a tied match.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has decided to do away with the concept of extra-time to decide the outcome of a tied match. Instead,the matches that are balanced at the end of regulation time will directly go into penalty shootouts.

In another major decision,the games governing body has implemented a time-limit rule on the penalty corners. The decisions were taken by the FIHs Executive Board that met in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday,with an aim to make the game more exciting for the fans. The FIH has been under pressure to make hockey more spectator friendly after it nearly got the axe from the 2020 Olympics.

Currently,the classification matches in the FIH events go into a tie-breaker,which lasts for 15 minutes (two halves of seven-and-a-half minutes each). Under the new rule,which will come into force from June 1,the matches will directly be decided by penalties. FIHs communications manager,Jenny Wiedeke,said the idea behind this move is to add more thrill to the game. The motive is to keep the game as fast and attractive as possible. Theres a certain charm and excitement about penalty shootouts that will add value to the game and the spectators, Wiedeke said from Lausanne,Switzerland.

45-second limit

The FIH has also decided to impose a 45-second time limit to take PCs. Former India captain Pargat Singh,who was a member of the FIH Rules Board,said: Assembling for a corner cost time,disrupting the games flow. The new rule will help speed things up. It will come into effect from December.