All the latest information in an update from CEO of Canterbury Hockey, interviewed by our Goldy.  Click here for link to the WeAreCanterbury interview.

Topics included contact tracing, return to hockey plans and the latest NZ Hockey Rule Changes effective immediately.  These include:

Spitting & Bushman Nose Blowing - Suspensions

Spitting and bushman nose blowing (blowing your nose without a handkerchief or tissue etc.) is a practice that unfortunately occurs in our sport and must stop as it poses a significant risk to other participants

New Rule:

• A 2 min suspension (green card) to be issued to any player or participant caught spitting or bushman nose blowing.
• Repeat offenders (i.e. player(s) offending more than once) to be shown a yellow card (10 mins).
• Consistent repeat offenders will be subject to a Judicial process under Hockey NZ Code of Conduct Policy
• Standard suspension rules to apply

Suspended Players

New Rule:

It is probable that in some cases technical benches, suspension seating (or similar) may not be in use. Accordingly, in these situations suspended players will be allowed to serve their suspension in their respective team dug outs where required at certain turf venues. All other existing suspension rules are to apply.

Protective Equipment & use of face masks at Penalty Corners

All protective equipment, including face masks, gloves, (and any other defensive PC equipment to be used) are not to be shared under any circumstances. Accordingly, defenders at penalty corners will need to have their own identified equipment (e.g. coloured marking) to be allocated and worn solely by themselves.

All Penalty Corner equipment shall be cleaned and sanitised at home/away from the turf venue prior to each match .

Goalkeeping Gear

No goalkeeping gear is to be shared during a match under any circumstances. In the event of a goalkeeper (injury or otherwise) needing to be replaced during a match, if no additional goalkeeper or cleaned alternative goalkeeping gear is available, teams will need to revert to playing with a full complement of field players (e.g. 6 aside, 11 aside, etc.) for the remainder of the match. All goalkeeping gear shall be cleaned and sanitized at home/away from the turf venue prior to every match.

Players Equipment

No individual players gear (sticks, shin pads, gloves) is to be shared under any circumstances. Mouthguards obviously cannot be shared, and players are strongly recommended to keep mouthguards in their mouth during the entirety of the match.  Removal of mouthguards on the turf needs to be reduced to an absolute bare minimum. Mouthguards should be cleaned at home/away from the turf venue prior to every match.

Cleaning of Players Equipment

Individual players are strongly recommended to clean all their equipment (water bottles,  mouthguards, face masks, gloves, etc.) at home/away from their respective hockey venue wherever practical (both prior to and after each match). Where required, Associations should have designated areas for cleaning of players equipment during a match.

High 5’s/Handshakes 

We all know that these are no longer socially acceptable.  However, the acknowledgement of teammates and opponents is an important part of our sport.  As such all participants should be strongly encouraged to promote the “hockey handshake” as per the following link.  We know many do this already but let’s get it out there.

https://twitter.com/Xenioshockey/status/1235819830562832384

Some people go to extra efforts to get out of a committee meeting.