The NCAA News - News and Features

October 6, 1997

STICK to the CIRCLE

Field hockey shots now must be taken from within the 16-yard half circle

BY MARTY BENSON
STAFF WRITER

NCAA field hockey has been a hybrid until this season.

Yes, the International Field Hockey (FIH) rules were followed in name, but a list of modifications in the sport's NCAA championships handbook made the collegiate game different from any other.

Now, however, the modification is gone.

Until now, in NCAA games, a shooter could score once she crossed the 25-yard line. Now, under true FIH rules, shots can only be taken from within the 16-yard half-circle surrounding the goal.

The 25-yard modification, adopted in 1990, was a more conservative take on a 1984 change that allowed scoring from anywhere on the field.

Offside rule eliminated

The death knell for the 25-yard rule was sounded indirectly by the FIH last year. After years of experimentation, that organization made the sport the first of its ilk to eliminate its offside rule to boost the offense. Since that rationale was the idea behind the 25-yard rule, the committee's wheels started turning.

"We decided to wait a year to see how (no offside) would impact the game," said Central Michigan University coach Cristy A. Freese, who was chair of the committee last year and is chair of the Division I Field Hockey Committee in the new governance structure.

"After we saw what happened (more scoring, a faster game) with no offside, we decided it was time to go back to the old rule (scoring only from within the circle)."

William Smith College coach Sally Scatton, a member of the committee last year and chair of the Division III Field Hockey Committee this year, said there no longer was a need for the 25-yard rule.

"We felt (no offside) accomplished what we were trying to do with the 25-yard modification," she said. "Because of that, we saw the opportunity to bring the game in line with the rules everyone else follows."

Considerable discussion about going back to the circle rule had taken place the last few seasons.

Divisions were divided

Generally, Division I coaches supported the concept, while Divisions II and III coaches did not. Factors behind those views ranged from the feeling that it takes better stickwork to score from within the circle to the existence of smoother -- often artificial-turf -- fields that Division I programs possess. Divisions II and III programs' fields can

be more irregular, making the intricate passing necessary to score within the circle tougher.

Princeton University coach Beth Bozman, president of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, said that Division III coaches always had been opposed to eliminating the 25-yard rule in the past during that organization's discussions. Ironically, the subject was not broached at this year's meeting, which preceded the NCAA Field Hockey Committee's meeting.

"I think we had gotten lulled into thinking that the 25-yard rule always would be there," said Lebanon Valley College assistant athletics director and coach Kathleen Tierney, who is in her first year as the NCAA rules-modifications interpreter and a member of the sport's Division III committee. Despite Divisions II and III's historical opposition to the change, by most accounts, there's been no discernible outcry of injustice.

"One of the concerns was that play would become crowded within the circle, but that has been balanced out by there being no offside (and making the defense play the entire field)," Tierney said.

Tierney said the concern about the field itself also is minimized by the elimination of the offside call.

"(Having no offside) forces the defense to play the whole field, which opens up the game (and makes it easier to pass)."

Lucky shots reduced

James Madison University coach Christy Morgan said that she supports the change. Granted, the Division I Dukes play primarily on artificial turf, but Morgan said she would be even more in favor of the circle rule if her team played on grass. She said bad bounces on long shots are more likely to turn into goals on natural turf, rewarding luck instead of skill.

Freese said the only difference between this year's games and last year's is one of terminology.

"People are still hitting the ball into the circle but it's not called a shot now," she said. "Forwards are allowed to be deep in the circle (with no offside) and can tip that kind of pass in, so it's still part of the game to hit the ball hard into the circle."

She also balks at the idea that teams must achieve better stickwork because of the change.

"Certainly you have to work the ball into the circle more with stickwork and passing, but you need to do that to move it the rest of the 75 yards of the field also."

Consistency worthwhile

One factor that always caused a separation between Division I and Divisions II and III was the rationale that the rules should be consistent at all levels, so that international players do not have to play under differing sets of rules.

Since virtually all of the small number of international-caliber players come from Division I, the other divisions were not willing to change a rule they believed catered to only a small group of players.

That thinking, too, has dissipated. Yes, it is important to be consistent, but helping the U.S. in international play isn't the primary reason for doing so.

Gettysburg College coach Carol Daly liked the 25-yard rule, but she said having consistency at all levels is worth the change because it probably will result in steadier officiating.

"The game is confusing enough even for veteran coaches in interpreting how calls are made," she said. "Officials would come in one day after having worked a high-school game and then have to use collegiate rules.

"I'd rather see consistency in officiating over the style of game I like."

Morgan put her acceptance of the rule most simply: "I believe we should try to stay as consistent as possible. Who are we to change the game?"

For now, no one seems to want to. The sport is pure again.