The NCAA News - News and FeaturesMarch 9, 1998
Substitution-rule modifications dropped by Divisions I, II, III Field Hockey Committees
The Divisions I, II and III Field Hockey Committees, meeting February 9-11 in Phoenix, revoked two modifications to the FIH rules involving substitution that will bring the collegiate game more in line with the international rules.
Under one change, substitutions will be permitted on penalty corners and penalty strokes. The previous modification banned such substitutions.
The other change will permit teams to make an unlimited number of substitutions at any time. The previous modification limited teams to two substitutions per team, occurring simultaneously.
Other changes for next year:
Timeouts will be administered by the umpire and may be called by either the coach or a player on the field.
Previously, timeouts were administered by the scorer's table and could be called only by coach or captain.
These changes were made to facilitate the administration of the timeout itself and to make it easier for teams to get a timeout when they want it.
Half time will be five minutes long. The FIH rules allow a five- to 10-minute range.
All goalkeepers must wear a throat protector at all times.
A player who has been identified as a kicking back must wear a throat protector, helmet and a distinguishing jersey. In the event of a penalty corner or stroke, the kicking back must wear a throat protector, chest protector, helmet and distinguishing jersey.
All players except the goalkeepers are required to wear a mouth guard at all times. Failure to comply with this rule will be considered misconduct. Goalkeepers are given an option because they are already required to wear a helmet.
When a visible clock is being used, the time should count down to :00. The half or period ends on the umpire's whistle. Previously, such a clock was stopped with one minute left and the time was kept on the field by the umpire.
The division committees also took the following actions:
Division I
Recommended to the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet that a ratings percentage index be developed to be used for championships selection and for determining automatic qualifying and play-in conferences.
Voted to discontinue publishing a top-20 poll.
Recommended to the Championships/Competition Cabinet that the Big Ten and Big East Conferences, America East, and the Ivy Group receive automatic qualification to the 1998 championship. Play-in pairings will be as follows: Patriot League at Colonial Athletic Association and Atlantic 10 Conference at Mid-American Conference.
Division II
Agreed to investigate the possibility of recommending a predetermined site for the championship for the first time, possibly in conjunction with the Division I championship. If the committee decides to recommend such an action to the Division II Championships Committee, the earliest the committee can act on the proposal will be February 1999.
Division III
Set regional allocations for 1998. At the direction of the Division III Championships Committee, the committee was required to allocate all 16 championships berths to specific regions. The field hockey committee recommended the following allocations to the championships committee: Great Lakes, one berth; New England East, one; New England West, three; North Atlantic, four; South, three; and South Atlantic, four.
Agreed to send contracts to 16 umpires for the 1998 championship. The committee used input from conferences and coaches surveys in making its selections.
Recommended a predetermined site for the championship semifinals and final, effective in 1999. Division III never has had a predetermined site before.
Tabled discussion regarding changes in regional alignment until automatic-qualification principles are finalized.
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