Fri 22 May, 2009 13:36
Posted By Adam Davies
Follow this link to a good video on Youtube from the Australian Hockey Federation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j63hYOlJBDE&annotation_id=annotation_915963&feature=iv
The text of the relevant free hit Rules will be as follows:
13.1 Location of a free hit:
a) a free hit is taken close to where the offence occurred
‘Close to’ means within playing distance of where the offence occurred and with no significant advantage gained.
The location from which a free hit is taken must be more precise inside the 23m area.
b) a free hit awarded within 5M of the circle to the attack is taken at the nearest point 5m from the circle
c) a free hit awarded outside the circle to the defence within 15m of the back-line is taken up to 15m from the back-line in line with the location of the offence,
parallel to the side-line
d) a free hit awarded inside the circle to the defence is taken anywhere inside the circle or up to 15m from the back-line in line with the location of the
offence, parallel to the side-line.
13.2 Procedures for taking a free hit, centre pass and putting the ball back into play after it has been outside the field:
a) the ball must be stationary
b) opponents must be at least 5m from the ball
If an opponent is within 5m of the ball, they must not interfere with the taking of the free hit or must not play or attempt to play the ball. If this player is not playing the
ball, attempting to play the ball or influencing play, the free hit need not be delayed.
c) when a free hit is awarded to the attack within the 23m area, all players other than the player taking the free hit must be at least 5m from the ball
d) the ball is moved using a push or hit
e) the ball must not be raised intentionally directly from the free hit
f) if the player taking the free hit is the next player to play the ball, the actions of taking the free hit and of next playing the ball must be two separate actions
g) before another player of the team which took the free hit is allowed to play the ball, the ball must move at least 1m
The ball does not have to move 1m before the player taking the free hit may play the ball again.
h) from a free hit awarded to the attack within the 23m area, the ball must not be played into the circle until it has travelled at least 5m or has been touched by a
player of either team other than the player taking the free hit