FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Elliot Hopkins

INDIANAPOLIS (June 30, 2010)—A video is available online from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) explaining a new field hockey rules change. In February, the NFHS Field Hockey Rules Committee approved the self-pass as a means of ball insertion in some situations, and the video helps clarify the rule.

The 15-minute video was created in conjunction with USA Field Hockey to address the self-pass rules. Narrator Terry Walsh, technical director for high performance of USA Field Hockey, breaks down the rules, techniques and best uses for the self-pass. There are also animated examples of when and how to use the self-pass.

The self-pass allows one player to start the offense on her own and may be used as a means of inserting center passes, 16-yard hits, side-ins, free hits, long hits and all free hits awarded outside the 25-yard area.

“We really felt it would be good for the game,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS liaison to the Field Hockey Rules Committee. “It will increase excitement and provide another set of offensive strategies.”

Field hockey, which is most popular on the East Coast, is played in 19 states and has almost 65,000 female participants. Hopkins said he hopes that the addition of the self-pass will help to increase participation in the sport.

“Self-pass has been used in college for a few years now and we’re really hoping to encourage more girls to participate,” Hopkins said.

The video was made to be watched several times and paused throughout to discuss and fully understand the self-pass technique. It is available on the NFHS Web site, www.nfhs.org. Click on “Athletics & Fine Arts Activities” on the home page, and select “Field Hockey.”