FIH may come up with 5-a-side format to promote hockey

Ipoh (Malaysia): The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is considering a five-a-side format to promote hockey among young players, its president Leandro Negre said here on Sunday.

Addressing the media at the Azlan Shah Cup, Negre said the FIH is mainly concentrating on its two main properties – the traditional outdoor game with 11 players on each side and the indoor version that is very popular in Europe. "Our sport is about these two versions. But with an eye on promoting hockey among youth, we are thinking about five-a-side concept."

"This also involves the question of linking hockey to the Youth Games," said the FIH president. He also said no big changes in hockey rules would take place for some time. "Hockey has had so many changes inside a few years, that we need to stop somewhere," he said.

The International Hockey Federation is considering a five-a-side format to promote hockey among young players.

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