Campaign for Safe Rules for Hockey - especially in Schools

In Dec 2015 a young player in Essex was killed from a head injury on a hockey pitch. In October I had written to the FIH telling them I was so scared by the rules that I would not let my own children play and warning that it was only a matter of time before someone was killed by a head injury. I had been writing to the FIH on this subject for over 8 years. A year earlier a 27 year old narrowly escaped death from a hockey ball to the head with an emergency operation, and back in 2012 a young lady was hit by a ball and died instantly.

The Mail campaigned on this in Dec 2014 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-2873726/Following-death-Lizzie-Watkins-does-hockey-refuse-protect-players.html

However the unnecessary risks in this game are, in my opinion, far more threatening to children. Consider the fact that children must wear a gum shield, which plainly indicates that incidents around the mouth are a threat. However a ball or stick in the mouth will not normally kill but a ball or stick to the temple or throat can, and does, kill and a gum shield will do nothing to protect from that danger. Young players are closer to the surface and hence closer to the danger. They do not know the best ways to avoid the dangers, however they or their counterparts are able to learn skills today that used to only be accessible to expert player, and which are now legal and life threatening. Whilst I was at school a boy was killed by a ball to the head and another needed facial reconstructive surgery. That was just what I knew about. Hockey has had 35 years since these incidents to make this game safe and whilst they made good headway initially, over the past 17 years they have steadily relaxed the rules and consequently made the game more dangerous, even in schools.

In 2015 the FIH removed the rule that prohibited playing the ball at or above head-height. England Hockey has a veto for all rules in domestic games. They canvassed hockey participators. Over 6000 players, coaches & umpires (parents were not specifically canvassed) responded. 59% stated that this was unsafe for use with children. However in Aug 2015 England Hockey ignored the warning and implemented this rule change across the 11 aside game – including with children.

Club players can choose whether to place themselves in danger by entering a pitch, however school children are generally forced to play, commonly without them or their parents realising the mortal danger they face - and completely unnecessarily so.

Former GB international and England captain Sarah Blanks, now director of sport at King Edward VI High School, Birmingham, stated, "Even in schools hockey, we see plenty of split heads. At Olympic level, it's more extreme still. You don't go into it without understanding the physical pain you'll encounter."

GB Gold Medal winning keeper Maddie Finch stated ‘Any hockey goalkeeper who says they’ve never closed their eyes for a second and thought, “please don’t hit me” is lying,’ and that is for a heavily protected keeper compared to an outfield player who also ends up in the line of fire and is allowed only a gum shield and shin pads!

Kate Richardson Walsh had her jaw fractured during GB’s first match at the 2012 Games. She had surgery to insert a plate — but returned just three games later wearing a protective mask. Something not allowed to other players and which does not protect the vulnerable and lethal temple or throat areas.

The solution is not just about physically protecting players - it is about the simple process of making the game safe, or at least immensely safer, through simple, and in some cases obvious, rule revisions. Hockey is not like Football, in that the rules have not changed for decades, the FIH changes the Rules of Hockey almost every year and often in a number of ways. Indeed last season the FIH made 4 rule changes which resulted from issues and recommendation I had raised, 2 from 2009 & 2 from 2016 - however none of these improved safety and the many recommendations I made regarding safety in the same period were ALL ignored.

Rule changes are simple to implement in Hockey and if the FIH will not implement them then schools should adopt a safer set of rules before they allow our children to face lethal consequences.

If you are still not convinced at the dangers then before you let your child play hockey at school or anywhere else take a look at the pictures in the second half of this Mail news story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3748170/Captain-fell-team-mate-goalie-called-Mad-Dog-vegan-star-striker-Great-Britain-hockey-stars-going-glory-tonight-today-s-game-sheer-savagery.html

It is not just the threat of death that worries me, injuries are very common in the game. My professional warning (as an insurance expert) is that a) we do not know how common injuries are because they are rarely, if ever, reported to the insurer (people who have been negligent and allowed an injury do not want to admit that they could be sued) and b) we should not expect that a morbid injury will be protected and supported by insurance, because I doubt the cover in place will ever pay out.

So please don't let your child be the next to hit the surface and not get up - support my campaign and let's get this great game made safe and enjoyable for everyone!

Risks and Proposed Solutions
People are asking what rules need changing and why? If you are interested read the following blog https://saferulesforschoolshockey.wordpress.com/
or see a set of proposed simpler and safer rules at: https://saferulesforschoolshockey.wordpress.com/proposed-safer-rules-for-hockey/
You can also see some of the ball and stick hazards below:
https://youtu.be/DzDGUVjIprw