Due to conflicting information about the approval process of hockey equipment, the FIH wants to clarify its mandate in the process.
FIH does not operate a scheme for assessing the many items of playing equipment available. Instead, individual items of equipment presented at an FIH tournament are assessed for compliance at that time with the Rules of Hockey or other requirements. FIH does not therefore publish general guidance about whether or not particular equipment meets requirements. Any decision by an NA or competition organiser is at their individual discretion.
One context in which this issue has arisen is face masks worn by defenders at a penalty corner. Players should be aware that the Rules of Hockey state:
Players must ensure that their equipment does not constitute a danger to themselves or to others by virtue of its quality, materials or design.
Further, Rule 4.2 specifies:
Players must not wear anything which is dangerous to other players.
This Rule goes on to say:
Field players … are permitted to wear a smooth preferably transparent or white but otherwise single coloured face mask which closely fits the face when defending a penalty corner or penalty stroke for the duration of that penalty corner or penalty stroke and when they are inside the circle they are defending
When at an event, the FIH will assess that face masks meet the requirements in the Rules. Equipment that does not meet the specifications will not be allowed in FIH competition. When assessing equipment and when making Rules to govern equipment standards, the FIH always puts the safety of the athletes first.
Source: FIH www.fih.ch
