One field goal to be counted as two in HIL season 4

IN ITS BID to keep the artistic flavour of the game intact, a field goal will be counted as two in the next year's Hockey India League (HIL) as new rules and regulations take effect in season 4, as reported by PTI.

With auctions for the 2016 season slated for September 17, wherein 135 Indian and 141 foreign players will go under the hammer, HIL chairman Narinder Batra announced the new rules at a press conference in a city hotel in New Delhi today. 

Apart from the goal-scoring system, which is the highlight of the new innovation, franchisee's will also have 20, instead of the usual 24 players, in their squad. It will be a composition of 12 Indian and eight foreign players per side.

The squad must have minimum of two goalkeepers sitting on the bench and all the players of 20-member squad will be mentioned in the match sheet and must be present at their respective team's dug-out during the HIL matches. 

As per the new goal-scoring points system, the HIL 2016 will be known as the most competitive and first of its kind in any hockey competition where field goals will be given more priority than penalty corners. 

In the HIL 2016 matches, 2 goal points will be awarded for every Field Goal to encourage more skillful and tactical hockey. To curb rough tackles and maintain discipline among players, 2 goal points will awarded to every Penalty-Stroke Goal scored other than resulting from penalty corner. 

Two goals will also be awarded for every goal scored from a penalty stroke resulting from a penalty corner where a goal being scored is prevented by a deliberate foul. The new goal-scoring system is approved by the FIH Competitions Committee and Rules Committee, which will promote spirited hockey and fair play among all players.