A PASSIONATE CALL FOR THE OLD RULES, THE OLD TIME

By Syed Mohammad

(Note: minor editing was necessary in this story for clarification. Some language in this letter may offend some readers. Editors' notes are in green)

I am 90 years old and have suffered a stroke and am practically disabled. Do not go after Bovelanders (Floris Jan Bovelander, the Dutch legend with more than 200 national-team caps). They profess hockey. They have not seen hockey. How can they coach hockey?

Hockey disappeared from this planet after 1930. What is being played under the name of hockey is a stick-and-ball game.

In 1928 Europeans were dazzled by watching the game of the South Asian hockey team in the Olympics at Amsterdam.Coaching is done to a stick-and-ball game. Hockey needs training.

Europeans tried very hard to imitate the South Asians, but they could not. The only recourse left to them was to destroy the game of South Asians. For that purpose they changed the rules, then the lines on the field of play, then the surface.

Hockey needed sharp reflexes and agility. Europeans did not acquire sharp reflexes. Their muscles were thick, their bones were broad and limbs were long. Europeans therefore needed more time to move their limbs. They could not match the quickness of South Asians in the movement of their limbs.

Reaction time or reflexes of Europeans are not as quick as those of South Asians. The average reaction time of Europeans is .7 of a second, while the average reaction time of the South Asian is .6 of a second. Reflexes made a lot of difference in outdoor games. Top international players have .2 of a second.

When Dhyan Chand stopped a fast moving hockey ball, it did not bounce off the blade of his stick but appeared to stick to the blade. Spectators used to think that Dhyan Chand used some sticky material on this blade as would stop the ball from bouncing. He would receive the ball on the blade of his stick as a fielder in cricket would handle the cricket ball.

Talking about the changes the white man or the Federation of International Hockey, which is a white body, has done in this regard.

When the ball went through one of the side lines, it was rolled by hand into the ground. The players stood to receive the ball along the side line at a distance of five yards from the side line. A line was drawn on the ground at five yards from the goal line inside the ground.

Later the width of the alley was increased to seven yards. Later, the roll-in was replaced by the side-in, and the alley was removed altogether.When the ball went out of the ground through the goal line, a bully was held at the 25-yard line. Now a free hit is used.

About the scoring circle: its radius used to be 15 yards. It has been increased to 16 yards to allow white men more room and better opportunity to score goals.

If a foul was committed by the defense to prevent the scoring of a goal by an irregular method, a bully was carried out in the ring. The Federation of International Hockey has changed it to a penalty stroke, giving the attacking side a sure goal.

To start the game a bully was performed in the center of the field. This has been changed to a free hit.

In hockey raising the ball above the surface of the ground was not allowed and was penalised. The F.I.H. removed this. Europeans are adept striking the raised ball. Scooping the ball was not allowed in hockey. The F.I.H. has allowed it. It gives an advantage to the whites.

Hockey used to have an off-side rule. No members of the attacking team would get into the opposing defence unless three players of the defence were level with him.

The off-side rule has been brushed aside by the new game, giving a clear opportunity to fast runners and to attackers who would take a position near the goal. This helps the white men who is a fast runner and is physically stronger.

Something needs to be said about the surface of the ground. On a natural surface the ball bounced and swerved at the slightest deviation in surface or the presence of pebble on the ground. The white men, because of slow reflexes, could not stop or control the ball.

The unevenness of the ground was removed when a synthetic surface was introduced. The synthetic surface gave an advantage to Europeans and took away the advantage the South Asians had over Europeans.

Should the South Asians not desire to be again in the advantageous position they were in before the rules were changed? They should assert their authority and, failing that, they should revert to old surface, old style and old rules to win back hockey fans even at the risk of alienating the FIH.