PERTH (Australia), Dec 9: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has introduced two new experimental rules designed to make the game easier to understand and more attractive to watch.

Under the changes announced by hockey’s world governing body, attackers will no longer have to stop the ball before shooting at goal from penalty corners and defenders will be allowed to try and save shots at goal above shoulder height.

The new regulations will come into effect on Jan 1 and will be monitored over 12 months before the FIH decides whether to keep them.

“This is all part of our aim of making the game easier to understand,” FIH secretary general Peter Cohen said in a statement released on Monday.

“The penalty corner change will make the game more enjoyable to play and watch without altering the overall nature of the penalty which is unique to hockey.”

Under existing regulations, attacking teams must stop the ball before playing on from penalty corners, while defenders not play at shots above their shoulder.—Reuters