In a bid to make hockey more attractive, the competing teams were reduced from 11 to nine players, the goals were widened by one metre while the halves were reduced from 35 to 15 minutes at the inaugural International Super Series that was played from Oct. 20-23 in the Western Australian city. With more leniency on foot and stick violations, the idea was to have more action and a higher goal-scoring ratio to attract bigger crowds.
Hosts Australia went on to beat trans-Tasmanian rivals New Zealand in the final of the quadrangular that also included archrivals Pakistan and India.
Though Pakistan finished third in the event, a top team official told Arab News in an interview that the Greenshirts thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“The nine-a-side tournament was a great experience,” said Khawaja Junaid, the Pakistan team manager, in a telephonic conversation from Perth.
“The event’s matches were played in front of packed crowds. The tempo was fast and the spectators as well as competing players enjoyed it thoroughly,” said Junaid, a former Olympian.
Junaid believes that the new format, which could be implemented in regular tournaments after next year’s Olympic Games in London, is beneficial for teams like Pakistan, who still rely a lot on individual skills.
“After a long time the focus was on individual skills more than anything else,” he said.
“All of used to miss skillful hockey because over the years, hockey has evolved into a sport where speed and power matter more than skills.
“But this format rewards individual skills which is why it was an instant hit with the fans. People came to watch the matches in large numbers. Hockey was stagnant for years but now they have added a new flavor to it and that’s a very positive development for the sport.
Junaid said that his players found the new format “exciting.”
“It was exciting for them. Our Players are really happy with this format. There is so much action and the matches are so fast-paced. Players have really enjoyed it.”
Junaid was so impressed with the format that in his report prepared to the organizers of the Super Series he made strong recommendation that the event should be held regularly. He also suggested that instead of having 15-minute halves, there should be two 20-minute sessions to make the format hockey’s equivalent to cricket’s hugely popular Twenty20 version.
“In my official report, I have recommended that there should be Twenty20 hockey which I believe will be a big hit,” he said.
The organizers of the International Super Series have already announced that they will hold the event on an annual basis. There are also indications that Australia will hold a nine-a-side tournament ahead of the 2012 Champions Trophy to be played in Sydney in December.
“The idea is to have a warm-up tournament before the Champions Trophy. That event will be played on the new format,” said Junaid.
The nine-a-side format was also given full marks by Australia coach Ric Charlesworth, who is confident that it will one day be implemented at the international level.
Charlesworth, a former Olympian who was part of the panel that came out with the new rules, has urged hockey leagues around the world to trial the new format. "I think there's a place for some expansion of the sorts of things we do in the rules," he said in an interview.
