Swiss Hockey has decided at its 119th General Assembly to promote and develop the new Hockey5’s. The new fast-paced sport on a smaller field creates many goal shots, goal scenes, changing tension and thus creates attention to attract new field hockey players. Due to the simpler structures, smaller hockey nations can develop faster, play against the best and become one of the world’s elite.
Spurred not least by our successes at the last U16 European Championship, with the winning the runner-up European Championship for the girls and a good 4th place in the boys, we have successfully applied for the next U16 Double European Championship (Girls & Boys) in Lausanne in 2021.
„Hockey played with eleven players on a full size outdoor field will continue to be the main format of the sport with Hockey5s incorporating Indoor Hockey as an alternative version of the game which supports both the global development of hockey and enhancing the skills and enjoyment of the players. Against the background of the main format of the game, the FIH is keen to present a game which is adaptable, based on a smaller number of players, with simplified rules and exciting. This is Hockey5s.“
Faster
20 minutes! Yes, just 20 minutes wants separate the champions from the contenders. Expect high levels of intensity as the teams will have just 1,200 seconds to prove their dominance in the shortest version of hockey. The 20 minutes will be split into two halves of 10 minutes each with a half-time break of two minutes.
Skillfull
With just five players on the field, expect players to have more ball-time and more touches than in an 11-a-a side game. More ball time gives an opportunity for players to showcase their one-on-one skills and discover innovative ways to find the back of the net.
More Goals
The duration may be short but that doesn’t limit the goal scoring appetite of the players, who are always looking to get their names on the scoring sheet. In the last youth Olympics at Nanjing, an average of eight goals were scored in the preliminary round in the boys’ section. Expect more of the same in Buenos Aires!
Easier to understand
Easy to play and follow. Played in a smaller arena, Hockey5s is viewer friendly and there are no stoppages, unless a player is injured or substituted. The sole mission of the players is to play fair and score more goals than their opponents.
Accessible
Hockey5s has played an instrumental role in spreading the sport to developing nations and contribute towards the FIH’s 10-year Hockey Revolution strategy to transform the sport. Like the last edition, expect lesser known hockey nations to give some of the hockey power-houses a tough game. If it was Zambia that stunned Germany 8-1 in Nanjing, expect more such surprises from Zambia, Kenya, Vanuatu and Namibia in this edition. A total of 24 teams (men and women) will be competing for the gold medals.
