From May 2009, a major new set of rules will be used in league hockey. People playing summer hockey will almost certainly find the new rules being applied and since you’ll have to know about it for next season, it’s time to get a grasp of what it’s about.

In a nutshell, you can, as the title indicates, now [pass to yourself on free-hits. This means 16yd balls, sideline hits and free hits from fouls, etc can ALL be taken by just one person. You can, of course, still pass to another player but this is no longer mandatory.

• The main thing is that the self-pass and the next touch (by the same player) must be DISTINCT AND SEPARATE ACTIONS.
• The ball must be STATIONARY when the free hit is taken.
• If you are defending you MUST be 5m from the ball or at least not interfering with play.
• If you are passing to one of your own players, the ball MUST move at least 1m
• If you are an attacker within the opposition’s 23m area ALL players of BOTH teams must be 5m
• Also, in this attacking scenario, you CANNOT send the ball directly into the "D" – it MUST travel at least 5m indirectly before being sent into the circle.

This applies anywhere within the 23m line (i.e. the final quarter of the pitch) AND includes sideline hits.

• However, somewhat confusingly, ‘the ball must travel 5m before entering the "D" ‘ can be avoided, if a player from either team legitimately passes, deflects or hits the ball into the "D".

i.e. as long as all players are 5m from the ball before the hit, one of your team players can, for example, move towards you as you hit the ball and deflect it into the "D", before the ball’s gone 5m

• Finally, if there’s a hit, within 5m of the "D", the ball HAS to be re-spotted to the nearest 5m point OUTSIDE the "D".

i.e. if there’s a foul 1m from the "D", then the ball will have to be moved back to 5m from the "D".