Latest news from Loughborough University

16 Sep 2015

Loughborough University helping to shape the future of hockey

Loughborough University has been working with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) over the past two days on Project HG, which aims to continue the evolution of Hockey5s, a short-form version of the game.

Hockey5s has already seen success at international events, most notably at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China in 2014. As Innovation Partner of the FIH, Loughborough University has provided both academics and athletes to undertake various tests based on the existing rules of the game.

Taking place on the Loughborough campus, a number of derivatives to Hockey 5s were introduced in game situations in order to test various different rules, formats and equipment. These included trialling different pitch sizes, configurations and markings on the pitch; the duration of matches; rule and regulation amendments; the number of umpires required; umpiring guidance and a review of boundary boards.

The progress of Project HG has accelerated following the growing interest in Hockey 5s over the past few years. As recently as this summer, international events have been taking place around the world, including the Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and the Mediterranean Cup in Malta. At these events, as well as the Youth Olympics last summer, spectators witnessed high energy action on the pitch, which provided 10 goals on average per game throughout the tournament.

In addition to providing expert staff, Loughborough University’s men’s and women’s hockey teams, along with several members of the England under-21 teams, were used throughout the various stages of testing.

Speaking of this latest partnership work with FIH, Loughborough University Executive Director of Sport John Steele commented:

“We’re extremely pleased to be working with the FIH to develop this new, quick fire version of hockey. The 5-a-side format of the game has already proved a hit with spectators in the tournaments it has been played in so far, and it may well be the perfect tool to ensure hockey appeals to the widest possible audience.”

Speaking of this testing, FIH CEO Kelly Fairweather said:

“While 11-a-side hockey remains the pinnacle of our sport, we must continue to look at different ways to inspire the next generation. Smaller sided games and exciting urban events are two elements that can attract and engage new fans of all ages and backgrounds - particularly youths who are the future of our sport.

“What we’ve learned from working with our partners at Loughborough University is that Hockey5s is an incubator for new ideas that can be applied to other hockey disciplines in the future. One of these is Project HG, a very exciting concept which aims deliver a dynamic, entertainment-focussed complementary game designed to help our sport reach new markets.”

 

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 15/173

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named University of the Year in the What Uni Student Choice Awards 2015.Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. It was 2nd in the 2015 THE Student Experience Survey and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. Loughborough University London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

Contact for all media enquiries

Pete Matthews
PR Officer for Sport
Loughborough University
P.W.Matthews@lboro.ac.uk
01509 228686