INDIANAPOLIS — Change is coming to how high school field hockey is played following the approval of new rules by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) board of directors and field hockey rules committee.

Beginning with the 2020 season, high school field hockey games will now feature four quarters of play, rather than two halves, and no timeouts. 

The revisions came by the NFHS’ field hockey rules committee at a mid-January meeting in Indianapolis with the changes being approved the the national governing body’s board of directors. 

“The NFHS Field Hockey Rules Committee continues to strive to find ways to improve the ease and use of the rules for officials and coaches, which is evident in many of the changes made for the 2020 field hockey season,” said Julie Cochran, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the NFHS field hockey rules committee, in a statement. 

The four quarters will each be 15 minutes in place of the pair of 30 minute halves. 

“The committee believes this will allow teams to maximize their play for the entire match,” a press release noted. 

Set stoppage times of two minutes between the first and second quarters and between the third and fourth quarters will be implemented to provide players short breaks for rest, hydration and strategizing. 

Halftime breaks will be set for 10 minutes with teams changing goals for the second half. 

“From an educational athletics point of view, a standardized break between quarters to address health and safety of athletes provides consistent opportunity for coaching, all while enhancing the excitement and flow of the game,” said Sherry Bryant, Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association associate director and chair of the NFHS field hockey rules committee, in a statement. 

With the format change for periods, the committee decided to eliminate timeout periods.

Previously, teams were allotted a pair of 90 second timeouts per contest. 

“With the change to four quarters, teams now have guaranteed breaks for rest, hydration and coaching opportunities,” the committee noted in the news release. 

Reach the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.