FIH says resumption of hockey to depend on local conditions in member countries

The resumption of aggressive hockey in numerous nations amid the COVID-19 pandemic will rely completely on native situations, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has stated. The FIH stated that any return to coaching and aggressive hockey must be “carefully implemented to prevent any resurgence in infection”. According to a high FIH official stated whereas a vaccine is required to “return to normal competition”, restarting the game at totally different ranges depends on situations in numerous member nations.

“We have never said that hockey can only start once the COVID-19 vaccine is developed…this document (the five-stage resumption plan) has been prepared only to give them a framework on how to start things under precaution,” an FIH official advised PTI.

“In the end resumption of hockey entirely depends on local conditions, which means it entirely depends on instructions and guidelines of government of respective countries based on their current situation.” The FIH on Tuesday got here out with a five-point doc, encapsulating the dos and don’ts for its member associations of their endeavour to renew hockey of their respective nations.

According to FIH, the doc was drafted on the request of member nations to present them a blueprint on easy methods to work in direction of resumption of the sport. “This starts, as has been seen in the Netherlands and Belgium, with a return to carefully managed training, still with social distancing measures in place,” the FIH stated within the assertion.

“The next stage will be a resumption of regional competition, followed by local travel between neighbouring nations. The trans-Continental competition will follow and, finally, once a vaccine is in place, it is hoped there will be a return to normal competition.” The FIH additional stated that when competitors does resume, organisers will have to be massively acutely aware of security measures with a purpose to maintain the hockey workforce and the followers secure.

“The guidelines, which are aligned to those issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO), cover the entire hockey workforce athletes, coaches, officials, staff, administrators and volunteers. “Along with a risk assessment chart to which all hockey organisations are advised to adhere, there are also guidelines for organisers of international events once there is a return to international competition,” the FIH stated.