What is FIH Hockey?
FIH (International Hockey Federation) refers to international hockey competitions. FIH is responsible for managing field hockey tournaments around the globe. It is the international governing body for field hockey and indoor hockey. Its headquarters are in Lausanne, Switzerland.
History
FIH was founded on January 7, 1924, in Paris, France. This sport was popular in Europe, but later on spread to Asia and Africa. The first members to join to FIH federation were Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Hungary, Spain, and Switzerland.
Major Tournaments
- FIH Hockey World Cup
- Hockey Champions Trophy
- Olympics Tournaments
- Indoor Hockey World Cup
FIH Hockey Pro League
Rankings
- FIH maintains the official world rankings.
- They maintain the qualification scenarios for teams.
- The ranking system is match based system which depends upon the exchange of points between 2 teams. The number of points exchanged depends on the result of the match, the relative ranking of the teams and the importance of the match.
Top Men’s Field Hockey Nations:
Some of the powerhouses in field hockey history include:
- Australia
- Netherlands
- Germany
- India
- Pakistan
- Argentina
- Belgium
- South Korea
- Spain
- England
Rules Making
- FIH sets the rules for field hockey.
- Each team has 11 players, including a goalkeeper.
- Time duration is 4 quarters, 15 minutes each.
Check the full documented list for the Field hockey Rules : Click Here
Promotion
FIH works to grow the sport through coaching programs and global marketing.
Innovations
- FIH introduced blue turf for better visibility on screens.
- They introduced the video referral system for accurate decision making.
- FIH has worked closely with broadcasters to make the live viewing experience smoother and more exciting.
- A new format of Hockey 5’s was intorduced by FIH to make the sports more available.
Prize Money
- Around $500,000 – $1 Million is distributed to teams who win the FIH Hockey Pro League.
- No official prize money for winning World Cups.