Article by R A Hunter

Official rules of hockey commenced in 1900 with the formation of the International Rules Board, later the Hockey Rules Board. Hockey was played before then and the original game was started (and restarted after a goal) by a bully at the centre line.

Many of you will remember the importance of the bully and the amount of time spent practicing it, in many cases practicing dodgy moves that you hoped the umpire would not spot. This centre line bully continued until 1984 when it was replaced by a pass back to start/restart the game. How many times have you heard, “Oh yes, I played hockey at school, hockey one, hockey two, hockey three”, displaying the speaker’s deep understanding of the game.

Until replaced by the penalty corner in 1908, a bully, in the circle, was taken for an offence within the circle. This bully was retained and renamed penalty bully for deliberate breaches of the rules by defenders in the circle. The penalty bully between the offending player and any player from the attacking side lasted 55 years until it was replaced by the penalty stroke in 1963.

The over 70s among you who started hockey in primary school may remember the 25 yard bully when the ball went over the back line. The 16 yard hit when an attacker was responsible for the ball going over the back line was introduced in 1957. Presumably the long corner for the ball going over the back line by a defender was introduced at this time also.

Currently the bully is only retained for restarts after accidents or other unforeseen events, though it has been simplified by the requirement that the sticks only touch once.
Don’t you yearn for the olden days when bullying in the playground was an approved lunchtime activity?