GLENELG Region Hockey Association (GRHA) will conduct the new sport of Hockey 5s at its Pedrina Park home base this summer with competition starting on this afternoon.

The new format of hockey is played on a modified pitch where five players per team take to the field for each game, which will be played across four 10-minute quarters with modified rules governing the play.

Of the five players on the field, there must be always a minimum of two female players on the field.

The game is played on a modified field size broken into halves, but there are no D’s (goal scoring circles) and a goal can be scored from anywhere within the attacking half with barriers surrounding the playing field to keep the ball always in play.

Hitting and slapping the ball are not permitted at any time - pushing is the only option available for players to move the ball around the field, which will improve the skills of all players, and no goalkeepers are allowed but this is nullified by the goals being much smaller than the normal hockey goals.

If the ball goes over the barriers at the end of the field a long corner will be played by the attacking team and if a ball that hits the sideboard or backboard and remains inside the field, play will continue.

The sport will be used to keep players’ skill level up over the summer period when traditionally hockey hasn’t been played in the region.

“We don’t play hockey over the summer months and with this 10-week competition starting on Wednesday, we will provide our players with this new format that is played across the nation,” competition organiser, Doug Cameron said.

“The competition will finish on December 10 and we have over 100 people registered to play to date, which is well above what I hoped we’d get.

“We have lots of single person entries and this is going to be social hockey with no finals at the end, as we are looking to establish the format this season.”

With Wednesdays set to host games after school, junior and senior players will get a chance to get involved.

“There will two games per time slot on the full-sized hockey field going at once so that we will have the school kids starting from 4pm and games going through to 8pm each Wednesday, with different age groups catering for everyone,” Cameron said.

“I see the future of the sport to be able to improve the skills of our players over summer, and for those who are new to the sport of hockey to get a solid foundation before progressing to the winter competition.

“Everyone is welcome and we encourage people to check out the Glenelg Region Facebook page for details to register or more information.”