FIH announces limitation on the length of a hockey stick…

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has announced the addition of a regulation around player stick length, beginning with the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 31st May to 15th June. The regulation, limiting the maximum stick length to 105cms, will be applied as a Regulation until the FIH Rules Committee has considered the matter further prior to possible incorporation into the next edition of the Rules of Hockey.
Following recent tournaments that have seen goal keepers changing their stick to a longer stick for defending a shoot-out, the FIH President, Leandro Negre, has met with the chairs of both the Rules and Competitions Committee to come to a solution.
“Together with the Rules and Competitions Committees we have decided that there is an immediate need for this regulation,” said Leandro Negre, FIH President. “We want to continue to honour our values of being progressive in our outlook, energetic in our delivery, inclusive in our behaviour and optimistic in our attitude. This also means that we believe in maintaining the spirit of the game.”
The regulation that has been modified will be implemented at this year’s Rabobank Hockey World Cup under the below wording:
6        PLAYERS’ CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Rule 4.7d
The stick has traditional shape with a handle and a curved head which is flat on its left side: the stick must conform with the specification agreed by the FIH Rules Committee.
Regulation: 
The stick has traditional shape with a handle and a curved head which is flat on its left side: the stick must conform with the specification agreed by the FIH Rules Committee which is detailed in part 2 of the section on Field and Equipment Specifications of the Rules of Hockey, and in addition the length of stick, as measured from the top of the stick to the bottom of the head of the stick (line X in figures 3 and 4 on page 58 of the Rules of Hockey), shall not be more than 105cms.