Neuroadaptive training devices are going to be absolutely standard for training in any sport with a dynamic tactical component. It’s literally brain-hacking some of the dynamic nature of free play. The best in the class is Skillz Machine which was first introduced in 2019 for ice hockey and launched in 2022 for field hockey. SkillzMachine.com

Numerous ranking technologies/methodologies exist. The ELO ranking methodology is now the premier ranking system used around the world. It is highlighted here as it was first introduced to field hockey as a means of ranking Division I collegiate field hockey teams in the USA. BolsterFieldHockey.com

No more time wasted during the game writing down scores and cards. Add them with a tap of the button and all the required details will be recorded automatically. And, of course, the timing of quarters, breaks, and full games. Shown is Martijn van Kekem's app, MatchGear. It is the best in this class of products. MatchGear.app

Coaches arrange for members of their team to take a 100-question online rules quiz. They do this on their own time, within one week of a scheduled online meeting. The team meets remotely with Cris Maloney, a nationally certified umpire coach, to review the results and get answers to their rules questions. UmpireHockey.com

From free weekly Q&A YouTube livestreams, to a lively Discord server, to remote mentorship of a global umpiring group via subscription memberships, FHumpires has completely redefined what umpire education can be. Led by retired FIH umpire Keely Dunn, FHumpires is also the outsourcing solution for umpiring associations by leading workshops and providing the digital assets needed for continuing education. FHUmpires.com

After teaching an umpiring course at a local college for more than a decade, nationally certified umpire coach Cris Maloney put his introductory training course online. In-person training limited the number of people interested in learning how to umpire to those living close to the college and always to those available to take the course the one time each year that it was offered. By going online, the course is available at any time to anyone connected to the internet. The course has been taken by more than 300 people in the USA and several other countries. UmpireHockey.com

Players are now allowed to use their sticks to play a ball that is above their shoulders. This has allowed some amazing goals for highlight reels. It has also required that players throw the ball much higher over the heads of their opponents, which has made the game safer. FIH.hockey

Hailed as the single most important rule change to the Rules of Hockey, players no longer have to pass to a teammate to restart play after a ball goes out-of-bounds or an umpire awards a free hit. FIH.hockey

GPS athletic monitoring services allow coaches to see if any athletes are under physical duress or, even, not working as hard as they should. The systems can even track an athlete's movements during a game and calculate how far and fast the athlete has run. Shown is the wearable part of the offering from WHOOP, which is more focused on the individual rather than a team. Performance monitoring technology is available from various manufacturers and vendors.

Prior to web-based assigning, umpires would have to gather together in a meeting with an assigner and provide them their availability. These sessions would go on for hours at a time. Now that this is all done online, there is no reason to meet and umpires from across the country can participate and find games local to wherever they are. Best in class is the offering from Arbiter Sports. ArbiterSports.com

Enhancing the communication between umpires was an immediate benefit to the game at every level of the game. Shown are radios and headsets from Yapalong. Radios and headsets for umpires are available from various manufacturers and vendors.

Coding software from companies such as hudl, SportsCode, and DartFish, help coaches tag and quickly review actions of interest. For example, every successful tackle that was made by player #21 during the third quarter of the last 5 games. Available from various manufacturers and vendors.

We could only find an image from a different sport. Offside was removed from field hockey and it is widely considered the second most important rule change in the modern era. FIH.hockey

When the flat side of the stick was defined to include its edges, a whole new dimension of play opened. Attackers could easily attack from the left side of their body, which used to be cumbersome at best. FIH.hockey

Shortly after the skill was developed the drag flick became the dominant scoring method on penalty corners in the quarter century since its first use in international games. Rumored changes to the penalty corner rules starting after the Olympics in 2024, may limit the importance of this exciting skill.

This rule change added to the flow of the game. When first introduced, players were required to trade "substitution cards" at the sideline. This led to problems associated with the cards being dropped during the exchange. Eventually, that requirement was eliminated. The rule was adjusted to made it clear that a player must be completely outside of the playing space before a substitute is allowed to come into the game. FIH.hockey

Field hockey sticks used to be made entirely of wood. Now, most sticks played with are made with a mixture of fiberglass and carbon resins. Sticks can now be made to be lighter, thinner, and stronger. Available from various manufacturers and vendors.

Any random photo from before 1985 of a goalkeeper would show them wearing "canes" (either cloth or leather-covered bamboo goalkeeping leg guards and kickers). High density foam changed the world of goalkeeping for the better. Now, if we could just get rid of the smell! Shown is equipment from BlackBear. GK gear is available from various manufacturers and vendors.

The "wavvy" stick innovation caught on quickly and is now available from various manufacturers and vendors. The stick design became extremely popular with goalkeepers for much of the late 20th and early 21st century. Beginning in about 2020 many goalkeepers started using straight sticks again.

Introduced by Aaron Sheer and his friends at Kookaburra for the 1984 Olympics, the dimpled hockey ball is now the standard for high-level play on short fiber, tight weave synthetic surfaces. Available from various manufacturers and vendors.

Amazing to think that it wasn't until the late 1970s that most goalkeepers were wearing helmets. Made of plastic and fiberglass, high-density foam padding, and with a metal mask. Shown is the fiberglass helmet from BlackBear. Available from various manufacturers and vendors.

Introduced for use in field hockey at the 1976 Olympics, short-fiber, tight-weave synthetic grass is now the standard for all international competitions. Long-fiber, loose-weave synthetic grass is less expensive and popular for recreational level play. Available from various manufacturers and vendors.

Did you know that there was a time before penalty strokes? FIH.hockey