and have been replaced with boots specifically designed for synthetic turf. Shin guards have improved padding. Many players have taken to wearing padded gloves, particularly on their left hand, both to protect against contact and allow them to scrape that hand (while holding the stick) across the synthetic turf without injury. Finally, the wearing of mouthguards to protect the teeth is now compulsory for safety in many countries. Rules The rules of the game have widely changed. The main issues have been To adapt the game to the new synthetic fields introduced in the 1980s. To enhance comprehension from non-players to gain TV coverage Some of these rules changes: The FIH eliminated the offside rule (similar to offside in football) in the mid-1990s to increase scoring opportunities. Constant modifications of the penalty corner rules to minimize its importance in the game and its readability. Limitation of the bow of sticks to limit the increasing use and power of drag flicks. Footnotes External links Field Hockey Stick History - Field Hockey Stick History Field hockey