Hockey super series on ABC1

ABC1 will broadcast a series of ‘quickfire’ hockey matches featuring Australia’s Hockeyroos and Kookaburras next month.

The inaugural International Super Series will be played in Perth from October 20th – 23rd as a backdrop to the 2011 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The tournament will feature the best men’s and women’s national teams from Commonwealth nations such as Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and Malaysia.

During the four-day tournament, ABC1 will broadcast a daily highlights package of action from day one and day two, and will telecast live action from day three and day four (including the grand finals).

ABC TV sports presenter Stephanie Brantz will host the broadcast and commentators Steve Robilliard and Peter Wilkins will call all the action.

The fast and furious format of the tournament to be played at the Perth Hockey Stadium will see games played back-to-back with each match consisting of two 15-minute halves (with five minutes for half-time and 10 minutes between games).

In the brand new format each team will field just nine players (instead of the usual 11) and one player from each team will be required to keep a player in the attacking half of the field.

An unlimited number of substitutions will be allowed through an interchange area and a  ‘sudden-death’ system of one-on-one faceoffs will decide drawn matches.

Simplified penalty situations and more tolerance of foot and stick contact will reduce  unnecessary stoppages in play, ensure the games are fast and flowing, and make the  games more broadcast friendly and easier to understand for new viewers.