The Health Association of Hockey Amateurs (HAHA) has announced that to ensure next season can take place as scheduled, and to increase player health and safety, it shall be mandatory for all outfield players to wear increased protective equipment during matches, and in the clubhouse.

The equipment shall be similar to the Zorbs commonly used very effectively as protective equipment for the little known sports of both Zorb Football and of course, Competitive Downhill Rolling.

The bubble like layers will not only dramatically reduce impact injuries to the chest and head areas, but will also allow players to continue to self-isolate whilst playing our fantastic sport.

We are pleased to announce that we have been selected as a pilot club for this initiative, and will be receiving several sets of Zorbs to trial over the summer as the designers fine tune the position of the additional hole to accommodate the stick.

Professor H. Elton, safety advisor to the board of hockey equipment states: "We are pleased to be at the coal face improving opportunities for hockey to continue at this time, and look forward to working closely with several carefully selected clubs during the final stages of development of this unique and exciting product".

The news hasn't been entirely positively received by the hockey community though. FIH Press Officer, Evan Alarf, was quoted as saying "This ridiculous suggestion will ruin the sport of Hockey for years to come".

We will announce more details as we get them.