Everything you have to know about the Hockey Metropolitan Tournament 2025

The wait is over. Start a new Buenos Aires Metropolitan Tournament. After a long preseason and, after the window in Santiago del Estero de Pro League, the action of the sport of the stick and the Boca returns with the attention placed in the most prestigious local contest of the Albiceleste country. On Saturday, March 15, it will be the initial whistle of the action with the Ladies Tournament and Sunday 16, the shift of men.

What teams will play the highest category?

With the ratification of 14 teams per branch in Metro A, four teams will be the new members of the championship in 2025. On the women’s side, Ferrochampion of the B last year, and National Bankrunner -up, will be the ones who occupy the two new places After the descents of Sic and Vélez.

The remaining 12 clubs that maintained their place in the division are Architecture, Province Bank, City, Geba, Italian, Lomas, Quilmes, River Plate, San Fernando, San Lorenzo, Santa Barbara and St. Catherine’s.

As for men, San Martínwinner of the B 2024, and BanfieldSecond, they recovered the place they had lost the previous year. Santa Barbara and City B are the ones that descended.

The remaining teams that will be part of the contest this season are Banade, Banco Provincia, Ciudad A, Ducilo, Geba, Hurling, Lomas, Miter, Quilmes, San Fernando A, San Fernando B and U. La Plata.

Four Technical Bodies (CT) modified with respect to last year’s tournament in the ladies. While, in the gentlemen, there was a new 12 CT departure. Only two maintained.

Hillsthe most meter champion of women With 20 trophies, it will be the one to defend the title. San Fernando awhich was second with 16, is the one who will seek to retain it in the men.

What will the competition system be like?

The Buenos Aires Hockey Amateur Association (AAHBA) confirmed that the 2024 competition system will be repeated. Format will be played Round Robinall against all, round trip, as the first measure, in both branches. It will be a total of 26 dates.

Then, those who finish in the first two positions in the standings will classify directly to the semifinal of the playoffs. From 3 to 6th they will play a previous phase with matches to each other (3rd vs. 6th and 4th vs. 5th). Those who finish in a better position will have sports advantage (that is, the end with a higher location will advance to the semifinals in case of a draw). The first will play with the winner of the match between the 3rd and 6th, while the second will go with that of the 4th and 5th.

As for the lower zone, it will also be reiterated how the struggle for permanence will be. The 13th and 14th will descend directly. While the one who culminates 12 will play a Playout With the 3rd of the B a Ida and round, with locality for the Metro A team in the second game and sports advantage (in case of drawing in the global between result and goals, it maintains its place in the subway A).

What is the tentative calendar for the first wheel of 2025?

The contest would begin on the weekend of March 15 and 16for the female and male championship, respectively. The first wheel would end on June 28 and 29.

Then, it would be the beginning of the second that would stop after July 19 and 20, after the first two dates. On the weekends of July 26 and 27 and August 2 and 3, the championship for winter vacation would be stopped.

It should be noted that the tournament would not stop during the next Pro League window (It includes three weekends from June 8 to 22), Nor would I do it during the Argentine of major selections which will be played on the coast and overlaps on Saturday 5 and Sunday, July 6.

Changes in the rules during the game

Among the most important rules that will be modified during the game action, the following stand out:

• Rule 4.2 was changed to allow defense players using short corner protective equipment (CC) Continue playing the bowl outside the circle after intercepting it during the taking of a short corner. Players can now continue running with the Bocha while maintaining their protective equipment, but they must take away that same equipment immediately after the first opportunity to do so and always within the 23 -meter area. No player using CC protective equipment can play the bowl outside the 23 -meter area.

• Rule 9.10 was changed to allow to play what is commonly designated as aerial bowls. “Players should not approach less than 5 meters from an opponent receiving an elevated bowl until it has been received, controlled and is on the ground. The Bocha could be intercepted within 5 meters, but outside the game distance whenever it is done safely. The initial receiver is entitled to the Bocha. If it is not clear that player is the initial receiver, the team player who raised the bowl must allow the opponent to receive it. ”

• The mandatory rule 2.2, not allowing teams to play with field players with archer privileges, has been incorporated into the rules. There are now two options: play with an archer who uses protective equipment I understand at least a helmet, leg protector and kickers and who also has allowed to use a scientist hand and other protective equipment or play only with field players. Any player change apart from this must be taken as a substitution.

• In the last update of hockey rules in January 2021, rules 13.5 ga has been removed. It is set that the granting of a Bully It would be one of the conditions that determined the completion of a CC. This is no longer possible, since now any interruption of the game due to injury or other reason during the taking of a short corner is retaken with a short corner by rule 6.5 d.

What does the regulations on the passes and players play abroad and the incorporation of foreigners say?

After the surprising incorporation of foreign players during the second half of last year (Lily Owsley, Ashley Hoffman and Antonio Sanz in Banco Provincia), The AAHBA took action on the matter and in its Bulletin “A” 2025 ruled the rules for the signings and passes of players during the season in article 4.

As established:

– If a player or player participates in a match in an outside club from March 15 to June 30, it cannot be part of any team until July 1. As of that date, they are enabled if they return to Buenos Aires and are noted before September 30 as a deadline. If they play a game abroad after July 1, they must wait until 2026 to play.

– If a club wants to sign a foreigner, he must do it before March 15 and should not participate in any foreign league after that date. If he does so during the first semester (March 15 to June 30) he can only play from July 1. The deadline, as was said in the previous paragraph, is September 30 to be part of the second part of the contest, as long as I do not play in another league after July 1.

– Regarding the incorporations, each Metro A and B club of Ladies can add up to three players, with a maximum of an interfederative or international pass. In the case of men, they can also reinforce three players, but with two interfederative or international passes.