Understanding Field Hockey: Rules, Equipment, and Tactics
Hockey: An Overview
Hockey is a team sport where players score by hitting a ball into the opposing team’s goal using sticks.
Field of Play
The pitch is a 91.40m x 55m rectangle. Goals are 2.14m high and 3.66m wide, with a semi-circular area of 14.63m. Lines cross the field 22.90m from each end and at the center. A penalty spot, 0.15m in diameter, is 6.40m from each goal.
Positions
Teams have fullbacks (defense), midfielders (halfbacks), and forwards (front line). One player is the goalkeeper, who cannot cross the defensive 23m line unless taking a penalty stroke.
General Play
The team with the ball attacks, the other defends. Two umpires officiate. A coin toss decides the starting end or possession. The game has two 35-minute halves with a five-minute halftime.
Set Plays
Free Hits: Awarded for offenses outside scoring circles, taken near the offense location.
Corner: Awarded if a defender touches the ball last before it goes over the back line, unless deliberate.
Penalty Corner: Awarded for:
- Defender’s offense in the circle not preventing a goal.
- Intentional offense in the circle against a player without the ball.
- Intentional offense by a defender within the 23m area.
- Intentionally playing the ball over the back line.
- Ball lodging in a defender’s equipment in the circle.
Penalty Stroke: Awarded for a deliberate foul in the circle denying a scoring opportunity.
Warnings and Suspensions:
- Green card: Official warning.
- Yellow card: Temporary suspension.
- Red card: Permanent exclusion and potential ban.
Scoring
Teams score by hitting the ball into the attacking circle’s goal. The team with more goals after two 35-minute halves wins.
Equipment
Hockey Stick
Typically 36-37 inches long, made of wood or composites. Metal is forbidden. Left-handed sticks don’t exist.
Hockey Ball
Spherical, hard plastic, often with indentations to reduce hydroplaning.
General Player Equipment
Mouth guards, shin guards, and gloves are common, sometimes required.
Goalkeeping Equipment
Helmet, leg guards, kickers, chest guards, padded shorts, hand protectors, groin protectors, neck guards, arm guards, and a stick.
Tactics
Outnumber opponents in specific areas. Move the ball by:
- Passing
- Pushing and running with the ball
- Dribbling
Rules and Play
Two teams of eleven players, with five substitutes. Substitutions are allowed anytime except for an injured or suspended goalkeeper.
- Play the ball with the stick’s flat side or edges.
- No foot-to-ball contact for advantage.
- No obstructing other players.
- No high back swing during free hits or corners.
- No third-party contact with the ball.