Field Hockey

Field Hockey

Field hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport structured in standard hockey format, in which each team plays with 11 players in total, made up of 10 field players and a goalkeeper. Teams must move a hockey ball around a field by hitting it with a hockey stick towards the rival team's shooting circle and then into the goal. The match is won by the team that scores the most goals. Matches are played on grass, watered turf, artificial turf, or indoor boarded surface.

The stick is made of wood, carbon fibre, fibreglass and carbon, or a combination of carbon fibre and fibreglass in different quantities. The stick has two sides; one rounded and one flat; only the flat face of the stick is allowed to progress the ball. During play, goalkeepers are the only players allowed to touch the ball with any part of their body. A player's hand is considered part of the stick if holding the stick. If the ball is "played" with the rounded part of the stick (i.e., deliberately stopped or hit), it will result in a penalty (accidental touches are not an offence if they do not materially affect play). Goalkeepers often have a different design of stick; they also cannot play the ball with the round side of their stick.

The modern game was developed at public schools in 19th-century England and it is now played globally.[1] The governing body is the International Hockey Federation (FIH), called the Fédération Internationale de Hockey in French. Men and women are represented internationally in competitions including the Olympic Games, World Cup, FIH Pro League, Junior World Cup and in past also World League, Champions Trophy. Many countries run extensive junior, senior, and masters club competitions. The FIH is also responsible for organizing the Hockey Rules Board and developing the sport's rules.

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Rules of the game

The ball may be played with the flat side of the stick only.

Out of Bounds

When the ball goes over the side line, the opponent takes a side-in at the spot where the ball went out of bounds. The game may be re-started by passing the ball to a teammate or by taking it on the dribble as a self-pass. When the ball unintentionally goes over the backline off the stick of a defense player, the game is re-started with a long corner. The long corner is taken from a spot on the sideline 5 yards from the corner flag on the side of the field where the ball crossed the backline. If the attacking team sends the ball out of bounds over the backline, the game is re-started with a self pass or hit at the 16-yard line by the defense.

Free Hit

A free hit is awarded to the opposing team when a foul occurs on the field and must be taken near the spot where the violation occurred. If the attacking team fouls in the shooting circle, the defending team will be awarded a free hit to be taken anywhere along the 16-yard line.

Diagram of the field of play

Field Hockey Rules of Game players on field

In every case, when the side-in, long corner, or free hit is taken, the ball must be stationary and the play will be re-started by passing the ball to a teammate or by taking it as a self-pass. A free hit, which is not a ‘self-pass’, requires the ball to move at least one meter before it can be played by a teammate. All other players must be at least 5 yards from the hit. The free hit should not be penalized when the ball lifts slightly off the ground if the intention to play along the ground is clear and the hit itself is not dangerous and/or does not lead to dangerous play.

This can be confusing to spectators because they may not understand why the umpire does or does not blow the whistle when the ball rises slightly on the hit. In fact, the umpire must determine whether the ball is being lifted as a result of technique used by the hitter, or if the ground causes the ball to lift in a dangerous manner. The other factor that the umpire must consider is whether the ball is being directed towards a space or towards two or more players. Many high school hockey games are still played on grass where the field itself can often cause the ball to lift. The umpire must control the safety of the game and he/she must be allowed to use good judgement when determining whether the ball has lifted in a dangerous manner.

Penalty Corner (Short Corner)

When the defending team fouls in the shooting circle, or if the defenders send the ball over the end line intentionally, a penalty corner will be awarded to the attacking team.

Five defenders (including goalkeeper) shall be behind their backline. The rest of the defending team shall be behind the center line.

One member of the attacking team shall hit or push the ball from a spot on the end line 10 yards from the goal post and she must have at least one foot completely outside of the field of play. The rest of the attack must be outside the shooting circle until the ball is inserted. The ball should be controlled before shooting for goal. If the initial shot on goal is a hit, the ball must cross the goal line at a height no more than 18 inches (which is the height of the board in the back of the goal). After the initial shot, the attacking team may flick the ball towards the goal in a controlled manner. If the first shot is a flick, then the ball can cross the goal line at any height, as long as it is not a dangerous play.

Penalty Stroke

A penalty stroke is awarded when the defense either commits a deliberate foul inside their opponents attacking 25 or intentionally fouls inside the shooting circle, which prevents a goal from being scored. The penalty stroke is taken by a single attacker in the circle (all others beyond the 25-yard line), against the goal keeper, and is taken from a spot 7-yards out, central and directly in front of the goal. The goalkeeper must stand with feet on the goal line, and cannot move them until the ball is played. The attacker, on the umpires whistle, may push or flick the ball at the goal and goalkeeper attempts to make a save.

Field Hockey diagram of play

Fouls

Using the stick in an intimidating or uncontrolled manner, which can result in dangerous play.

Playing with the rounded side of the stick.

Stick interference.The player should attempt to play the ball -- not hit, hook, hold, or interfere with an opponent’s stick.

Undercutting, or raising the ball dangerously.

Charging, pushing, tripping, or personally handling an opponent.

Deliberately hitting the ball into an opponent.