Throughout
most of the world the rules set by the FIH are used. However in the
United States, NCAA have their own rules for inter-collegiate
competitions, and high school associations similarly play to different
rules. This article assumes FIH rules unless otherwise stated.
Players
are permitted to play the ball with any part of the stick other than
the rounded side (back). The flat side is always on the "natural" side
for a right-handed person — there are no "left-handed" hockey sticks
(for actual use in play, some have been made as novelties). |
Field Hockey Positions
Teams
consist of eleven players on the field, and up to five substitutes.
Substitutions are not limited but may not be made during a penalty
corner. There are no set positions other than goalkeeper, but most teams
arrange themselves into fullbacks, midfielders and forwards. Many teams
include a single sweeper, who plays behind the fullbacks.
One
player from each team is designated the goalkeeper. Goalkeepers must
wear a suitable helmet with full face mask and are also permitted to
wear protective padding, including large leg guards, kickers and gloves.
Although goalkeepers may block or deflect the ball with any part of
their bodies, and propel the ball with their feet, they must always
carry a stick, and normal stick rules apply. Goalkeepers are permitted
to play the ball outside their defensive circle (scoring area or "D"),
but must only use the stick in this circumstance. |
General Play In Field Hockey
For
the purposes of the rules, all players on the team in possession of the
ball are attackers, and those on the team without the ball are
defenders.
The match is officiated by two field
umpires. Traditionally each umpire generally controls half of the field,
divided roughly diagonally, although now experiments are being made
where either umpire can make any decision anywhere on the field. These
umpires are often assisted by a technical bench including a timekeeper
and record keeper.Prior to the start of the game, a coin
is tossed and the winning captain can choose a starting end or start
with the ball. The game time is divided into two equal halves of 35
minutes each, with five minutes for half-time. At the start of each
half, as well as after goals are scored, play is started with a pass
from the centre of the field. All players must start in their defensive
half, but the ball may be played in any direction. Each team starts with
the ball in one half, and the team that conceded the goal has
possession for the restart.Field players may only play the
ball with the face of the stick. Tackling is permitted as long as the
tackler does not make contact with the attacker or his stick before
playing the ball (contact after the tackle may also be penalised if the
tackle was made from a position where contact was inevitable). Further,
the player with the ball may not deliberately use his body to push a
defender out of the way.Obstruction typically occurs in
three circumstances - when a defender comes between the player with
possession and the ball without first performing a legitimate tackle;
when a defender's stick comes between the attacker's stick and the ball
or makes contact with the attacker's stick; and also when (usually
deliberately) blocking the opposition's passage to the ball (called
third party obstruction).When the ball passes over the
sidelines, it is returned to play with a sideline hit, taken by a member
of the team whose players were not the last to touch the ball before
crossing the sideline. If it crosses the backline after last touched by
an attacker, a 15 m hit. A 15 m hit is also awarded for offenses
committed by the attacking side within 15 m of the end of the pitch they
are attacking. |
Field Hockey Set Plays
Free Hits
Free
hits are awarded when offences are committed outside the scoring
circles. The ball may be hit or pushed once in any direction by the team
offended against. Opponents must move 5 m from the ball when a free hit
is awarded, and for attacking free hits within 5 m of the circle all
attackers other than the one taking the hit must also by 5 m away.As
mentioned above, a 15 m hit is awarded if an attacking player commits a
foul forward of that line, or if the ball passes over the backline off
an attacker. These hits are taken in line with where the foul was
committed (taking a line parallel with the sideline between where the
offence was committed, or the ball went out of play). If the attack
commit a foul in the circle they are attacking, the defence additionally
has the option to take the free hit anywhere in that circle.Long CornerA
long corner is awarded if the ball goes over the backline after last
being touched by a defender. Long corners are played by the attacking
team and involve a free hit on the sideline five yards from the corner
of the field closest to where the ball went out of play.Short CornerThe
short or penalty corner is a rather complicated set play that is
awarded against a defending team when any offence is committed in the
defensive circle, and may be awarded when a deliberate offence is
committed in the defending 23 m area, or when the defending team
deliberately plays the ball over the back line.Short
corners begin with five defenders (including the keeper) arranged along
the backline. All other defenders must return to the centre line until
the ball is in play. Attacking players begin the play standing outside
the scoring circle, except for one attacker who starts the corner by
playing the ball from a mark 10 m either side of the goal (the circle
has a 14.63 m radius). This player puts the ball into play by pushing or
hitting the ball to the other attackers outside the circle; the ball
must pass outside the circle before the attackers attempt to get a shot
or deflection into the goal. For safety reasons, the first shot of a
penalty corner must remain under 460 mm high unless it is flicked.Penalty StrokeA
penalty stroke is awarded when defenders commit a deliberate foul in
the circle which deprives an attacker of possession or the opportunity
to play the ball, when an accidental breach prevents a certain goal, or
if defenders repeatedly "break" or start to run from the backline before
a penalty corner has started. This penalty pits a single attacker
against the goalkeeper, and is taken from a spot 6.4 m out and directly
in front of the goal. The goalkeeper must stand with heels on the goal
line, and cannot move his feet until the ball is played. On the umpire's
whistle, the striker may take one step and push or flick the ball at
the goal, which the goalkeeper attempts to save. The attacker is not
permitted to take more than one step, more than one shot, to fake or
dummy the shot, or to move towards or interfere with the goalkeeper once
the shot is taken. Hitting or dragging the ball is also forbidden. If
the shot is saved, play is restarted with a 15 m hit to the defenders;
if a goal is scored, play is restarted in the normal way. |
Dangerous Play and Raised Balls within Field Hockey
If
the ball is raised off the ground in a manner that is, in the umpire's
opinion, dangerous, the ball is turned over to the other team and they
receive a free hit from the point of contact. The definition of a
"dangerous ball" is a matter of interpretation by the umpires. Guidance
in the rules states "a ball is considered dangerous when it causes
legitimate evasive action by players" — but it also depends on the speed
of the ball, the height at which it is raised, and the number of
players near its path.
It is, however, legal to raise
the ball when making a shot on goal (by hitting or flicking), or to make
an 'overhead' pass (providing opposition players are greater than 5 m
from the player, and the ball is not dangerous). The ball may only
deliberately be raised using a hit if the player is shooting at goal.Dangerous
play rules also apply with relation to the usage of the stick. Players
may not attempt to play at the ball above their shoulders (unless saving
a goal on the goal line). It will generally be considered dangerous
play to hit the ball while it is in the air; the ball must be controlled
first in this circumstance. |
Warnings and Suspensions within Field Hockey
Hockey
uses a three-tier card system of warnings and suspensions. A Green card
is a warning, while a Yellow card is a temporary suspension for a
minimum of 5 minutes duration without substitution. As in association
football, a Red card is a permanent exclusion from the rest of the game,
without substitution, and in many circumstances will also result in the
player being banned for a certain period of time or number of matches
(this is governed by local playing conditions, rather than the rules of
hockey). Unlike football, a player may receive more than one card of the
same colour, although a second and subsequent card cannot be of a
"lower" colour than one previously issued, and in the case of a second
yellow card the temporary suspension would be expected to be of
considerably longer duration than the first. However, local playing
conditions may mandate that cards are awarded only progressively, and
not allow second awards. |
Scoring In Field Hockey
The
teams' object is to play the ball into their attacking circle and, from
there, hit, push or flick the ball into the goal, scoring a point. The
team with more goals after two 35-minute halves wins the game
Tie BreakerConditions
for breaking ties are not laid down in the rules of hockey, but many
associations will follow the procedure laid down in FIH tournament
regulations which mandate 7.5 minutes each way of "golden goal" extra
time (i.e. the game ends as soon as one team scores). If scores are
still level, then the game will be decided with penalty strokes, in much
the same way that association football penalty shoot outs are
conducted.Other competitions may use alternative means of
breaking a tie, for example, an extended period of golden goal extra
time with a progressive reduction in the number of players each team can
have on the field (usually termed "drop-offs"); if no goal is scored at
the end of such extra time periods, again a result would be achieved
using penalty strokes. |
Field Hockey Equipment
Each
player carries a "stick", normally a little over 3 feet (90
centimetres) long and traditionally made of wood but now often made with
fibreglass, kevlar and carbon fibre composites, with a rounded handle
flattening out on one side and with a hook at the bottom. New rules
(2006) limit the curve of the stick so as to limit the power with which
the ball can be flicked. The stick is only allowed to have a bow smaller
than or equal to 25 mm otherwise this is deemed to be illegal. The flat
side of the hook is used to push, dribble, or hit a hard plastic ball.
This ball is often covered with indentations to reduce hydroplaning that
can cause an inconsistent ball speed on wet surfaces. Each field player
normally wears a mouth guard and shin guards. Although the only
equipment required for Goalkeepers (under FIH rules, local variants may
require more) is a helmet and a stick, invariably they wear extensive
protective equipment including chest guards, padded shorts, heavily
padded hand protectors, leg guards, and foot guards (called "kickers"). |
Field Hockey Tactics
The
main methods by which the ball is moved around the field by players
are: the "dribble", where the player controls the ball with the stick
and runs with the ball, pushing the ball along as they run; The "push",
where the player uses their wrists to push at the ball; the "flick" or
"scoop", similar to the push but with an additional wrist action to
force the stick through at an angle and lift the ball off the ground;
and the "hit", where a backlift is taken and contact with the ball is
made quite forcefully. In order to produce a much stronger hit, usually
for travel over long distances, the stick is raised higher and swung at
the ball, known as a "drive". Tackles are made by placing the stick into
the path of the ball. To increase the effectiveness of the tackle,
players will often place the entire stick close to the ground
horizontally, thus representing a wider barrier. To avoid the tackle,
the ball carrier will either pass the ball to a teammate using any of
the push, flick, or hit, or attempt to maneuver or "pull" the ball
around the tackle, trying to deceive the tackler.
When
passing and maneuvering between players, certain commands are used to
ensure understanding of movements and plays among teammates. Although
these vary depending on which country the game is in, there are a few
standard calls. By calling "through" or "straight" the ball is passed
straight ahead to another player. "Flat" or "square" signifies a pass
made to the right or left of the player with the ball at a 90 degree
angle. Passes made backward are occasionally signified by a call of
"drop". A hit made forward at an angle is recognized as "up".In
recent years, the penalty corner has gained importance as a vital part
of the game as a goal scoring opportunity. Particularly with the advent
and popularisation of the drag flick, penalty corners are highly sought
after. Some tactics or set plays used involve the aforementioned drag
flick, the straight hit, deflections towards goal, and various, more
complex plays, using passes before shots at goal.At the
highest level, hockey is a fast-moving, highly skilled sport, with
players using fast moves with the stick, quick accurate passing, and
hard hits, in attempts to keep possession and move the ball towards the
goal. While physically tackling and otherwise obstructing players is not
permitted, collisions are common, and the speed at which the ball
travels along the ground (and sometimes through the air, which is legal
if it is not judged dangerous by the umpire) requires the use of padded
shin guards to prevent injury. Some of the tactics used resemble
football (soccer), but with greater speed - the best players maneuver
and score almost quicker than the eye can see. |
Field Hockey Formations
Formations
provide structure to a hockey team on the pitch. They help players
understand and share the defensive and attacking responsibilities.
Although higher level teams may select from a wide range of formations,
teams containing inexperienced players or teams which see frequent
changes to their players are likely to select from a more limited range
of formations such as 4-3-3, 5-3-2 and 4-4-2. (The numbers refer to the
number of players arrayed across the pitch, starting in front of the
goalkeeper with the defenders, then midfield and then attack.) The 2-3-5
formation, used predominantly in Australia from relatively lowly
interschool to professional interstate competitions, provides common
language for many players and helps explain why "centre half" is often a
name used for a player in the centre of a defence with 4 or 5 players.
Because
hockey teams have 1 goalkeeper plus 10 outfield players as does
association football (soccer), there are many common formations between
the two sports. See formation.One important difference in
modern hockey is the absence of an offside rule. This allows attackers
(often a lone attacker) to play well up the pitch, stretching the
opponents' defence and using the large spaces to be found there. To
counter this, defences usually keep a matching number of defenders |
Major International Tournaments in Field Hockey
The
biggest two field hockey tournaments are undoubtedly the Olympic Games
tournament, and the Hockey World Cup, which is also held every 4 years.
Apart from this, there is the Champions Trophy Cup held each year for
the six top-ranked teams. Field hockey is also played in the
Commonwealth Games. Amongst the men, India has won 8 Olympic golds and
Pakistan have lifted the World Cup 4 times. Amongst the women, Australia
has 3 Olympic golds while Netherlands has clinched the World Cup 6
times. Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament held annually in Malaysia is
becoming a prominent Hockey Tournament where teams from around the world
participate to win the cup. We also have the KHU National League in Kenya. |
