Field Hockey

For Fun

Teamwork

Exercise

Practice Good Sportsmanship

Hockey players can only hit the ball with the flat side of their stick.

Hockey players (other than the goalkeeper) are not allowed to use their feet, or any other parts of the body, to control the ball at any time.

A goal can only be scored either from a traditional goal, a penalty corner, or from a penalty stroke.

Games are 30 minutes long.

No one can hit another person's shin (leg).

There can only be 10 players on the field per team (Not including goalie)

Hockey players may not trip, push, charge, interfere with, or physically handle an opponent in any way.

Field Hockey is a non-contact sport and all fouls result in a free hit or a ‘penalty corner’ for the non-offending team depending on where the infringement took place and the severity of the foul.

Obstruction: This is awarded against a hockey player who uses their body or stick to prevent an opponent from reaching the ball.

Third-party Obstruction: This is awarded when a hockey player positions them between the ball and an opponent, allowing a team-mate an unobstructed play on the ball.

Advancing: This is awarded against a player who shoves, pushes, or advances the ball in any way, using any part of their body.

Backsticks: This is awarded against a player who strikes the ball with the rounded back of the hockey stick.

Hockey Stick Interference: This is awarded against a player who uses their stick to hit an opponent’s stick, either intentionally or unintentionally.

Undercutting: This is awarded against a player who lifts the ball in a dangerous manner.

Sticks: This is awarded against a player who raises their stick dangerously near another player.

Free Hit: This is a free play awarded on any offenses that occurs outside of the scoring circle. It usually takes place at the location of the violation. All opposing players must stand at least 5 yards from where the hit is to be taken.

Penalty Corner: This is awarded to the attacking team when the defense either commits a foul inside the striking circle or intentionally hits the ball out-of-bounds over the end line. A penalty corner is taken by an attacking player at a spot on the end-line 10 yards away from the nearest goal post. All other attackers must stand outside the striking circle, while five defenders, including the goalkeeper, stand behind the end line until contact is made with the ball. Once the ball has been put in play, all players can rush into the circle to either defend or shoot the ball at the goal.

Penalty Stroke: This is awarded to the attacking side when an offense is committed by the defending side which is deemed to have prevented an almost certain goal. A penalty is taken 7 yards from goal, with the player having only the goalkeeper to beat.