Hockey or Field Hockey as it is known in some parts of the world, is a stick and ball game with origins dating back thousands of years. It is traditionally played on grass, but more often these days - especially at the top levels and in certain countries - hockey is played on synthetic surfaces. Hockey is a popular sport for men and women in many countries.
Two teams compete against each other using their 'hooked' sticks to hit, push, pass and dribble a small, hard, usually white, ball, with one aim in mind - to score by getting the ball into the opponents' goal.
To do that, they have to get the ball past the other team's goalkeeper, who protects the goal, and logically, tries to keep the ball out! The team putting the ball in opponents' net maximum scores the most. Hockey is the national game of India and Pakistan.
Hockey Field
- 100 × 60 yard (91.4 m × 55 m) rectangular field.
- The goal is 7 feet (2.14 m) high and 12 feet (3.66 m) wide.
- The semi-circle is of 16 yards (14.63 m) from the goal known as the shooting circle (or D or arc)
- The dotted line is 5 yards (5 m) from the semi-circle
- The lines across the field is 25 yards (22.9 m) from each end-line and in the center of the field.
- The penalty spot or stroke mark is placed 7 yards (6.4 m) from the center of each goal.
Teams
There are 11 players on the pitch although each team can have up to five substitutes waiting on the side-line. Players on and off the pitch substitute virtually at any time and can go on and off the pitch any number of times.
Player positions
As already mentioned, every team must have a goalkeeper - although, very occasionally, a team will play only with field players perhaps so they can put more players into attack. The 10 players other than the goalkeeper are referred to as 'field players', and are dispersed over the field of play. The field players can be put into three general categories - attackers, midfielders and defenders. While no player (other than the goalkeeper) has an exclusively defined role, the attackers are generally on attack, the defenders are generally on defense, and the midfielders do a bit of both!
Duration of a match
A regulation length hockey match lasts 70 minutes - which is broken into two halves of 35 minutes each with an interval of between 5 and 10 minutes.
The team with the most goals at the end of the 70 minutes is the winner. It is also possible for a match to end in a draw (or tie). But in some matches - such as during the Hockey World Cup or Olympics, or in a championship game - there must be a winner. In those cases, a match which is tied at the end of regulation time, then goes into extra time (the first team to score in extra time wins), and if necessary, to a penalty stroke competition.
Stick handling
An essential skill necessary for playing hockey is the ability to control, pass, push, stop and shoot the ball with your hockey stick. This is known as stick work, or stick handling and keeping the ball under close control is called dribbling. It is both beautiful and impressive to watch a player with good stick handling skills control the ball while sprinting the length of the field, or weave through the sticks and legs of defenders to create a chance for shooting at the goal.
It is important to know that the head of a hockey stick has a rounded side (the right-hand side) and a flat side (the left-hand side). It is only with the flat, left-hand, side of the stick and the edges of that side which can be used to play the ball.
Scoring
Scoring a goal in hockey is very interesting. There are only certain ways it can be done: from a Field Goal, from a Penalty Corner, and from a Penalty Stroke.
Striker
The player who shoots the ball.
Tackle
Defensive effort to take the ball away from an opponent.
16-yard hit
Free hit for the defense 16 yards from the goal after an offensive player hits the ball over the end line.
Add-10
For delaying the game, such as a defender standing closer than five yards away during a free hit, the free hit is advanced 10 yards up the field.
Advancing
Penalty for field player hitting the ball with any part of the body.
Bully
Used to restart play when possession is unclear when play was stopped (e.g. injury timeout). Two opposing players start with their sticks on the ground, the ball is placed between them, and they must tap sticks above the ball before they can play the ball.
Center pass
Pass from midfield used to start each half and following all goals. Free hit rules apply. Also called pass-back.
Clearing
Hitting the ball away from the goal on defense, usually as a pass up the field.
Cross
Passing the ball in front of the opponent's goal to create a scoring opportunity. Also called centering.
Dangerous play
Play that could likely result in injury, such as pushing, tripping, or raising the ball at an opponent who is less than five yards away.
Dribble
Moving while alternating the ball from the right side of the body to the left side of the body to elude defenders.
Drive
A hard hit made with the swinging motion of the stick.
Flagrant foul
Intentionally rough or dangerous play. Player is issued a red card and ejected from the game.
Flick
Pass or shot using the wrists to put force behind the ball to raise it off the ground.
Hit
Any contact with the ball using a swinging motion of the stick. A hard hit is called a drive.
Long hit
Free hit for offense from the corner, following an unintentional hit over the end line by the defense. Also called "long corner" or "corner hit."
Marking
Guarding an opponent.
Misconduct
Penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, including dangerous play, using obscene language, or taunting. Results in a green card (warning), yellow card (5-minute suspension), or red card (player disqualification). When players are suspended or disqualified, their team must play with fewer members.
Obstruction
Penalty for using the body or stick to prevent opponents from pursuing the ball. "Third party obstruction" is called for blocking an opponent so a teammate can play the ball.
Push
Method of moving or passing the ball in which the stick is in contact with the ball and the ground as the player pushes the ball up the field.
Raised ball: Flicking, scooping, and chipping the ball into the air are legal.
Scoop
Method of passing or shooting the ball by leveraging the stick underneath the ball to pick it up and fling it through the air.
Side-in
Free hit awarded to a team after the opponent hits the ball out of bounds over the sideline. Also called "hit-in" or "push-in."
No feet!
It may seem like common sense, but it is worth mentioning that in hockey, field players are not allowed to use their feet (or any other parts of their bodies for that matter) to control the ball. Only the goalkeeper is allowed to use hands, feet, etc. to stop or propel the ball when defending in his or her own circle.
Field Goals
A field goal is a goal scored from open, continuous play. Field goals may only be scored from the 'shooting circle', a roughly semi-circular area in front of the opponents' goal. If an attacker hits the ball from outside the 'shooting circle' and it goes directly into the goal or is only touched by a defender on the way, it does not count as a score.
Penalty Corners
Offensive free hit from the endline, 10 yards from the goal, usually following a foul inside the striking circle. Offensive players must be outside the striking circle until the ball is hit, and the offense must control the ball before it can shoot. The defense is allowed five players behind the end line; all other defenders must be behind the center line. A penalty corner ends when the defense takes possession of the ball, the ball crosses over the 5-yard mark outside the striking circle, or the ball exits the striking circle twice. Also called "short corner."
Penalty Strokes
Free one-on-one shot from the penalty stroke line awarded when a foul prevents a likely goal. The goalie must remain behind the goal line until the ball is hit.
Free Hits
Awarded after most penalties. Defenders must stand five yards from the ball until it is played.
Undercutting
Penalty for a hard swing of the stick under the ball to raise it into the air.
Umpires
Each match is controlled by two umpires – they are called umpires in hockey but have the same sort of job as referees in many other sports. Basically, each umpire controls half of the pitch although they work cooperatively in the middle part of the pitch. For bad or repeated offences by players, an umpire can show them a card. A green card is a warning – essentially telling a player not to do that again! A yellow card means the player is suspended from the game for a minimum of 5 minutes or whatever time the umpire decides depending on the nature of the offence. A red card is for a very serious offence and means the player is suspended for the remainder of the match. If a player is suspended temporarily or permanently, their team plays with fewer players.
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