Rules of Hockey

WAY TO PLAY FOR KIDS RULES FOR BEGINNERS FIH RULES RULES OF ASSOCIATIONS HOCKEY AUSTRALIA CONCUSSION POLICY

WAY TO PLAY FOR KIDS

How to get started. Have a look at this.

RULES FOR BEGINNERS

if you are new to the sport of hockey and don't know a penalty corner from a red card then read on to learn the basics of a sport that is played in more than 150 countries worldwide.

Introduction

Hockey is a stick and ball game with origins dating back thousands of years. It is traditionally played on grass, but more often it is played on synthetic surfaces. Two teams compete using 'hooked' sticks to hit, push, pass and dribble a small, hard ball with one aim in mind - to score a goal by getting the ball past the goalkeeper.

Teams

There are 11 players on the pitch with up to five substitutes on the side-line. Players can substitute virtually at any time and any number of times.

Player positions

Every team has a goalkeeper - although, rarely, a team will play only with field players to put more players into attack. The other 10 players are called 'field players', and are in three categories - attackers, midfielders and defenders.

Teams are permitted to play without a goalkeeper if one is not available - other rules will apply.

Stick handling

Hockey players must be able to control, pass, push, stop and hit the ball with a hockey stick. This is known as stick work, or stick handling. Keeping the ball under close control is called dribbling. The head of a hockey stick has a rounded side (the right side) and a flat side (the left side). It is only the flat, left-hand side of the stick and the edges of that side which can be used to play the ball.

No Feet!

Field players are not allowed to use their feet (or any other parts of their bodies) 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.

Ball in the Air

In general play, the ball cannot be raised into the air when hit. It can though be raised by using a scooping or long pushing action of the stick. A player will be penalised if they lift the ball in a way which is dangerous to another player.

A defender can use their stick at any height to save a shot at goal - because attackers are allowed to raise the ball when trying to score a goal. Many shots are raised because it is an effective way of scoring goals.

Scoring Goals

Field goals may only be scored from within the 'circle', which is actually a roughly semi-circular area in front of the opponents' goal. The ball must be touched by an attacker inside the circle before it totally crosses the goal-line. If an attacker hits the ball from outside the 'circle' and it goes into the goal, even if it is touched by a defender on the way, it does not count.

Free Hits

For general offences, a free hit is given against the team which fouled. Common fouls are obstructing an opponent from playing the ball, interfering with the stick or body when tackling, kicking the ball and playing the ball dangerously. However, a penalty should only be awarded when a player or team has been disadvantaged by an opponent breaking the Rules; otherwise play should continue.

For a free hit, opponents are given the ball where the offence took place. The ball is initially stationary and play will often be re-started by passing the ball to a teammate nearby while all opponents are 5 metres away. However, the player taking the free hit can also begin to dribble the ball him/herself.

Penalty Corner

If a defending team breaks certain rules, the other team can be awarded a 'penalty corner'. Normally this happens when a team breaks a rule within their own 'shooting circle', but these can also be awarded when a defender is guilty of a particularly bad foul in the defending quarter of the field.

For a penalty corner, play is stopped to allow the teams to take their positions. One attacker stands with the ball on the back-line. This player will 'push out' the ball to other attackers waiting to take a shot. The other attackers wait at the top of the shooting circle to get the ball.

Penalty Corner in action

Up to five defenders (including the goalkeeper) position themselves behind the back-line to defend. The rest must stay behind the half way line until the 'push out' is taken. The ball is 'pushed out' to one of the attackers. Before a shot can be taken, the ball must first travel outside the circle. The receiver then usually pushes it back into the circle for a shot either by themself or another attacker.

If the first shot is a hit (as opposed to other types of shots, like a 'flick' or a 'scoop'), the ball must enter the goal no higher than than 460mm. It is easy to tell if the ball is at that height because the board at the back of the goal is the same height.

If the first shot is a 'scoop' or a 'flick' (shots that are lifted into the air with a long scooping or pushing action of the stick) then the ball can cross the goal-line at any height. Once the attacker on the back-line begins to push the ball out, the defenders on the back line may move into the circle.

Penalty Strokes

A penalty stroke may be awarded for a number of reasons, the most common being an offence by a defender in the circle that prevented a goal. In a penalty stroke, a shot is taken by one player and defended only by the goalkeeper. The shot is taken from 6.4 meters directly in front of the goal. All other players must stand outside the circle, about 23 metres away. Match time is stopped during a penalty stroke.

Duration of a match

A regulation hockey match lasts 70 minutes - which is broken into two halves of 35 minutes each with a break of 5 to 10 minutes. (Certain matches are played in Quarters). 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. But in some matches - such as a championship game - there must be a winner. In those cases, a match which is tied, it goes into extra time (the first team to score wins), and if necessary, to a shootout. Junior matches are usually a shorter duration.

Umpires

Each match is controlled by two umpires. Each umpire controls half of the pitch and works 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. A yellow card means the player is suspended from the game for a minimum of 5 minutes or the 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.

At world level competitions where the facilities are available, a team playing or the umpires themselves can refer a decision to the video umpire who can use slow motion replays to advise the umpires on the pitch of the correct decision.

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FIH RULES

Experienced, Returning and Beginner Players alike - and All Umpires and Coaches -

Click on this link to see the International Federation of Hockey latest full rule book -

--FIH Rules 2026 UPDATE--

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RULES OF ASSOCIATIONS

Pine Hills Hockey Club is a Member Club of both, Brisbane Hockey Association (BHA) and Brisbane Women's Hockey Association (BWHA) and as such, players and the club must abide by Rules laid down by them.

Follow these links to find out what our responsibilities are.

BHA - to access all things related to Men and Boys Competitions

BWHA - for all things related to Women and Girls Competitions

BWHA Rules of Association - for Policies and Governance relating to BWHA operations

BWHA Club Administration - for Forms and Resources directed at Clubs

ALL TEAMS - To find information about Games, Results, Ladders go to Draws and Results

Find your team's competition (BWHA/BHA -Turf, Grass, Masters, Junior) and select your team's grade then Round

Note - U7 and U9 teams do not have Ladders.

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HOCKEY AUSTRALIA CONCUSSION POLICY

Player and Participant Welfare

In considering the management of hockey-related concussion, each Australian Hockey Association (AHO) is committed to protecting the health and welfare of hockey players and participants at all levels. AHOs have a duty of care to provide safe training and playing environments. This policy and its related protocols should be implemented to the fullest extent possible by AHOs. AHOs should also take steps to increase awareness of this policy and its related protocols.

See the Hockey Australia Concussion Policy here.

Posted 16/03/2024

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May 2026