Field of play

The field should be rectangular and 91.4 meters long and 55.0 meters wide.
It should be clearly marked with white lines.
All lines should be 7.5 cm wide. The longer, 91.4 metre lines are called side
lines. The shorter 55 metre lines are called back lines. Goal lines are
between the back line and the goal-post. Minimum run off areas should be
provided outside the back lines and the side lines.
There is a Centrex line across the field and there are two other lines each
22.90 metres away from the centre line. This forms four even quarters.
Protruding from each back lines is a semicircle, sometimes referred to as
the D or the circle. These are the shooting circles and a goal cannot be
scored unless the shot came from within the circle.




Goals
At the centre of each back line are goals, which must be rectangular in
shape and 2.14 metres high and 3.66 metres apart. There should be back
and side boards 46 cm high.
The nets should be fitted loosely to prevent the ball from rebounding.

The Ball
The ball should be spherical, weigh between 156-163 grammes. Its
circumference should be 22.4- 23.5 cm. It should be white or any other
agreed colour and should be smooth but seem or indentations are
permitted.







Sticks
Sticks should be flat on one side and curved on the other. Only the flat side
may be used during the course of a game. It cannot weigh more than 737
grammes.



Teams
A game will consist of two teams of eleven players each. You can have five
substitutes to be used throughout the game.
You can be substituted at any time during a game except when a penalty
stroke is being taken and you can come on and off the field as many times
as your coach wants. You also have to enter the game at the centre of the
field.


Captains
Each team must have a captain on the field and they must wear a
distinctive arm band. To sought out who starts with possession or which
side they take will be decided by the two captains and umpires, by tossing
a coin.
Umpires
There are two umpires on the field who control the game. They take half of
the field each and adjudicate in there own half.
Duration of play
In junior hockey games will be 20 minutes each half, in intermediate and
secondary hockey halves are 25-30 minutes each way. In international
matches each half is 35 minutes long.
Starting and Restarting games
To start play a pass will be taken from the decided team from the centre of
the field. It may be pushed of hit to a player in their own half. All opponents
must be 5 metres from the ball. If the ball goes over the side line the team
which did not hit it over the side line will take the ball and restart play by
passing it to a player. Then when the ball goes over the back line the
defending team will take a hit 16 yards from the back line.


Scoring a goal
To score a goal the ball must be in between the posts, and completely over
the line and under the crossbar. It also must be struck by an attacker inside
the semicircle.
Conduct of play
You shall not hit the ball intentionally with the back of the stick, use any
body part, play the ball with your stick over shoulder height. You shan't
raise the ball dangerously or injure another player or the umpire. You cant
waste time. You can not obstruct the opposition with your stick our body.
The speed at which hockey is now played has called for highly skilled
players. The best players can manoeuvre the ball and score with great
precision and speed, whilst aiming to keep possession of the ball as much
as possible. Hockey also calls for the ability to produce hard hits, but these
must be delivered with accuracy and not deemed dangerous by the
umpires.

Dribble - When a player moves the ball along the floor, it is
calling dribbling the ball. The player runs along pushing the ball, controlling
the speed and direction that it travels with their stick.
Push - This is when the player uses their wrist to force the ball forward, and
is typically used to pass the ball to another player or to put the ball into play.
Flick - Also referred to as the scoop, this play is similar to the push but the
stick is placed at an angle in order to lift the ball slightly off the ground.
Hit - This play occurs when the stick is moved back from the ball and then
brought forward to contact the ball with extra force, making it travel for a
long distance.
Drive - This is identical to a hit, but the stick is taken further back and
brought forward in a swinging movement in order to strike the ball, forcing it
travel much further.
Slap - This is a quick and hard pass or shot that is made on a goal. The
hands are held slightly apart on the stick, and a half backswing is used to
give the hit more force. This type of hit is suitable for all shots which need
to be stronger than a push.

Backhand hit - This is like a backhanded hit within tennis in that it is a
reverse hit, but contact still cannot be made with the rounded back of the
stick. It is used for either passing or attempting a goal.
Tackling
The player will attempt a tackle by placing their stick in the path of the ball.
The player will often do this by putting the whole of their stick close to the
ground, which produces a much wider barrier for the ball. To try and
maintain possession of the ball within the team, the other player who has
possession of the ball will either pass the ball to a teammate, or attempt to
manoeuvre the ball away from the tackle.
Tackling is allowed within hockey as long as the tackler does not touch the
other players stick before they make contact with the ball or after the tackle.
The tackler also must not force the defender out the way using his or her
body, or try to play the ball with his or her feet. In these situations, a penalty
would be awarded against the tackler. However, if the ball touches the feet
of a player accidentally and no benefit is gained from this, a penalty will not
be awarded.
Obstruction occurs in three main circumstances: -
If the defenders stick comes in between the ball and the stick of the
attacker, or if it makes contact with the attackers stick.
If the defender comes in between the defender and the ball without
performing a tackle.
If the oppositions passage to the ball is blocked; this is usually a
deliberate move.


Commands
Players use commands when they are passing and manoeuvring between
players on the opposite team and want to communicate with the rest of the
team what they are doing. These commands vary between teams so that
the opposing team will not be able to decipher what tactics they are going
to use. However, there are a few universal phrases that are used:
Through or straight - This is called if the player wants to pass the ball
straight ahead to another teammate.
Flat or square - This is used when the pass is going to be made by a
player to their left or right at a 90 degree angle, to another player.
Drop - This is called when the player is going to make a pass backwards.
Up or through- This is called if the player wants to pass the ball forward
at an angle.