Field hockey words · Beginner

The words you will hear in your first match, grouped the way you meet them.

B · Beginner · 34 words · Step 1 of 2

Basic setup terms

Team

Up to 11 players from a team are on the field at a time, usually 10 field players and a goalkeeper. Under FIH rules a team has at most 16 people, with up to five substitutes. A regulation can raise the limit to 18.

Pitch

The rectangular field where the match is played. It is 91.40 metres long and 55 metres wide. Top-level matches are played on artificial turf.

Also called: field

Stick

The curved stick used to hit, push and control the ball. Only its flat playing side may be used to play the ball.

Goal

The netted frame at each end of the pitch that teams try to score into.

Goalkeeper

The player in full protective gear, at least headgear, leg guards and kickers, who defends the goal. Inside their own circle, with the stick in hand, a goalkeeper may use the stick and body to play the ball. Outside the circle only the stick may be used.

Quarter

Under FIH rules a match is four quarters of 15 minutes, with a two-minute break after the first and third quarters and a 10-minute half-time.

Umpire

One of the two umpires who control the match and apply the rules.

Back-line and side-line

The back-line is the shorter perimeter line, 55 metres long, and the side-line is the longer one, 91.40 metres long. The part of the back-line between the goal-posts is the goal-line.

23-metre area

The area between a back-line and a line across the field 22.90 metres from it. A defender's deliberate offence inside it can give a penalty corner, and goalkeepers must stay inside it.

Also called: 23-metre line
See also: Penalty corner, Defender

Field player

Any player on the field other than the goalkeeper.

Also called: outfield player
See also: Goalkeeper

Centre pass

The restart from the centre of the field. It starts the match, starts the later quarters and restarts play after every goal.

Scoring terms

Scoring a goal

A goal is scored when an attacker plays the ball inside the circle and it passes completely over the goal-line and under the cross-bar without leaving the circle. The ball may touch a defender before or after.

Also called: goal
See also: Shooting circle, Defender

The ruleWhen does a goal count in hockey?

Shooting circle

The D-shaped area in front of each goal. An attacker must play the ball inside it for a goal to count, and the goalkeeper has special privileges inside it.

Also called: circle, the D
See also: Goalkeeper

Penalty corner

A set-piece attacking chance awarded for a defender's offence in the circle that does not prevent a probable goal, and for some deliberate offences nearer the goal, including a defender deliberately playing the ball over their own back-line. It is taken from the back-line with five defenders at most behind it.

Also called: short corner
See also: Shooting circle, Defender

Penalty stroke

A one-on-one shot against the goalkeeper from the penalty spot, 6.40 metres from the goal-line. It is awarded for a defender's offence in the circle that prevents a probable goal.

Fouls and penalties

Obstruction

Illegally using your body to block an opponent from playing the ball, without playing it yourself.

The ruleWhat is obstruction in hockey?

Kicking

Field players must not stop, kick or propel the ball with any part of their body, not only the foot. It is not always an offence if the ball hits the foot by accident.

Also called: foot fault, foot

Dangerous play

Playing the ball, or using the stick, in a way that is dangerous or leads to danger for other players. A raised ball is not an offence in itself; it is judged on whether it is dangerous.

Free hit

Awarded after most fouls, allowing the non-offending team to restart play from where the foul occurred.

Green card

A warning with a temporary suspension: the player leaves the field for two minutes of playing time and the team plays with one fewer player.

Yellow card

A temporary suspension of at least five minutes of playing time. The team plays with one fewer player.

Red card

A permanent suspension from the match. The team plays on with one fewer player for the rest of the match.

Playing terms

Push pass

Moving the ball along the ground with a pushing movement of the stick, with the ball and the head of the stick both in contact with the ground. The usual way to pass.

Also called: push
See also: Stick

Hit

Striking the ball with a swinging movement of the stick, for longer passes and shots. A long, sweeping slap is also counted as a hit.

Flick

Pushing the ball so that it is raised off the ground.

Dribble

Moving with the ball while keeping close control using the stick.

Tackle

An action to stop an opponent keeping possession of the ball.

Bully

A restart used when play has been stopped, for example for an injury, and no penalty has been awarded. One player from each team faces the other with the ball between them. They tap the flat faces of their sticks together once over the ball, and then either may play it.

Positions

Defender

Players positioned mainly to stop opposing attacks, closest to their own goal.

Also called: fullback

Midfielder

Players positioned centrally, linking defence and attack.

Also called: halfback

Forward

Players positioned closest to the opponent's goal, focused on scoring.

Also called: striker

Captain

The team's on-field leader who communicates with the umpires.

Set piece terms

Penalty spot

The spot 6.40 metres in front of the centre of each goal, from which penalty strokes are taken.

Match and officials

Shoot-out

The way FIH tournaments decide a match that must have a winner and is level at full time. Five players from each team take turns one-on-one against a defender, usually the goalkeeper. The attacker starts with the ball on the 23-metre line and has 8 seconds to score. If the teams are still level after five each, further series are taken and the first team to lead after an equal number of attempts wins.

Also called: penalty shoot-out, shoot-out competition

I · Intermediate · 23 wordsNext: Intermediate words