What protective gear do hockey players wear?
Officials' detail · The pitch, the goal, the stick and the ball · 5 of 5Field players are recommended to wear shin, ankle and mouth protection. Gloves of limited size are allowed. Face masks are worn only to defend penalty corners and strokes, unless a player has a medical reason. In FIH tournaments face masks are compulsory for defending field players at penalty corners. Goalkeepers wear full protective kit.
How it works
Field players:
- Recommended: shin, ankle and mouth protection.
- Hand protection is allowed if it does not make the hand much bigger; it must fit in a box 290 by 180 by 110 mm.
- Body protection, and leg protection or knee pads for penalty corners, may be worn under clothing. Knee pads can be outside the socks if they match the sock colour or are black.
- Face masks: recommended when defending a penalty corner or penalty stroke; smooth, close-fitting, clear or one colour, or a metal grille that follows the face.
- No other headgear, unless a medical authority has approved a mask, soft head covering or goggles for the whole match.
- Masks must not be used to play dangerously.
- After a corner, kit comes off safely and as soon as possible, and before the player leaves the 23-metre area.
Goalkeepers: at least headgear, leg guards and kickers, plus the protectors only goalkeepers may wear.
Tricky cases
Are shin guards compulsory in hockey?
No, not under the FIH rules, which recommend them. Competitions can make them compulsory.
Can a field player wear a helmet?
No, except a face mask when defending a penalty corner or stroke, or approved medical headgear.
Can a defender keep the mask on after the corner?
Yes, while inside the 23-metre area if there is no safe chance to take it off. It must come off before leaving the area or when the umpire says so.
Why the rule exists
The most dangerous moments for field players are penalty corner shots, so masks are allowed there. Elsewhere, headgear could make players braver than is safe with a hard ball and sticks around.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIH rules | Masks recommended at corners and strokes | H4.2 |
| FIH tournaments | Masks compulsory for defending field players at penalty corners until the first shot | TR 6.10 d; App 1 (5) |
From the rule book
FIH Rules of Hockey, Rules 4.2 to 4.5 and 13.3 n, in force from 1 March 2026; FIH Outdoor Tournament Regulations, Regulation 6.10 and Appendix 1, June 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official documents: FIH Rules of Hockey (PDF); FIH Outdoor Tournament Regulations (PDF).