Can a hockey match end in a draw?
B · Beginner · How does a match work, and how is it won? · 4 of 12Checked 13 October 2026
Yes.
The team with more goals wins, and level scores are a draw. When a competition needs a winner, as in a knockout
match, it goes straight to a shoot-out; FIH tournaments play no extra time. The score at full time stays the
official result; the shoot-out only decides who goes through.
How it works
- Most goals at full time wins. Equal goals, including 0–0, is a draw.
- In pool matches, a draw stands and each team gets a point.
- In FIH knockout and classification matches, a draw at full time goes to a shoot-out, started no later than five minutes after the end.
- FIH records the score at the end of regulation time as the result.
Tricky cases
Is there extra time in hockey?
Not in the FIH tournament regulations read here. A drawn knockout match goes straight to a shoot-out. Some competitions may set their own.
Does a shoot-out win count as a win in the records?
No. The match is recorded as a draw at the full-time score; the shoot-out decides who advances.
Why the rule exists
A draw is a fair result when the teams cannot be separated. A shoot-out is used only where the competition has to move one team on.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIH rules | Most goals wins; equal is a draw | H5.2 |
| FIH tournaments, knockout and classification matches | Shoot-out after a draw; full-time score is the result | TR App 2 3.3, 3.4; App 12 (1) |
| Leagues and other competitions | May give points for a shoot-out win; set by the competition | Not covered |
From the rule book
FIH Rules of Hockey, Rule 5.2, in force from 1 March 2026; FIH Outdoor Tournament Regulations, Appendices 2 and 12, June 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official documents: FIH Rules of Hockey (PDF); FIH Outdoor Tournament Regulations (PDF).