How does a hockey shoot-out work?
B · Beginner · How does a match work, and how is it won? · 5 of 12Five players from each team take turns to run at the opposing goalkeeper from the 23-metre line, with 8 seconds to score. The team with more goals after five each wins. If they are level, more rounds follow with the same players, and the first team ahead after an equal number of attempts wins.
How it works
- Each team names five takers and one defender, usually the goalkeeper, from its match squad.
- A coin toss decides who takes or defends the first attempt.
- The ball sits on the 23-metre line opposite the centre of the goal. The attacker starts outside the 23-metre area, the goalkeeper on or behind the goal-line.
- On the whistle the 8-second clock starts and both players can move in any direction.
- The attempt ends after 8 seconds, a goal, an attacker's offence or the ball going over the back-line or side-line.
- An accidental foul by the goalkeeper means the attempt is taken again. A deliberate one gives a penalty stroke.
- After five each, a further series of five follows if the teams are level. In it, and in any later series, the first team to lead after an equal number of attempts wins.
- A player sent off with a red card in the match cannot take part. A player on a green or yellow card at full time can.
Tricky cases
Can the goalkeeper come off the line?
Yes. Once the whistle goes, the goalkeeper can move anywhere.
What if the goalkeeper fouls the attacker?
It depends on whether it was deliberate. An accidental foul means the attempt is taken again; a deliberate one gives a penalty stroke.
Can the attacker score from a rebound?
Yes, within the 8 seconds, as long as the ball has not left the field.
Can a player get a card during a shoot-out?
Yes, a yellow or red card, but not a green card. A carded player takes no further part.
Why the rule exists
It settles a match that has to have a winner with a skill test from open play, closer to the game than a standing penalty.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIH tournaments | As above | TR App 12 |
| Pool tie-breaks | A shoot-out can also separate teams level on everything else in a pool | TR App 3 (2 g, h) |
| Leagues and other competitions | Set by the competition | Not covered |
From the rule book
FIH Outdoor Tournament Regulations, Appendix 12, June 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: FIH Outdoor Tournament Regulations (PDF).