How big is a hockey goal?
Officials' detail · The pitch, the goal, the stick and the ball · 2 of 5Checked 13 October 2026
A hockey goal is 3.66 metres wide and 2.14 metres high, measured inside the posts and under the cross-bar. It has a 460 mm backboard along the bottom of the back and sideboards along the sides. The backboard height sets the limit for a first hit at a penalty corner.
How it works
- Posts and cross-bar: white, 50 mm wide, 50 to 75 mm deep.
- Inside the posts 3.66 metres; ground to underside of the cross-bar 2.14 metres.
- Backboard: 460 mm high and 3.66 metres long; sideboards 460 mm high and at least 1.20 metres long; dark on the inside.
- The goal is at least 1.20 metres deep at ground level and 0.90 metres at the cross-bar.
- The net hangs loosely so the ball cannot bounce back out.
- Goals sit outside the field, touching the back-line. Nothing, such as helmets, masks or water bottles, may be put inside them.
Tricky cases
Can players leave their kit in the goal?
No. Helmets, face masks, hand protectors, towels and water bottles must not be placed inside the goals.
Does a ball that hits the post and comes out count?
No. The whole ball must cross the goal-line, under the cross-bar.
Why the rule exists
The boards make it easy to see and hear a goal, and the backboard gives the umpires a fixed height to judge penalty corner hits.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIH rules | As above | H1.10; Spec 1.5 to 1.7 |
From the rule book
FIH Rules of Hockey, Rule 1.10 and Field Specifications 1.5 to 1.7, in force from 1 March 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: FIH Rules of Hockey (PDF).