How big is a rink hockey rink?
Officials' detail · The game · 1 of 1International matches are played on a 40 by 20 m rink with rounded corners inside a 1 m barrier. Each end has a penalty area 9 m wide and 5.40 m deep and a goal 170 cm wide and 105 cm high. The ball is cork-filled, 72 mm across and 150 g; sticks weigh no more than 550 g.
How it works
- Rink: 34 by 17 m up to 44 by 22 m; 40 by 20 m for international national teams.
- Barrier: 1 m high, with nets to 4 m.
- Penalty area: 9 m by 5.40 m.
- Penalty spot: 5.40 m from the goal line; direct free hit spot 7.40 m.
- Goal: 170 cm wide, 105 cm high, orange posts and bar.
- Goalkeeper's zone: a semicircle in front of the goal line.
- Ball: 72 mm, 150 g, black or yellow.
- Stick: up to 115 cm long and 550 g, passing through a 5 cm ring.
The glossary has the rink (rink hockey), the penalty area, the goal cage (rink hockey), the ball (rink hockey), the stick (rink hockey) and the goal line and goalkeeper protection zone.
Tricky cases
Can a club play on a smaller rink?
Yes, within 34 by 17 m and 44 by 22 m; the 40 by 20 m size is for national teams.
Why is the ball black on some rinks and yellow on others?
Whichever contrasts with the floor is used.
May an attacker stand in the goalkeeper's semicircle?
Not without the ball; doing so is a technical foul.
Can a goalkeeper use their pads outside the penalty area?
No. Goalkeeping equipment may not be used outside it.
Why the rule exists
A fixed rink ratio and goal size keep the game the same everywhere. The ring test on sticks stops blades thick enough to trap the ball.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| National teams | 40 by 20 m | TR Art 1.8 |
| Clubs | 34 by 17 m to 44 by 22 m | TR Art 1.3 |
| Television | Ball colour may change | TR Art 4.2 |
From the rule book
World Skate, Rink Hockey Rulebook 2027, Technical Regulations, Articles 1 to 4 and 8. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the World Skate Rink Hockey Rulebook 2027.