Rules & Play

Players are only permitted to play the ball with the flat side or edges of the stick. The flat side is always on the "natural" side for a right-handed person - there are no "left-handed" hockey sticks. If the ball is raised off the ground in a manner that is dangerous in the umpires opinion, the ball is turned over to the other team and they receive a free hit from the point of contact. The definition of a "dangerous ball" is a matter of interpretation by the umpires, but it depends on the speed of the ball, the height at which it is raised, and the number of players near its path. Balls travelling at head height near players are almost always regarded as dangerous, whereas a flick at knee height landing into space would very rarely be so. When shooting at goal, any height is permitted as it is a shot on goal - as long as it is not dangerous to a player within 3 yards of the striker.

One player from each team is designated the "goalkeeper". Goalkeepers usually wear extensive protective equipment including helmets, chest guards, body armour, heavily padded gloves, leg guards, and foot guards (called "Kickers"). Whilst within their defensive circle (the arc), the Goalkeeper is permitted to deflect or stop the ball with any part of their body or stick, or propel the ball away using their kickers or leg guards. They also carry a stick which can be used in the same way as any other player, but is primarily used for diving saves.

If a defence field player commits one of the many fouls (kicking the ball, obstruction, lifting in a dangerous area, back side of the stick, and so on) inside their defensive shooting circle, or commits a deliberate or particularly serious foul outside the circle but within their defensive quarter of the field, then a complicated and indirect penalty shot is taken, called a "penalty corner". A deliberate breach by defenders within the circle, or a rule breach that directly prevents a goal being scored, results in the award of a "penalty stroke", approximately equivalent to a penalty kick in football (soccer).

The match is officiated by two umpires. Traditionally each umpire generally controls half of the field, divided roughly diagonally, although now experiments are being made where either umpire can make any decision anywhere on the field.

The teams' object is to play the ball into their "shooting circle" and, from there, hit, push or flick the ball into the goal. The team with more goals after two 35-minute halves wins the game.