1. A Matter of Interpretation
Raised balls in field hockey are a part of the game, but players must use them correctly. According to field hockey rules, a player may not raise the ball in a dangerous way. So what does the term "dangerous way" mean? This is up to the umpire to decide. In order to determine if a raised ball requires a penalty, the umpire must look at the speed and height of the ball, the number of players near the ball and the need for players to evade the ball. If an umpire deems the raised ball was dangerous, he awards a free hit to the defense.
2. Flick the Ball Into the Air
With precise control, a player learns to use the flick. In this type of raised ball, the player uses the field hockey stick to lift the ball into the air by flicking her wrist. When players use flicks, they not only must control their field hockey stick, they must control the amount of motion used; the ball cannot exceed 18 inches above the ground. As with all contact with the field hockey stick, only the blade (the flat side of the hockey stick) can touch the ball.
3. Score with a Drag Flick
Another type of raised ball occurs with drag flicks. To execute this push, field hockey players scoop the ball onto the shaft of their field hockey stick. The player pushes the ball across the field with a slinging motion, which accelerates the ball. The movement of the ball behind the body during the swing distinguishes drag flicks from regular flicks. When the player releases the ball, he may raise it with a flick of the wrist. Drag flicks may exceed 18 inches when the player uses it to score and no unprotected defensive players are in the path.
4. Scoop Over Tackles
When a defensive player moves in to tackle the ball, or gain possession of the ball from the offense, the offensive player may evade the tackle with a scoop. In a scoop, the field hockey player places her stick slightly under the ball and lifts the ball with the blade of the stick. Typically, the ball barely rises above the field hockey pitch and umpires don't consider the move dangerous unless the stick collides with the player or an obstruction occurs.
5. Make an Aerial Pass
Players may pass the ball overhead to other players provided they do it in a non-dangerous way. Typically, this means the defense's players must be at least 16 feet from the player to receive the pass. According to the rules, once the ball is in the air, defensive players may not move in closer than 16 feet until the ball hits the ground.
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