Field hockey is a popular women's sport. The rules of field hockey are created by the International Hockey Federation. However, modifications are made to high school level games. These rules are made by the National Federation of State High School Association.
Field
Field hockey is played on a surface 100 yards long and 60 yards wide. It is divided into quarters by three horizontal lines painted onto the field 25 yards apart. At each end of the field a semi-circle is drawn surrounding the goal with a radius of 16 yards. This is the scoring zone, known as the circle. Each goal is 7 feet high and 12 feet wide.
Equipment
The stick is composed of two parts: the handle and the head. The handle is round, while the head is flat on one side. The end of the head is curved, similar in shape to a candy cane. This is the part of the stick used to hit the ball. The length of the stick must be 36½ inches to 37½ inches. Additionally, the stick cannot be more than 2 inches wide at any point. The ball weighs 5.5 to 5.75 lbs. and is approximately 8 to 9 inches wide. It is slightly larger and heavier than a baseball. All players must wear shin guards and mouthpieces at all times.
Game Rules
The game is divided into two 30-minute halves. Each team is allowed to have 11 players on the field, including a goalkeeper. Players can only use the flat side of the stick to hit or control the ball. A player cannot use their body or stick to shield or block the ball from an opponent. To score a goal, an attacking player must hit the ball across the goal line from within the circle.
Fouls
Fouls are determined by the umpires. If a foul is judged to inconsequential, the umpire may allow play to continue. While there are many rules in field hockey, most focus on players' interactions with the ball and other players. The ball cannot be played by any body part or the round part of the stick. Additionally, players may not hit or interfere with opposing players.
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