Field Hockey Study Guide
Field Hockey is one of the oldest competitive sports. The sport of field hockey dates back well before the Ancient Olympic Games.
The modern game of field hockey evolved in England in the mid-nineteenth century. In 1901 Miss Constance Applebee, of the British College of Physical Education, demonstrated the game at Harvard Summer School. By the early 1920’s several colleges and clubs sponsored field hockey for women.
The United States Field Hockey Association (USFHA) was formed in 1922 to govern the game for women. In 1930, the Field Hockey Association of America (FHAA) was formed as the governing body for men. In April of 1993, the USFHA and FHAA, at the urging of the United States Olympic Committee, merged to form a national governing body for both women’s and men’s field hockey.
A field hockey team has 11 players on the pitch (field).
Skill Terms
Flick – a pushed ball that is raised off the ground.
Push – Moving the ball along the ground by a pushing movement of the stick. Both the head of
the stick and the ball are in contact with the ground.
Drive – A hard strike of the ball. Both hands are at top of stick. Stick is raised at waist level on
back swing and follow- through.
Dribble–a) Control dribble – ball is on the stick as you are jogging/running down the field
b) Loose Dribble – to advance the ball down the field at a faster pace. Ball is
continually tapped no more than one-foot in front of the player while moving quickly.
FOULS
Obstruction: Shielding the ball from an opponent with your body or stick. All players
must have an equal chance to gain control of the ball as it is dribbled or passed down the field.
Third Party:If 2 opposing players are fighting for the possession of the ball and
another players from either team attempts to steal the ball, the team of the
3rd person will be called for a foul.
Foot Foul:Use the leg or foot to support the stick or ball. Use of foot to stop the ball
from rolling.
Dangerous Play: For any play that can result in an injury (high stick, hacking of stick,
hooking, stick interference, etc)
Stick Fault: Playing the ball with the rounded part of the stick
High Stick: Raising stick above waist level
Stoppage of Play Set Up
Center Pass:-Start of game at Center Line when game starts or a goal is scored
-A pass backwards to a teammate
Free Hit: -Awarded to non-offending team following a foul.
-The ball is placed at spot of foul.
-No opposing players can be within 5 yards of the ball when hit.
-Ball must be stationary and the striker must push or hit it.
-The ball striker can hit ball and can be the first person to touch the ball
again.
Long Corner: -Defense hits ball out over End line
-Offense hits ball 5 yards from sideline to a teammate
Penalty Corner:-A Defensive team member commits a foul to Offensive team in shooting
circle.
-Ball is placed on End line 11 yards from goal.
-Offensive player hits ball past shooting circle line to an offensive
teammate.
Penalty Stroke:-A Defensive team member commits a serious foul in shooting circle
-Ball is placed at Penalty spot
-Offensive player gets one shot on goal against the goalie.
Other Rules
-If ball is hit out of the sideline, the ball is then pushed/hit in from the spot
it went out.
-When the Offensive team hits ball over end line, the defense receives a
16-yard hit. The free hit is taken 16 yards from the spot where the ball
went out.
-If a foul occurs inside shooting circle by Offensive team the Defensive
team hits from the 16-yard line (top of circle).
-Goalie can use feet to block ball from going into the goal.