The Game of Field Hockey

Believe it or not, this started as a men’s game

HOW FAR HAVE WE COME? *A similar game was played as far back as 4,000 years ago in Egypt *The first Olympic Hockey competition for men was held in 1908 and for women in 1980 *In 1927 the International Federation of Women’s Hockey Association was formed and the USA was one of the founding countries in the association and today it is part of the International Hockey Federation (FIH)

This sport takes a tremendous amount Look at us now! This sport takes a tremendous amount of athletic ability

HOT, COLD, WIND, SNOW, RAIN WE PLAY THE GAME HOT, COLD, WIND, SNOW, RAIN WE PLAY THE GAME! ABOUT THE ONLY THINGS THAT STOP US ARE DARKNESS IF LIGHTS AREN’T AVAILABLE, AND LIGHTNING

EVEN FUTURE QUEENS PLAY OUR GAME

THE GAME BASICS Two halves, 30 minutes each with a 5 minute half time (different for middle school, college) 11 players per side, 10 on the field and a goalie The ball must be passed or dribbled down the field with the flat side of the stick A goal is scored when an attacker strikes the ball into the goal from within the striking circle

THE PITCH (OR FOR THOSE OF YOU NEW TO THE GAME, THE FIELD)

YOU MISSED A CALL! Not necessarily! We deliberately do not call some infractions and believe it or not, we are human so we may not have seen it from our angle which may be different from you as a spectator We tend to hold for fouls that are less serious especially for those in which the offending player did not gain advantage THIS IS NOT A BLACK AND WHITE SPORT WHEN MAKING CALLS! WE LOOK AT HOW THE FOUL AFFECTED THE PLAY!

FOULS - SAFETY FIRST! OBSTRUCTION A player may not obstruct an opponent from attempting to play the ball by: Shielding the ball with their stick or any part of their body so opponent can not make an attempt to play the ball Physically interfering with the stick or body of the opponent A third player takes a position between an opponent and the ball so her teammate has an opportunity to play the ball (a “pick” for those who play basketball)

BODY OBSTRUCTION STICK OBSTRUCTION (Don’t come in from Behind with stick)

FOULS BALL HITTING BODY IT IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY AN OFFENSE! An offense if: The player moved intentionally into the path of the ball The player made no effort to avoid being hit The player positioned themselves with the clear intention of stopping the ball with their foot or body The player gains benefit from the ball hitting them IF THE BALL HITS A FOOT AND NO OPPOSING PLAYER WAS WITHIN PLAYABLE DISTANCE IT MAY NOT BE CALLED

FOULS RAISED BALLS The ball may not be raised intentionally directly from a free hit, or if unintentional, if it poses a danger to any other players THE ANGLE OF VISION/PERSPECTIVE MAY BE DIFFERENT FOR THE UMPIRE AND SPECTATORS. WHAT MAY LOOK DANGEROUS TO A SPECTATOR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS TO THE PLAYERS ON THE FIELD

FOULS HIGH STICK If a player swings the stick above waist level and this action poses a danger to another player, possession of the ball goes to the other team at the point on the field where the infraction occurred

OTHER POSSIBLE FOULS INTENTIONAL BODY CONTACT YOU CAN’T BE A BULLY! YOU CAN’T PLAY THE BALL IF YOU ARE ON THE GROUND AND IT COULD LEAD TO DANGEROUS PLAY

SOME MORE FOULS INTENTIONAL ELBOW THE POSITION OF THE STICK IS DANGEROUS AND THE PLAYER DOESN’T APPEAR TO BE MAKING A PLAY ON THE BALL

BALL OUTSIDE THE PITCH Over the side-line: Last player to touch before ball goes over line losses possession; ball placed on line where went out for a free hit by other team Over the back-line (goal end) If last touched by an attacker ball goes to defense as self start up to 15m from end line; parallel to where ball went out If last touched by an defender: Unintentional: 25 yard hit is awarded (new for 2016 season – ball is now taken from the 25 yard line in line with where the ball went over the end line) Intentional: Penalty corner awarded to attacking team

SELF-START WHAT A WONDERFUL NEW RULE! Really keeps the game moving Some things to remember: If the self-start is taking place within the 23m area the player may not hit directly into the circle; they must move the ball at least 5m or another player must touch the ball before doing so Defenders must be at least 5m away before making a play on an attacker taking self-start If self-start is with the 23m area ALL players must be 5m away

PENALTY CORNERS Called when: Positions: A defender commits an offense inside the circle A defender intentionally hits the ball over the back-line A defender commits a serious foul within the 23m area Positions: Defenders behind endline- 4 plus the goalie Remainder of defensive team must be behind the 50 until the ball is inserted Attack outside the circle When the ball is inserted, it must leave the circle before a goal can be scored

Insertion positioning (At least one foot must be outside of the end line) Defense and offense positioning

PENALTY STROKE Awarded when a probably would have been scored, if a foul by the defending team had not occurred in the circle Any deliberate foul by defender inside the circle which stops a potential goal or deprives an attacker of actual or likely possession of the ball Any single flagrant foul by defense The goalie makes a play on the player and not the ball

SCORING A GOAL The entire ball must completely cross the goal line Any type of shot may be taken by the offense as long as it is not dangerous to surrounding players

MISCONDUCT Any player or team action which an official deems to be unsportsmanlike including but not limited to the following: Rough or dangerous play Using abusive, insulting or foul language Taunting or baiting Intimidating actions or words Unnecessary delay of game Entry/reentry of an ineligible player Goalkeeper playing outside her half of the field except for taking a penalty stroke Use of any tobacco product Deliberately removing required equipment or wearing/using illegal equipment

GREEN CARD YELLOW CARD RED CARD BAD GIRLS, BAD GIRLS WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO! (Those lovely green, yellow and red cards) GREEN CARD First offense as a warning and recorded in scorebook YELLOW CARD The offender is removed from the game for anywhere between 5-10 minutes and her team plays a man down during that time Second offense by the same player or first offense involving rough and dangerous play, a deliberate foul, or other misconduct RED CARD Third offense by the same player (may also be a second yellow at umpire’s discretion) or a flagrant foul is committed If a red card has been issued the player is removed for the remainder of the game, and her team must play short a player for the rest of the game

MORE ON CARDS When a player commits the same misconduct foul for which her teammate has already been carded, she may be issued the next upgraded card Coaches may also receive cards for their behavior Spectators can be asked to leave the field and if it persists the game can be suspended We can’t card you, but we can make you go away!

UMPIRE HAND SIGNALS

PENALTY CORNER FOOT CALL COMING OUT

YOU MAKE THE CALL 2 1 3

1 2 3

1 HAVE FUN!!!