  
 
|
 |
     The Basics! Field hockey teams use wooden sticks to dribble, pass, and shoot a ball along a field in an effort to score goals. A goal counts as one point and is scored when the ball, having been hit by a player inside the “striking circle,” completely crosses the opposing goal line between the posts and under the crossbar. The team scoring the greater number of goals in the allotted time wins the game. What's Needed? A field hockey stick, a ball, team shirt, team socks, team kilt(or shorts), cleats, shin guards, and mouthpiece. How Long Is A Game? A game is divided into two halves. Depending on league rules, each half ranges from twenty-five to thirty-five minutes, with a break at halftime. Each half begins with a “passback” at center circle. Teams switch playing sides at halftime and each team is given two 60-second time-out per game. If a game ends in a tie, teams may play an extra ten-minute period of sudden death; the team to score first wins. Drive The Ball! Drive - The most frequently used stroke in the game. Players drive on passes, “free hits,” and shots on goal. On a drive, a player takes a hard stroke at the ball using a good backswing motion with both hands together at the top of the hockey stick. Flick - A player snaps her wrists to lift the ball in the air for quick passes or shots. The ball must not lift more than eighteen inches above the ground. Scoop - The “blade”of the stick is used to scoop the ball up and over the front of an opponent’s stick. Players scoop the ball when “dodging” a “tackle,” and when taking a free hit out of the striking circle. Push Pass - Using a quick wrist stroke with no backswing, the ball is pushed and directed along the ground. It is considered the most accurate pass in the game. Slap Shot - The most powerful stroke in the game. It is a hard, quick pass or shot on goal done with a half backswing with hands slightly apart on the stick. Foul Play! A player may only strike the ball with the flat (blade) side of the stick, and may not raise the stick above the shoulders when playing the ball. “Stick interference,” “backsticks,” “undercutting,” and touching the ball with the feet are all rule violations. Furthermore, players may not trip, push, charge, interfere with, or physically handle an opponent in any way. All fouls result in a free hit or a “penalty corner” for the non-offending team. Obstruction - Called against a player who cuts between an opponent and the ball or uses her stick, shoulder, or body as an obstruction to the ball. Third-party Obstruction - Occurs when a player positions herself between the ball and an opponent allowing a teammate an unobstructed play on the ball. Advancing - Called against a player who shoves, pushes, or advances the ball in any way, using her feet, hands or body. Backsticks - Striking the ball with the rounded back side of the hockey stick. Stick Interference - Called against a player who intentionally or unintentionally uses her stick to hit an opponent’s stick. Undercutting - Chopping at the ball, to lift it in an unsafe manner. Sticks -A foul called against a player who raises her stick unsafely to a nearby player, or plays the ball while carrying her stick above shoulder level. Take A Free Hit! Free Hit - A free play awarded on an any infraction that occurs outside the scoring circle. It usually takes place at the location of the violation. All opposing players must stand at least five yards from where the hit is taken. A free hit is most often taken as a drive, a push pass, a scoop, or a flick. Penalty Corner - A hit on the ball awarded to the team on offense when the defense either commits a foul inside the striking circle or intentionally hits the ball out-of-bounds over the end line. A penalty corner is taken by an attack player along the end line at a spot ten yards away from the nearest goal post. All other attack players must stand with both their sticks and feet outside of the striking circle. Five defenders, including the goalie, stand behind the end line until contact is made with the ball. All remaining offensive and defensive players then rush into the circle to either help defend or shoot the ball at the goal. Penalty Stroke - Awarded to the team on offense when an official believes that a defensive infraction within the striking circle has prevented what would have been a goal. The ball is spotted seven yards from the goal with a striking player going one-on-one with the goalie. The shooting player may take one step and has five seconds to shoot. The goalie may not move off the goal line until the player has touched the ball with her stick. 16-yard Hit - A free hit awarded to the defensive team when the attacking team either sends the ball over the end line or commits an infraction in the striking circle. The ball is placed 16 yards from the spot of the infraction or from where the ball went out-of-bounds. Did You Know That? Field Hockey was invented in 1895 with the establishment of the first All England Women’s Field Hockey Association. In 1901, an English woman named Constance Appleby introduced the game to women in the United States while a summer student at Harvard. Appleby went on to teach the game at women’s colleges throughout the Northeast. It was not until 1928 that men began playing the game in the United States. Entire contents copyright © 1997-2006, MomsGuide.com , Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form for commercial re-use without prior written permission is forbidden. “Mom’s Guide to Sports” is a registered trademark of MomsGuide.com, Inc. |
|
   |