1-
History
&
Object
of the
Game
2-
The
Essentials
(Offense
&
Defense,
Scoring,
etc.)
3-
Fouls
4-
Field
Diagram
&
Positions
5-
Glossary
of Field
Hockey
Terms
The
Essentials
Game
length:
Field
hockey
games
are
divided
into
two
halves,
each
lasting
between
25 and
35 minutes,
depending
on the
level
(high
school
varsity
is 30
minutes).
If the
score
is tied
at the
end
of the
game,
some
leagues
allow
the
game
to end
in a
draw;
other
leagues
use
one
of several
overtime
methods.
Most
commonly,
teams
play
a 10-minute
sudden-death
overtime
period:
the
players
are
reduced
from
11 to
7 players
per
team
to create
scoring
opportunities,
and
the
first
team
to score,
wins.
If neither
team
scores
during
overtime,
penalty
strokes
determine
a winner.
Each
team
selects
five
players
to each
take
one
penalty
stroke;
the
team
that
scores
more
goals,
wins.
Start
of the
game:
Alternating
at the
start
of each
half
and
following
each
goal,
one
team
starts
play
with
a center
pass.
The
two
teams
line
up on
their
respective
sides
of the
field,
with
the
ball
in one
player’s
possession
at the
center
of the
field.
Defenders
must
be five
yards
away
from
the
ball;
when
the
whistle
blows,
the
player
hits
the
ball
to start
play.
Offense
&
Defense:
Offense:
11
players
on each
team
attempt
to move
the
ball
toward
their
opponent’s
goal
to score.
Players
hit
the
ball
up the
field
and
to teammates
by dribbling,
pushing,
flicking,
scooping,
hitting,
and
driving
the
ball.
Goals
can
only
be scored
when
an offensive
player
hits
the
ball
from
within
the
striking
circle,
16 yards
from
the
goal.
Many
goals
are
scored
during
“fast
breaks,”
when
the
attacking
team
can
gain
an advantage
over
the
opponent
in number
of players
as both
teams
approach
the
goal.
Other
scoring
opportunities
occur
when
players
cross
the
ball,
or hit
it towards
the
center
of the
field
in front
of the
goal,
in hopes
that
a teammate
can
deflect
the
ball
or shoot
it into
the
goal.
A player
may
also
take
an outside
shot
from
within
the
striking
circle
if an
opponent
is not
guarding
her
closely.
Defense:
Defensive
players
mark
opponents
and
attempt
to tackle
the
ball
as the
offense
moves
up the
field.
Since
players
may
not
touch
the
ball
with
their
bodies,
defenders
often
lower
their
sticks
parallel
to the
ground
to widen
the
area
in which
to stop
the
ball
during
a pass.
If the
defense
takes
possession
of the
ball
in front
of its
own
goal,
it will
attempt
to clear
the
ball,
or move
it up-field
away
from
the
goal.
Defenders
may
not
contact
the
offense;
however,
all
players
have
an equal
opportunity
to pursue
the
ball,
so an
offensive
player
cannot
turn
her
body
or use
her
stick
to block
an opponent
from
the
ball
or she
will
be called
for
obstruction.
Scoring:
A shot
that
is taken
from
within
the
striking
circle
and
passes
through
the
goal
is worth
one
point.
Shots
that
are
taken
from
outside
the
striking
circle,
but
deflect
off
of an
offensive
player
within
the
circle,
also
score
a goal.
Equipment
The
primary
equipment
in field
hockey
is a
stick
and
a ball.
The
stick
has
a flat
side
and
a rounded
side.
Players
may
only
hit
the
ball
with
the
flat
side,
or the
“striking
surface,”
of the
stick.
Players
also
wear
protective
equipment,
including
mouth
guards,
shin
guards,
and
optional
face
protection.
Uniforms
consist
of a
jersey,
a skirt
or shorts,
and
knee-length
socks.
The
home
team
usually
wears
a light
jersey
and
the
away
team
wears
a dark
jersey.
Goalies
wear
a different
color
jersey
than
their
teammates,
as well
as additional
protective
equipment,
including
goalie
pads,
chest
protector,
facemask,
throat
protector,
and
other
optional
padding.
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