Field Hockey Rules 2026: Goals, Penalty Corners, Strokes and Cards

This page follows the International Hockey Federation's Rules of Hockey including explanations, effective from 1 March 2026, and it's current as of November 2026. It covers the outdoor field game only, written for new players, parents on the touchline and anyone joining a social team.

Players, goalkeepers and captains

A maximum of eleven players from each team take part in play at any one time. A team either has a goalkeeper on the field, in a different colour shirt and wearing at least headgear, leg guards and kickers, or it plays with only field players. If it chooses field players only, nobody on that team has goalkeeping privileges.

A goalkeeper mustn't take part in the match outside the 23-metres area they're defending, except when taking a penalty stroke, and mustn't lie on the ball. Protective headgear stays on at all times, except when taking a penalty stroke.

Each team appoints one captain, who wears a distinctive arm-band and is responsible for the team's behaviour and for correct substitutions.

The field, the goal and the stick

What	The rules say
Field	91.40 metres long and 55.00 metres wide
23-metres lines	22.90 metres from each back-line
Penalty spot	6.40 metres from the inner edge of the goal-line
Goal	3.66 metres wide between the inner edges of the posts, with the lower edge of the cross-bar 2.14 metres from the ground
Stick	Must pass through a ring with an interior diameter of 51 mm, any bow limited to a depth of 25 mm, total weight no more than 737 grams

The stick has a traditional shape, with a handle and a curved head that's flat on its left side, and it must be smooth. That flat side matters, because of the stick rules below.

Quarters, the coin toss and restarts

A match is four quarters of 15 minutes. There's a 2 minute interval between quarters 1 and 2 and between quarters 3 and 4, and a 10 minute half-time. Teams can agree other durations unless a competition's regulations say otherwise.

A coin is tossed first. The winner chooses which goal to attack in the first two quarters, or chooses to start with the centre pass, in which case the other team picks the goal. Direction of play is reversed in the third quarter.

• The match starts with a centre pass in the middle of the field.
• After a goal, the team that conceded takes the next centre pass.
• When play stops with no penalty awarded, such as for an injury, it restarts with a bully.
• When the ball crosses the side-line, the other team restarts with a free hit where it crossed.
• When it crosses the back-line, a free hit or a penalty corner follows, depending on who played it and whether it was intentional.

When a goal counts inside the circle

A goal is scored when the ball is played within the circle by an attacker and doesn't travel outside the circle before passing completely over the goal-line and under the cross-bar. A defender may play the ball, or it may touch their body, before or after the attacker plays it, and the goal still stands.

The catch for beginners is the circle itself. A shot from outside the circle that no attacker touches inside it doesn't meet the rule as worded, however hard it flies in. Time and play stop after a goal and restart when both teams are ready.

Stick side, feet and raised balls

Most fouls in a beginner game come from four rules about how you play the ball.

• You mustn't play the ball with the back of the stick, hit it hard on the forehand with the edge of the stick, or lift your stick over other players' heads.
• Field players mustn't stop, kick, propel, pick up, throw or carry the ball with any part of their body. It's only an offence if the player gains an advantage or positions themselves to stop the ball that way, so a ball that simply hits a foot isn't always a foul.
• You mustn't raise the ball on purpose from a hit, except for a shot at goal. A flick or scoop is allowed if it isn't dangerous, but one aimed at an opponent within 5 metres counts as dangerous, and so does any ball that makes opponents take legitimate evasive action.
• Backing into an opponent, shielding the ball from a legitimate tackle, or running in front of an opponent to stop them playing the ball counts as obstruction.

The 2026 edition calls out a key change to Rule 9.10 on falling raised balls. Players mustn't approach within 5 metres of an opponent receiving a falling raised ball until the receiver has touched it, and once that first touch is made, opponents may now challenge. The same edition also flags changes to Rule 10.2, on how goalkeepers use their stick and body, and to Rule 11.8, on the ball hitting an umpire.

Penalty corners, step by step

A penalty corner is awarded for, among other things, an offence by a defender in the circle that doesn't prevent a probable goal, an intentional offence by a defender outside the circle but within their 23-metres area, or a defender intentionally playing the ball over the back-line.

1. The ball goes on the back-line inside the circle, at least 10 metres from the goal-post, on whichever side the attackers prefer.
2. The attacker taking it has at least one foot outside the field. The other attackers stay outside the circle until the ball is played.
3. Not more than five defenders, including the goalkeeper, may be behind the back-line. The rest wait beyond the centre-line until the ball is played.
4. The ball must travel outside the circle before a goal can be scored from the penalty corner.
5. If the first shot at goal is a hit, it must cross the goal-line, or be on a path to do so, at no more than 460 mm, the height of the backboard, before any deflection.

That last step is the one people miss. A hit that's too high is penalised even if another player deflects it in afterwards. A flick, push or scoop isn't held to the 460 mm height, though it still mustn't be dangerous.

Penalty strokes and free hits

A penalty stroke is awarded for a defender's offence in the circle that prevents a probable goal, or for an intentional offence in the circle against an opponent who has the ball or a chance to play it.

The ball goes on the penalty spot and everyone else stands outside the 23-metres area. The defender stands with both feet on the goal-line and can't move either foot until the ball's been played. The taker waits for the whistle, may push, flick or scoop but not drag, mustn't feint, and plays the ball only once. If the taker plays early and scores, the stroke is taken again. If they play early and miss, the defence gets a free hit.

At a free hit, the ball must be stationary and opponents at least 5 metres away. It can be moved by a hit, push, flick or scoop, and raised straight away with a push, flick or scoop, but not on purpose with a hit. From an attacking free hit inside the 23-metres area, the ball can't go into the circle until it's travelled at least 5 metres or been touched by a defender.

Green, yellow and red cards

Card	What it means
Green	A warning and a temporary suspension for 2 minutes of playing time
Yellow	A temporary suspension for a minimum of 5 minutes of playing time
Red	Permanent suspension from the match

While a player is suspended, the team plays with one fewer player for the length of the suspension. If a match ends level, or with no goals, it's a draw; the rules point to tournament regulations for any shoot-out.

My verdict for your first season

I'd learn the circle rule, the flat-side stick rule and the no-body rule first, because those three decide most whistles in a beginner game. Then I'd learn the 460 mm limit on a hit shot at a penalty corner, since it catches people out.

I'd skip the penalty corner positions and the stroke procedure until you're playing in a club or league; the umpire and your captain will line you up. If you're weighing up a team sport for a social group, my netball rules explainer and volleyball rules guide cover two other team sports.

Frequently asked questions

How many players are on a field hockey team?

A maximum of eleven players from each team take part in play at any one time. A team can have a goalkeeper in a different colour shirt or play with only field players.

How long is a field hockey match?

Four quarters of 15 minutes, with a 2 minute interval between quarters 1 and 2 and between 3 and 4, and a 10 minute half-time. Teams can agree other durations unless the competition regulations say otherwise.

How is a goal scored in field hockey?

A goal is scored when the ball is played within the circle by an attacker and doesn't leave the circle before passing completely over the goal-line and under the cross-bar.

What do the cards mean in field hockey?

A green card is a warning plus a 2 minute suspension, a yellow card is a suspension of at least 5 minutes, and a red card is permanent suspension from the match.

When is a penalty stroke awarded?

For a defender's offence in the circle that prevents a probable goal, or for an intentional offence in the circle against an opponent who has the ball or a chance to play it.