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Rules
Loudoun Field Hockey Association

Youth Field Hockey Rules
A brief description of the rules which we will be teaching this season and which will be used during any attended playdays are provided below. For a more detailed account of the official rules, click here for the 2007/08 FIH Rules of Hockey.

Field Hockey Basics
Using sticks that are flat on one side and curved on the other, two teams hit and dribble a solid plastic ball down the field and try to shoot it past a defender or goalkeeper into a goal cage. Goals can only be scored when a shot is taken from within the scoring circle – an area marked by a 10-yard arc on the end line. The team with the most goals at the end of the game is declared the winner.

The Game

Game play starts with the ball on the center hash on the centerline; the ball can be hit either forward or backward to begin game play.
Games will be played with 7 players per side with a minimum of 5 players to start.
The ball may only be played with the flat side of the stick
A goal is scored when an attacker strikes the ball into the goal from within the scoring circle.
Players may not shield the ball using their body or stick (called an obstruction). All players must have an equal chance to play the ball.
There is no offsides.
Duration of youth matches consist of two 20-minute halves with two time-outs per half after tem minutes and a 5-minute half time. Duration of adult matches consist of two 25-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime; time-outs/quarter time will be used as agreed upon by the team captains and referees before the start of the game.
Teams may substitute players at any time except during a penalty corner; teams substituting players may only make substitutions once the ball is put into play. Players should make their substitutions from the center field line.

Standings

Standings are used as a match-up tool for end-of-season play. To determine standings, the following point system will be used:
Win = 2 Tie = 1 Loss = 0
If two or more teams are tied when determining standings, the determining factors will be as follows, in this order:
- Head-to-head results
- Goal differential (goals for minus goals against)
- Goals for
Teams should start their game with at least five players from their roster in order for a final score to stand. In the spirit of sportsmanship, the opposing team should lend players to the other team to play a 7v7 game or as even as possible (ie, 6v6 or 5v5).
In the event that a team cannot start with five players from their roster, the game should still be played in the spirit of sportsmanship and the opposing team should lend players to the other team to play a 7v7 game or as even as possible (ie, 6v6 or 5v5). The final score will not count and a default score of 1-0 will be recorded in favor of the opposing team.

The Equipment

The Field. Our fields measure 60 yards long by 30 yards wide. The field is divided by center-field line along with a 10-yard line semi-circle marking the scoring circle on each side of the field.
The Stick. The stick has a curved head, is rounded on one side, and is flat on the left-hand side. The ball can only be touched with the flat side of the stick.
The Ball. The ball, slightly larger than a baseball, weighs between 5 1/2 ounces and 5 3/4 ounces with a circumference of 8 13/16 inches to 9 1/4 inches.
The Goals. Goal cages are 7 feet (2.14m) high, 12 feet (3.66m) wide and 4 feet (1.22m) deep.

Fouls

A player may not:

Shield or obstruct the ball from an opponent with the 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.
Play the ball with the rounded side of the stick.
Interfere in the game without a stick
Charge, hit, shove or trip an opponent
Play the ball in a potentially dangerous way.
Use the foot or leg to support the stick in order to resist an opponent
Raise the stick in a dangerous or intimidating manner while approaching, attempting to play or stop the ball
Advance the ball by any means other than with the stick.
Stop or deflect the ball in the air or on the ground with any part of the body
Hit, hook, hold or interfere with an opponents stick

Offenses & Misconduct

For rough or dangerous play, misconduct or any intentional offense, the umpire may:

caution the offending player;
warn the offending player with a green card;
temporarily suspend the offending player for a minimum of 5 minutes with a yellow card; or permanently suspend the offending player with a red card.

Free Hit

A free hit is awarded to the non-offending side following an infraction and are usually taken at the spot the foul occurs.
No player of the opposing team may be within 7 yards of the ball when hit.
The ball must be stationary and the striker must push or hit it. The hitter may not replay the ball until another player has played it.
If the infraction is committed by a defender within the scoring circle, the attacking team is awarded a penalty corner.

Side-In

A push-in or hit-in is awarded to the opposition if a player hits the ball wholly over the sideline. All other players and their sticks must be at least 7 yards away from the spot where the ball is put into play.

10-Yard Hit

When the attacking team plays the ball over the end line or commits a foul in the scoring circle, the defense receives a 10-yard hit. The free hit is awarded to the defense in line with the top of the scring circle, 10 yards from the end line.

Long Hits

A long hit is awarded when the ball goes off the field over the end line and last touched by a defender. The ball is placed on the side line on a hash 5 yards from the end line. The ball can be pushed or hit. Once the ball is moved, it cannot be played by the hitter until the ball is played by another player, either offense or defense.

Penalty Corner

A penalty corner is awarded for the following offenses:

Any breach of the rule by a defender within the scoring circle that would have resulted in a free hit to the attacking team if the breach had occurred outside the zone;

An intentional hit over the end line by a defender from any part of the field.

During a penalty corner, the ball is placed on the end line 10 yards away from the outer goalpost and is injected by an offensive player to her teammates who are standing on edge of the 10-yard scoring circle; offense players cannot move into the scoring circle until the ball is moved into play by the injector. The ball must be controlled before a shot toward the goal is taken. The initial hit toward the goal must not be above the back boards of the goal (18” high) or it will be considered a dangerous shot. Once the ball is put into play, it cannot be played by the injector until the ball is played by another player, either offense or defense.

At the same time, four defense players stand with their feet and sticks behind the end line. Players may stand inside or outside the cage (but no farther than five yards from the cage closest to the injector). Defenders cannot move off the line until the ball is put into play by the injector.

Penalty Stroke

A penalty stroke is awarded for any intentional breach by the defenders within the scoring circle which prevents a sure goal. Teams without goalkeepers will perform a penalty push; teams with goalkeepers will perform a traditional penalty stroke.

Penalty Push. For such an infraction by the defensive team, the defensive team will place a player on the goal line in the goal cage and the opposite team will choose any player on the field to take the push (players not on the field at the time of the infraction are not eligible to take the push). All other field players should stand no closer than half field. The ball will be placed on the penalty stroke mark 7 yards from the goal line.

The defending player’s feet must start on the goal line and may not move until the ball is put into play by the offensive player. The referee will blow the whistle to indicate the start of the push. The offensive player will push the ball toward the goal and the defending player will attempt to stop the ball from crossing the goal line with her stick only. A goal is awarded if the ball crosses the goal line and enters the goal cage at a height of 18 inches or below (height of the back board). If a goal is not scored, the defensive team is awarded a 10-yard hit.

Penalty Stroke. For such an infraction by the defensive team, the defensive team will follow the same procedures as a penalty push except that defending team should use their goalkeeper to defend the stroke and the goalkeeper may use any part of their body/equipment to stop the ball. The offensive player taking the stroke must push, flick, or scoop the ball and is permitted to raise it to any height; using a ‘dragging’ action to play the ball at a penalty stroke is not permitted.

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