A GUIDE TO FIELD HOCKEY
LONDON 2012
CONTENTS
Pages 1-2: A History of Hockey at the Olympics
Page 3: The Competitors
Page 4: Road to the Gold Medal
Pages 5-8: The Rules of the Game
Page 9: The Field of Play
Pages 10-12: Positions and Formations
Page13: The Penalties
Pages 14-16: Set Plays
Pages 17-18: Equipment
Page 19-22: Goalie Equipment
Pages 23-26: Fun Facts
Pages 27-34: Records
Page 35-41: Tournament Schedule
Page 42: The Venue
Pages 43-48: Countries playing Olympic Hockey
Pages 49-50: Hockey Terminology
THE COMPETITORS
Contests (Male & Female)
Over the course of the London Olympics there will be:
Athletes
192/192 Men Women
16
11 outfiled players 5 substitutes
Teams per contest
12
Players per team
2
384
THE ROAD TO THE GOLD MEDAL At the London 2012 Olympics both the men’s and
six, and each team will play every other team in their
women’s hockey competitions will begin with a
group. The top two teams in each pool will qualify for the
preliminary phase consisting of the twelve teams. The
semi-finals, the winners of which will go head to head for
teams in each event will be divided into two groups of
the gold medal.
GROUP A
GROUP B
SEMI-FINAL A
SEMI-FINAL A
Vs
Vs
Group A winner
Group B runner up
Group A winner
Group B runner up THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF
FINAL
Vs
Vs Semi A winner
Semi B winner
Semi A runner up
Semi B runner up
Gold Medal: Final winner Silver Medal: Final runner-up Bronze medal: Third place playoff winner
THE FIELD OF PLAY THE PITCH: Field hockey has traditionally been
the field of play, making it easy to spot
played on grass but matches at the
the YELLOW ball. The hockey pitches are
London Olympics will be played on
91.4m long and 55m wide. The goals at
Astroturf pitches. London 2012 is the
each end are 3.66m wide and 2.14m high.
first Olympic Games where the hockey
Each goal is surrounded by a D-shaped
pitches aren’t green. PINK is used for the
shooting circle. The penalty spot at either
area surrounding the pitch and BLUE for
end is 6.4m from the goal.
100 yards (91.4m)
Backline 60 yards (55m)
The goal Penalty spot Striking circle The 25-yard line Half-way line Substitution Area
Hockey pitch size: 100 yards (91.4m) long and 60 yards (55m) wide. The goal: 7ft tall (2.14m) by 12ft wide (3.66m). Penalty spot: This is 7 yards (6.4m) from the goalmouth.
Striking circle: A ‘D’-shaped area measuring 16 yards out from the goal post. Back line: The back line is simply a line marking the lengthwise end of the field hockey pitch. It is 60 yards long.
Half-way line: This is simply the line that divides the field hockey field into two different halves. The 25-yard line: A line found in each attacking portion of the pitch and is 25 yards (22m) from the goal.
Traditional green pitch
POSITIONS AND FORMATIONS Teams consist of eleven players on the
Formations provide structure to a hockey
likely to select from a more limited range
field, and up to five substitutes. There are
team on the pitch. They help players
of formations such as 3-3-4, 2-3-2 and
no set positions other than goalkeeper,
understand and share the defensive
1-3-3-3. (The numbers refer to the number
but most teams arrange themselves into
and attacking responsibilities. Although
of players arrayed across the pitch,
fullbacks, midfielders and forwards. Many higher level teams may select from a wide starting in front of the goalkeeper with the teams include a single sweeper, who plays range of formations, teams containing behind the fullbacks. One player from
inexperienced players or teams which
each team is designated the goalkeeper.
see frequent changes to their players are
defenders, then midfield and then attack.)
2-3-3-2 An defensive heavy formation consisting of 2 sweepers, 3 fullbacks, 3 midfield players and Striker
2 attackers.
Wingers
Midfileders A well balanced
1-3-3-3
team consisting of 4 Fullbacks
defenders (1 sweeper and 3 defensmen), 3 midfielders and
Sweeper
3 attackers.
Goalkeeper
An offensive heavy formation consisting of 3 defenders, 3 midfield players and 4 attackers.
3-3-4
THE RULES OF THE GAME A game of field hockey consits of:
5 vs 5 2x 7½ minutes of extra time if game is tied
2x 35
If still tied after this time, the match is decided by a penalty shootout of five
minutes per half
shots per team. If the scores are still tied, the match is decided by sudden death penalties.
11
players
Substitutions can be made at virtually any time, and any number of times.
5
subs
X Shots may only be taken inside the shooting circle Goals scored from outside this area are disallowed.
The ball can not be played above shulder height.
Face (flat side) of the stick
Two umpires on the field officiate the match. One in each half. An additional umpire may sit at the scorer's table.
X The ball must be passed or dribbled down the field with the flat side of the stick.
THE PENALTIES
THE GREEN CARD: Used as an official warning to a player who has broken the rules. Unlike the other cards, no suspension is
THE YELLOW CARD: A step up from the green card. When a player gets a yellow card, they must leave the field for at least five minutes. If the penalty is serious, additional time may be given to the player
THE RED CARD: The most severe type of penalty card that a field hockey player can receive. If a player gets a red card during a game, they are suspended for the remainder of the game.
issued when a green card is given to a player. This is the most mild type of card that a player can get in field hockey.
by the umpire. If a player receives multiple yellow cards throughout the game it is likely that the umpire will increase the amount of time that the player cannot participate in play.
Additionally, some times the player is not allowed to play in additional games if the action was severe. Usually the suspension length is determined by the rules of the league that the player is participating in.
FIELD HOCKEY SET PLAYS Free Hits Free hits are awarded when offences are committed outside the scoring circles. The ball may be hit or pushed once in any direction by the team offended against. Opponents must move 5 m from the ball when a free hit is awarded, and for
attacking free hits within 5 m of the circle all attackers other than the one taking the hit must also by 5 m away. These hits are taken in line with where the foul was committed.
Offending team Attacking team Free hit taker 5 meter radius Ball Pass to shot on goal
Penalty Stroke A penalty stroke is awarded when defenders commit a deliberate foul in the shooting circle which deprives. The penalty pits an attacker against the goalkeeper, and is taken from penalty spot. The goalkeeper must stand on the goal line, and cannot move his feet until the ball is played. The attacker is not
permitted to take more than one step, more than one shot, to fake or dummy the shot, or to move towards the goalkeeper once the shot is taken. Hitting or dragging the ball is also forbidden. If the shot is saved, play is restarted with a 15 m hit to the defenders; if a goal is scored, play is restarted in the normal way.
Goalkeeper
Penalty Taker
Penalty Spot