Rules of Hockey

The game of hockey is played between two teams, each team comprising of eleven players. Among eleven, ten will be field players and one will be the goal keeper. The entity of the game is to score more points than the opponent team. As you play, if your ball reaches the goal post, past the goal keeper then your team gets a point. The game is played for eighty minutes, wherein the total time is divided into two thirty five halves and a ten minute break in between. When the attacking players are in the striking circle or in other words the shooting or goal circle they have a chance of scoring a goal.

After each goal, center passes will start by the team who has scored a goal. In center pass, the player of the team will stand in the center and pass the ball to the respective team mates who will be standing at least a meter away. Generally, a coin will be tossed, to decide which team will start first. The other team will start, during the second half of the game.

The players are allowed to knock the ball by using only the flat side of the hockey stick. Though, they can tackle the ball with both sides of the stick. If the player is found striking the ball with any other part of the body other than the flat side of the hockey stick, then he can get penalized. Only the goal keeper is given all the freedom to touch the ball, with every part of the body. All the players should begin in their opposing half, however, the ball can be played in any of the directions. If the ball crosses the sideline, then it is given back to play with a hit called the sideline hit.

In case players are found encumbering other players from hitting the ball either by using their stick or bodies, then an obstruction is called. A player is not allowed to strike the ball, when the ball is in the air unless and otherwise if the player is striking for a goal. On the field, the players cannot lift the stick above their head as it can be very dangerous, thus it is prohibited. The offside rule was terminated in the year 1998 in order to add more scores.

If an obstruction is called for, or if the player is found striking the ball when the ball is in the air or lifting the stick above the head, then the team has to lose the possession of the ball as a penalty. In some cases, if both the referees opine it to be serious, then there are all chances of them issuing the three color cards.

Here the green card stands for a strict warning. If yellow card is shown, the offended player will be suspended from the game for a minimum of five minutes, and if the red card is shown the player will be ejected from the game.