Hockey Rules and Regulations

Hockey rules and regulations are long and can be a little difficult to understand. If you really want to follow the game better, it is a must to get a little brief on the hockey rules.

To start with, the field should be rectangular and should be clearly marked with white lines. The longer lines are called side lines while the shorter lines are called back lines. The goal lines lie between the back line and the goal-post.

The goals lie at the centre of each back line and must be rectangular in shape as per the official hockey rules. The ball should be spherical, and the sticks should be flat on one side and curved on the other.

The game consists of two teams of eleven players each. Each team has a captain who must wear a distinctive arm band. Who will start the game is decided by tossing a coin by the two captains and under the supervision of the umpires. The duration of the game according to hockey rules and regulations will be 20 minutes each half. However, in international matches, each half of the game is 35 minutes long.

The decided team starts the game and takes a pass from the centre of the field. All opponents should be 5 meters from the ball. To score a goal, the ball must lie in between the posts, and completely over the line and under the crossbar. It has to be struck by an attacker inside the semicircle.

Official hockey rules dictate the players to not to hit the ball intentionally with the back of the stick or use any body part. The players cannot raise the ball dangerously or injure another player or the umpire. One can’t waste time either or block the opposition with your stick our body. All these hockey rules and regulations are to be strictly followed during the game.