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Field hockey rules

Hockey is a game of skill and speed played outdoors between teams of 11 players.

According to historians, hockey is the oldest known ball and stick game, having been recorded as being played in Persia in 2000 BC.

Rules of hockey

The game is divided into two halves. Each of these halves is 35 minutes long. To score a goal, the attacking player must shoot the ball into the penalty area. The penalty corner is a foul in which the ball must be placed on the end line, about 10 metres from the goal.

The player taking the penalty corner must have at least one foot out of the goal and his team-mates must remain outside the penalty area. When a penalty-corner is awarded, a maximum of five defenders, including the goalkeeper, may stand behind the goal line with their sticks.

The penalty-stroke is a more serious penalty, in which an attacker kicks the ball from a point inside the penalty area, while the goalkeeper stands on the goal line. The equipment for this sport consists of two fundamental elements: the hockey stick and the ball. The stick used in this sport has measurements and weight strictly codified in the Rules of the International Hockey Federation; its approximate size is one metre high, with a base of 15 centimetres and a width that cannot exceed five centimetres; in turn, the weight does not exceed 750 grams and it must pass through a five-centimetre hoop.

Hockey balls are made of plastic, hollow inside and are approximately the size of a tennis ball or baseball.

Field of play

The field of play or pitch must be rectangular in shape and measure 91.4 metres long by 55 metres wide; it must be bounded by lateral lines marking the long perimeters of the field, and the end lines the short perimeters. The goal lines are marked on the side of the end lines between the goalposts, plus a centre line marked in the middle of the field.

The penalty mark is 15 centimetres in diameter and is located in front of each goal.Flags must be placed on posts and placed at the corners of the playing perimeter, while the goalposts must be centred and placed on the end lines.

Nowadays, natural grass pitches have been replaced by synthetic turf because it minimises ball friction, making the game faster and more accurate.

Hockey as an Olympic sport

After its first appearance at the London 1908 Olympic Games, hockey became a permanent fixture on the Olympic programme from Antwerp 1920 onwards, but it was not until 1980, at the Moscow Summer Games, that women made their debut in the sport.

Since Sydney 2000, the men’s side has competed in a 12-team competition, while the women’s side has had 10 teams, but over 100 years of Olympic life, hockey has been essentially dominated by the Indian men’s team, who have won six consecutive titles between 1928 and 1956, going unbeaten for 30 games, scoring 197 goals and conceding just eight.

Field hockey and betting

Betting on Field hockey is possible, several bookmakers give you that possibility. If you want to start this king of betting read first the sport rules. Keep in mind that you can have much more betting option with ice hockey. Click here to learn more about Hockey.