Law 2: Composition of Teams

Each team may have at most eleven players on the field at any time.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.1 · recall

A team is at most sixteen persons, eleven on the field and up to five substitutes; Regulations may vary it.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Terminology (Team) · recall

Time should be stopped so that the extra player can leave.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.1 · applied

Play re-starts with a free hit to the opponents, unless a penalty against the offending team was already awarded, in which case that is taken.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.1 · recall

Decisions taken before the situation was corrected cannot be changed once time or play has re-started.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.1 · applied

Where the extra player materially affected the match, the captain of that team must receive a yellow card.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.1 · recall

No other person may enter the field during the match without an umpire's permission.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.5 · recall

Captains are responsible for their team's substitutions being made correctly, so the yellow card for an extra player goes to the captain.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rules 2.1, 3.4 · applied

Time is stopped, the situation is corrected, and play re-starts with a free hit to the opponents.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.1 · applied

Smallest is the bench of five, then the eleven on the pitch, then the full squad of sixteen.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.1; Terminology (Team) · applied

A team either has a goalkeeper on the field or plays only with field players.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.2 · recall

A goalkeeper wears at least headgear, leg guards and kickers.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.2 · recall

The goalkeeper wears a shirt of a different colour from the field players.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.2 · recall

With field players only, nobody wears protective headgear except a face mask while defending a penalty corner or a penalty stroke.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.2 · recall

Any change between the two options must take place as a substitution.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.2 · applied

Substitution is permitted at any time except from the award of a penalty corner until it is completed.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.3 · recall

An injured or suspended defending goalkeeper may be replaced at a penalty corner, by a goalkeeper or a field player.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.3 · applied

A team that has chosen to play only with field players has no player with goalkeeping privileges, also at a penalty corner.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rules 2.2, 13.3 (f) · applied

From the award until completion, only the defending goalkeeper may be replaced, and only for injury or suspension.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.3 · applied

Since 2027, time need not be stopped: the change is made at the centre-line like any other substitution.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.3 · applied

There is no limit to the number of players substituted at the same time.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.3 · recall

There is no limit to how often a player may substitute or be substituted.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.3 · recall

A player may only be replaced after that player has left the field.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.3 · recall

Suspended players may not be replaced during their suspension, so the team plays one short.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.3 · applied

Field players who leave for treatment, a drink or kit re-enter between the 23-metres areas on the side used for substitutions.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.4 · applied

An injured or bleeding player must leave the field, unless medical reasons prevent it, and may not return until wounds are covered; blood-stained clothing may not be worn.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.7 · recall

Players on or off the field are under the umpires' jurisdiction throughout the match, intervals included.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.6 · applied

Players leave and enter for a substitution within 3 metres of the centre-line, on the team bench side.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.3 · applied

The change is made within 3 m of the centre-line, and the substitute enters only after the player has left.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 2.3 · applied

The player leaves, returns only once the wound is covered and clothing is free of blood, and comes back on between the 23-metres areas on the substitution side.

Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rules 2.4, 2.7 · applied