How many players are on a Hockey5s team?

A maximum of five from each team take part at any time, and each team has a goalkeeper. A squad is 10, with four court substitutes and one substitute goalkeeper.

How long is a Hockey5s match?

Two halves of 10 minutes with a 2-minute interval. Regulations may set 12 or 15 minutes.

Where are the boundary-boards?

They mark the side-lines and back-lines but not the goal-lines, placed against the outside of the lines. Ideally they are 10 to 25 cm high.

What is the challenge in Hockey5s?

A restart awarded for offences such as a defender's intentional offence in their half against a player with the ball. The taker may play the ball but may not shoot until it has travelled at least 4 metres.

Field Hockey · Rules of Hockey

Law 21: Hockey5s

2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts · updated 30 October 2026 · markdown

Law 21 summarises Hockey5s, the short format of hockey, using the FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024. It is played on a smaller court with boards, in five-a-side teams and with its own distances and restarts.

Boundary-boards mark the side-lines and back-lines but not the goal-lines, and ideally stand 10 to 25 cm high, although Hockey5s may also be played with other boards or none. Two quarter-lines are marked halfway between the centre-line and the back-lines. A maximum of five players from each team take part at any time, and each team has a goalkeeper. Each team may have four court substitutes and one substitute goalkeeper, a squad of 10. A match is two halves of 10 minutes with a 2-minute interval, and Regulations may set 12 or 15 minutes. A goal is scored only when the ball is played by an attacker within their attacking half, and Hockey5s has no circles.

All players other than the taker must be at least 4 metres from the ball at a free hit. Play re-starts not more than one metre from where the ball crossed the side-line. A challenge is awarded for offences such as a defender's intentional offence in their half against a player with the ball, and the taker may not shoot until the ball has travelled at least 4 metres. A goalkeeper must not take part outside the half they are defending.

The facts below cover the court, teams and time, then restarts, scoring and the challenge.

21.211The Court, Teams and Time

Boards, quarter-lines, five players, the squad, halves and substitutions.

Test 1Hockey5s: the court, the teams and timeTake a test

Boundary-boards mark the side-lines and back-lines but not the goal-lines, placed against the outside of the lines.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 1.4 · recall
Boundary-boards ideally have a height of 10 to 25 cm; Hockey5s may also be played with other boards or none.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 1.4 · recall
A maximum of five players from each team take part at any time, and each team has a goalkeeper.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rules 2.1, 2.2 · recall
Each team may have four court substitutes and one substitute goalkeeper: a squad of 10.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 2.3 · recall
A match is two halves of 10 minutes with a 2-minute interval; Regulations may set 12 or 15 minutes.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 5.1 · recall
Players leave or enter between the centre-line and the quarter-line on their own bench side, within touching distance of each other.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 2.5 · recall
Two quarter-lines are marked halfway between the centre-line and the back-lines.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 1.5 · recall
A goal is scored only when the ball is played by an attacker within their attacking half; Hockey5s has no circles.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 8.1 · applied
From one end: back-line, quarter-line, centre-line, quarter-line, back-line again.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rules 1.4, 1.5 · applied
The captain also receives a personal penalty; play re-starts with a challenge against the team responsible.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 2.1 · applied

21.212Restarts, Scoring and the Challenge

Free hits at 4 m, the ball out, high hits, the goalkeeper's half and the challenge.

Test 1Hockey5s: restarts, scoring and the challengeTake a test

All players other than the taker must be at least 4 metres from the ball.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 13.2 · recall
Play re-starts not more than one metre from where the ball crossed the side-line.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 7.3 · recall
It re-starts on the centre-line in line with where it crossed, like a corner in the other formats.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 7.4 (b) · recall
A challenge is awarded for offences such as a defender's intentional offence in their half against a player with the ball.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 12.3 · recall
Such a hit must cross the goal-line no higher than 460 mm; inside the quarter-line area high hits are allowed unless dangerous.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 8.2 · recall
A goalkeeper must not take part outside the half they are defending.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 10.1 · recall
In Hockey5s, if the ball strikes an umpire, an unauthorised person or a loose object, play continues.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 11.7 · applied
The challenge taker may play the ball but may not shoot until it has travelled at least 4 metres.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 13.3 · applied
The goalkeeper may move once the attacker has played the ball.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 13.3 · applied
The ball must travel 4 m before the taker shoots, unless another player has touched it.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 13.2 · applied

Questions people ask

How many players are on a Hockey5s team?: A maximum of five from each team take part at any time, and each team has a goalkeeper. A squad is 10, with four court substitutes and one substitute goalkeeper.
How long is a Hockey5s match?: Two halves of 10 minutes with a 2-minute interval. Regulations may set 12 or 15 minutes.
Does Hockey5s have a circle?: No. A goal is scored only when the ball is played by an attacker within their attacking half.
Where are the boundary-boards?: They mark the side-lines and back-lines but not the goal-lines, placed against the outside of the lines. Ideally they are 10 to 25 cm high.
How far away must players be at a free hit in Hockey5s?: All players other than the taker must be at least 4 metres from the ball (Rule 13.2).
Where does play restart after the ball crosses the side-line?: Not more than one metre from where the ball crossed the side-line (Rule 7.3).
What is the challenge in Hockey5s?: A restart awarded for offences such as a defender's intentional offence in their half against a player with the ball. The taker may play the ball but may not shoot until it has travelled at least 4 metres.
Can the goalkeeper leave their half?: No. A goalkeeper must not take part outside the half they are defending.

Sources

FIH Rules of Hockey5s, in force from 1 May 2024, with the Rules of Hockey for anything they do not cover (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 1.42
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 13.22
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 13.32
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rules 2.1, 2.21
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 2.31
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 5.11
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 2.51
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 1.51
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 8.11
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rules 1.4, 1.51
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 2.11
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 7.31
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 7.4 (b)1
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 12.31
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 8.21
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 10.11
FIH Rules of Hockey5s 2024, Rule 11.71