# Talking Hockey · Field Hockey Level 1: Beginner

Field Hockey · Level 1: Beginner · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/field-hockey/level-1/talking-hockey/)

The words players use: passes and shots, tackles, areas of the field, positions, set pieces, umpires and cards, goalkeeping, moves and tricks, team talk and everyday hockey phrases.

## Test 1: Names of passes and shots

- A slap is a hit made with a long pushing or sweeping movement before contact. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Terminology (Hit))
- A flick is a push that lifts the ball off the ground. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Terminology (Flick))
- A scoop puts the head of the stick under the ball and lifts it. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Terminology (Scoop))
- An aerial is a ball lifted high to travel over players. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- In a sweep the stick is lowered almost parallel to the ground for a powerful pass. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- The drag-flick is a specialist penalty-corner shot, powerful yet without a backswing. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- The bunt is a short pass with little or no swing, listed among the guide's skills. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, The Bunt)
- A push stays on the ground, a flick lifts it, an aerial goes highest. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- No backswing, a short sweep, then a full backswing. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- The player gets under the ball and lifts it: that stroke is the scoop. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Terminology (Scoop))

## Test 2: Names of tackles

- The block tackle uses the length of the stick close to the ground. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- The lunge reaches the ball with a long step and an extended stick. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- With the attacker on the defender's left, the stick is turned over for the tackle. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Defenders shepherd attackers wide, away from goal. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- Hitting or obstructing an opponent's stick when going for the ball is stick obstruction. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Stealing the ball is one of the defending skills in the guide. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Stealing the Ball)
- Defenders read the pass and step in to cut it out. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Interception Tackle)
- Close, channel, tackle, play on. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- Interceptions happen at range; block tackles up close. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- A quick one-handed poke is a jab. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))

## Test 3: Areas of the field

- The circle is nicknamed the D for its shape. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- 'The 23' is short for the 23-metres line or area. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- The top of the circle is its straight front edge, facing the field. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Play near the corner flags is said to be 'in the corner'. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- Flanks or wings are the wide areas near the side-lines. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- The midfield is the middle third between the 23-metres areas. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- Coaches split the field into defensive, midfield and attacking thirds. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defensive Presses)
- Defence, midfield, attack. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defensive Presses)
- Circle, the broken line 5 m beyond it, the 23 and the centre. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- The shaded band runs across the middle of the field: the midfield third. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)

## Test 4: Positions

- Forwards push play towards goal and convert chances. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Midfielders are a first line of defence and move the ball to the forwards. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Defenders stop forwards getting into scoring positions. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Some formations use a sweeper behind or in front of the back line. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- USA Field Hockey's 4-3-3 has four forwards, three midfielders and three defenders. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Players move all over the field: defenders score, forwards defend. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Goalkeepers see the whole field and coordinate the defence. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Goal, defence, midfield, attack. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- 3-3-3-1 lists the lines from the front, with a sweeper at the back. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- The players furthest forward are the forwards. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))

## Test 5: Set pieces

- Players often call the penalty corner a short corner. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- When a defender plays it over the back-line by accident, play restarts on the 23-metres line; US players still call it a long corner. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- A free hit restarts play after an offence, opponents at least 5 metres away. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- The free-hit taker may keep playing the ball without another touch. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- A penalty stroke is a one-on-one shot from the penalty spot. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- A centre pass starts each half of quarters and restarts after a goal. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- The injector plays the ball from the back-line to start the corner. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Terminology (Injector))
- The stroke is from 6.4 m, the corner shot from the top of the circle, the free hit further out. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Inject, stop, bring it back into the circle, shoot. (Source: NFHCA, Penalty Corners: Positions and Basic Tactics (2022))
- Defenders behind the back-line, attackers round the circle: a penalty corner. (Source: NFHCA, Penalty Corners: Positions and Basic Tactics (2022))

## Test 6: Umpires and cards

- Two umpires control a match, each mainly in one half. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 11.1)
- A green card suspends the player for 2 minutes of playing time. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 14.1)
- A red card is a permanent suspension from the match. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 14.1)
- The carded player goes to the designated place and the team carries on with ten. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 14.2)
- 'Foot' is the common call when the ball hits a player's foot to their advantage. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Crossed forearms in front of the chest is the obstruction signal. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Umpiring 4.5)
- Umpires play on when a penalty would not help the team that was fouled. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 12.1)
- Green for 2 minutes, yellow for 5 or 10, red for the rest of the match. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 14.1)
- Whistle, card, the player goes to the designated place, the team plays short. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 14.2)
- The yellow card is a temporary suspension of 5 or 10 minutes. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 14.1)

## Test 7: Goalkeeping words

- Goalkeepers kick the ball clear to the side of the circle. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Skill development plan)
- Young keepers learn to stop the ball with two legs. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Skill development plan)
- Rebounds off the goalkeeper give attackers a second chance. (Source: NFHCA, Penalty Corners: Positions and Basic Tactics (2022))
- A one-on-one pits the goalkeeper against an attacker in a duel. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- Stepping towards the shooter reduces the target they can see. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- At a defensive corner a post player stands near a goal-post to cover the goal. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Defensive Penalty Corners)
- Goalkeepers also save with the stick, often for wide shots. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- Set, align, save, clear. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Skill development plan)
- The KNHB/SAHA plan starts with moving in the kit, then stopping and kicking. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Skill development plan)
- Both pads together form a double-leg save. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Skill development plan)

## Test 8: Moves and tricks

- Pulling the ball left and right with quick stick turns is the 'Indian dribble'. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- A dummy fakes a move to wrong-foot the defender. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Dummy to the Left)
- Drags move the ball left or right to beat a defender. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Drag Left)
- 3D skills take the ball off the ground to beat a defender. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- Turns on the forehand and reverse are taught as elimination skills. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Turn (Forehand))
- Passing and getting the ball back beats a defender with teamwork. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- The chop is one of the guide's elimination skills. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Chop)
- Fake one way, go the other. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Dummy to the Left)
- Give and go: pass, run, receive. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- Pass, run, return pass: a one-two. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)

## Test 9: Team talk

- 'Man on' warns a team-mate of pressure. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- 'Time' tells the receiver they can take a touch and look. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- Show the ball carrier you can receive. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Skill development plan)
- Teams huddle to share plans and lift each other. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- Markers stay close to an opponent to deny the ball. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- Teamwork and communication matter more than positions. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- The captain leads on the field and answers for the team's behaviour. (Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 3.4)
- Recover, listen, rally, return. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- See, warn, move, call. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide)
- Players gather in a huddle to talk before play. (Source: General field hockey reference)

## Test 10: Everyday hockey phrases

- 'Back stick' is called when a player plays the ball with the rounded back of the stick. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Field hockey is played on a rectangular field called a pitch. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- US players often call the goal the cage. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Field hockey is just called hockey almost everywhere. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- The name came from cricket, where a bowler who took three wickets in a row was once given a hat. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- Commentators use 'the D' for the circle. (Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025))
- Keeping a clean sheet means conceding no goals. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- Arrive, warm up, play, cool down. (Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, Training Principles)
- Space first, then pressure arrives, then the chance to shoot. (Source: General field hockey reference)
- Three goals by the same player in a match is a hat-trick. (Source: General field hockey reference)

Sources: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide, USA Field Hockey 101, NFHCA notes, FIH history and official results; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category (Field Hockey - Rules of Hockey).

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