Field Hockey · Rules of Hockey
Law 5: Match and Result
1 parts · 1 tests · 10 facts · updated 30 October 2026 · markdown
Law 5 of the FIH Rules 2027 sets how long a match lasts and how a result is reached. A match consists of four quarters of 15 minutes. Half-time is 10 minutes, a length in place since 2026, and the intervals after the first and third quarters are 2 minutes. Both teams may agree other durations, except where Regulations for a competition specify them. Teams may also deviate from stopping and re-starting time after a goal or a penalty corner award, and from the suspension times of Rule 14.1.
Time running out does not always end a decision. If time expires just before an umpire would have made a decision, the umpire may make it immediately after the end of the quarter. A review may go ahead even though time has been completed, immediately, and the situation is corrected.
The result is simple. The team with more goals wins, and with no goals or equal goals the match is drawn. Rule 5.2 says only that information about shoot-outs is in the FIH tournament regulations.
The facts below cover the quarters and intervals, decisions and reviews at the end of a quarter, and a win or a draw.
5.51Quarters, Intervals and the Result
Four quarters, the intervals, decisions and reviews at the end of a quarter, and a win or a draw.
Test 1Quarters, intervals, time running out and the resultTake a test
A match consists of four quarters of 15 minutes.
Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 5.1 · recall
Half-time is 10 minutes since 2026; the intervals after the first and third quarters are 2 minutes.
Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 5.1 · recall
Other durations may be agreed by both teams except where Regulations for a competition specify them.
Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 5.1 · recall
Teams may deviate from stopping and re-starting time after a goal or a penalty corner award, and from the suspension times of Rule 14.1.
Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 5.1 · recall
The review may go ahead even though time has been completed, immediately, and the situation is corrected.
Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 5.1 · applied
The team with more goals wins; with no goals or equal goals, the match is drawn.
Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 5.2 · applied
Rule 5.2 says only that information about shoot-outs is in the FIH tournament regulations.
Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 5.2 · recall
If time expires just before an umpire would have made a decision, the umpire may make it immediately after the end of the quarter.
Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 5.1 · applied
Quarter 1, a 2-minute interval, quarter 2, then the 10-minute half-time interval.
Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 5.1 · applied
2 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes and 30 minutes.
Source: FIH Rules 2027, Rule 5.1 · applied
Questions people ask
- How long is a field hockey match?
- A match consists of four quarters of 15 minutes, with intervals between them.
- How long are the intervals?
- Half-time is 10 minutes, since 2026. The intervals after the first and third quarters are 2 minutes.
- Can the match lengths be changed?
- Both teams may agree other durations, except where Regulations for a competition specify them.
- What if time runs out just before a decision?
- The umpire may make the decision immediately after the end of the quarter.
- How is the winner decided?
- The team with more goals wins. With no goals or equal goals, the match is drawn.
- What do the Rules say about shoot-outs?
- Rule 5.2 says only that information about shoot-outs is in the FIH tournament regulations.
Sources
FIH Rules of Hockey, 2027 edition in force from 1 November 2026, Rule 5 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)
- FIH Rules 2027, Rule 5.18
- FIH Rules 2027, Rule 5.22