Field Hockey · Level 1: Beginner · Sub-level 1.1
What Hockey Is
10 tests · 100 facts · updated 31 October 2026 · markdown
Field hockey is played by two teams of eleven, goalkeeper included, and the team that scores the most goals wins. Equal goals mean a draw under FIH Rule 5.2; a shoot-out to find a winner comes from competition regulations. Field players play the ball with the flat side or edge of the stick, and using the body to move it is an offence. Only goalkeepers may use their body, and inside their own circle, which is also the only place goals can come from. The circle is often called the 'D' for its shape.
A match has four quarters of 15 minutes of playing time. Two minutes separate quarters one and two, and three and four, and half-time between quarters two and three is 10 minutes (Rule 5.1). A team is at most sixteen people, eleven on the field and five substitutes, and rolling substitutions mean a player can change as often as needed. Men's and women's hockey use the same rules; women's hockey joined the Olympics at Moscow 1980, where Zimbabwe won the first tournament. Men's hockey debuted at London 1908, when England beat Ireland in the final.
The facts below cover the aim of the game, the eleven-a-side team and substitutions, goalkeepers and field players, scoring from the circle, the four quarters, men's and women's hockey, indoor hockey and Hockey5s, turf and where hockey is played, the Olympics, and hockey for children, Masters players and Para Hockey.
Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.
Test 1The aim of the gameTake a test
The team that scores the most goals wins; if the goals are equal, the match is a draw.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.2 · recall
Field players play the ball with the stick; using the body to move it is an offence.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Hockey 101 sums it up: push or hit only with the flat side or edge of the stick.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Only goalkeepers may use their body to stop and move the ball, and only in their own circle.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Goals can only be scored from inside the circle, a D-shaped area in front of each goal, which is why players call it the D.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Under the Rules equal goals mean a draw; a shoot-out to find a winner comes from competition regulations.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.2 · applied
There is no left-handed stick: every stick has its flat side on the left as it is held.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Goals can only come from inside the circle, so an attack ends with a shot from there.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Four quarters, with the half-time interval between the second and the third.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · recall
A ball played by an attacker in the circle that crosses the goal-line is a goal.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · applied
Test 2Two teams of elevenTake a test
Ten field players and one goalkeeper make up the eleven; smaller formats such as indoor hockey use fewer.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
A team is at most sixteen people: eleven on the field and five substitutes.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Terminology (Team) · recall
Hockey uses rolling substitutions: there is no limit to how often a player changes.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 2.3 · recall
Field players of one team wear uniform clothing so the umpires and players can tell them apart.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 4.1 · recall
The goalkeeper's shirt differs in colour from both teams.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Captains wear a distinctive armband, on an arm, a shoulder or over a sock.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 3.3 · recall
A suspended player cannot be replaced, so the team plays one short for the suspension.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 14.2 · applied
Smallest to largest: the bench, the eleven on the field, then everyone named for the match.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Terminology (Team) · recall
Time is not stopped for a substitution; the players change by the centre-line.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 2.3 · applied
Each side shows ten field players and a goalkeeper: eleven, the usual number in outdoor hockey.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Test 3Goalkeepers and field playersTake a test
These three pieces guard the head, the shins and the feet from a hard ball; goalkeepers usually add body protection as well.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 4.4 · recall
Kickers fit over the goalkeeper's shoes so the ball can be kicked away safely.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Inside their circle, stick in hand, goalkeepers may use stick and body; outside it, the stick only.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 10.2 · recall
Field players must play the ball with the stick only; the goalkeeper alone has the privilege of using the body, inside the circle.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Terminology (Field Player) · recall
Shins and mouth are the parts most often hit by the hard ball and by sticks, which is why guards are strongly recommended.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 4.2 · recall
A goalkeeper's helmet has a full face guard, and a throat protector is worn under it.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
A goalkeeper is not compulsory: a team may choose to play with field players only.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 2.2 · applied
Each piece guards the part of the body in its place: helmet for head and face, chest protector for the trunk, leg guards for the shins, kickers for the feet.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
The goalkeeper may block with the pads inside the circle; defenders then clear the rebound.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · applied
Helmet, leg guards and kickers mark out the goalkeeper; a face mask is a defender's kit at corners.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Test 4Scoring from the circleTake a test
Shots from outside the circle do not count unless an attacker touches the ball inside it.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · recall
The circle's flat front and curved sides give it the nickname 'the D'.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
A defender's touch before or after an attacker's play in the circle does not stop a goal.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · applied
Without an attacker playing the ball inside the circle, no goal can be scored.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · applied
Part of the ball over the line is not enough: the whole ball must have crossed, below the bar and between the posts.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · recall
The circle's front line is 14.63 metres from the back-line.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Hockey goals have low boards inside; the ball striking them makes the familiar clack.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
About 0, 6.4, 14.6 and 45.7 metres.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
A deflection by an attacker inside the circle is enough for a goal.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · applied
The shot is taken from outside the circle, so it cannot score without another attacker's touch inside.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · applied
Test 5Four quartersTake a test
Four quarters replaced the older two halves; half-time now falls between the second and third quarters.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · recall
Four quarters of 15 minutes make a match of 60 minutes of playing time.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · recall
Two minutes separate quarters one and two, and three and four.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · recall
The longest break comes between the second and third quarters, when teams rest before the second half.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · recall
Umpires make sure the full time is played and signal the end of each quarter.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 11.5 · recall
Time and play are stopped after a goal and re-started when the teams are ready.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.2 · recall
Other durations may be agreed, except where competition regulations fix them.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · applied
2, 10, 15 and 30 minutes.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · recall
Teams swap ends for the second half and a centre pass starts the third quarter.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rules 5.1, 6.2 · recall
After the second quarter comes half-time; the 2-minute breaks follow the first and third quarters.
Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · applied
Test 6Men's and women's hockeyTake a test
Hockey is one of the most gender-equal sports: the same rules and equipment for men and women.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Men had played at the Olympics since 1908; women's hockey joined the programme 72 years later, at Moscow 1980.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
The International Federation of Women's Hockey Associations, founded in 1927, ran women's hockey.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
Merging the men's FIH and the women's IFWHA put the whole sport under one governing body.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
The first women's World Cup was held at Mandelieu, France, in 1974.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
In the US the high-school and NCAA college game is played mainly by girls and women.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Both men's and women's hockey have been in every Olympic Games since 1980.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
1927, 1974, 1980 and 1982.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
1908, 1924 and 1971.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
The Rules of Hockey make no distinction by gender, so the same laws and equipment apply to both.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · applied
Test 7Outdoor, indoor and Hockey5sTake a test
Indoor hockey is played on a small court, so teams are smaller: five field players and a goalkeeper.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Indoor hockey has side boards and players use them to pass off.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
In indoor hockey the ball is pushed; hitting is not permitted.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Hockey5s has four field players and a goalkeeper on each side.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Nanjing in China hosted the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, where the five-a-side game was first played at a major event.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
The 2024 World Cup is a recent event for the format, which had first appeared at a major event ten years earlier.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Two Hockey5s pitches fit on one full-size field.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Five, six and eleven per side.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
1971, 2003 and 2024.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
Boundary boards, quarter-lines and five players a side make it Hockey5s.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Test 8Where hockey is playedTake a test
International hockey is played on water-based turf, watered to speed up play.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Watering speeds up the game and stops the ball bouncing.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Synthetic turf arrived at the Montreal 1976 Olympics and has been the elite surface since.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
Hockey5s can be played on almost any flat surface.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
A count of well over a hundred member countries shows how widely hockey is played around the world.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Outside the US and a few other countries, field hockey is just called hockey.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
FIH stands for the International Hockey Federation, which publishes the Rules of Hockey and organises world events.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Grass came first, synthetic turf reached the Olympics in 1976, and watered turf became the elite standard later.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
Umpires check the field; the water-based turf is watered before play.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · applied
Water-based turf is watered to speed up the game and keep the ball flat.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · applied
Test 9Hockey at the OlympicsTake a test
London hosted the Games in 1908, and hockey, played by men only at first, has been Olympic ever since apart from two gaps.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
India have been Olympic champions eight times, including six in a row from 1928 to 1956.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
After the 1908 debut hockey was dropped twice, yet the 1920 and 1928 Games both included it.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
Los Angeles, in the United States, is the 2028 host, and hockey stays on the Olympic programme there.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Zimbabwe, newly independent in 1980, won the first women's Olympic tournament in Moscow.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
England beat Ireland in the 1908 final in London.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
Gold has been shared among nine different nations, so the title has spread more widely than India's eight wins suggest.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
1908, 1928, 1976 and 1980.
Source: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recall
Bronze, silver and gold are presented after the final, then the champions' anthem is played.
Source: General field hockey reference · applied
The champions take the middle, highest step; silver and bronze stand either side.
Source: General field hockey reference · applied
Test 10Hockey for everyoneTake a test
Youth programmes start early so that children learn stick skills young, often in small, simplified games.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Masters hockey is for players beyond their mid-thirties, with its own competitions.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Hockey ID is one form of Para Hockey, for players with an intellectual disability.
Source: FIH Rules of Para Hockey 2026, Introduction · recall
Fewer players on a smaller pitch means more time on the ball for each child.
Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall
Beginner sticks are usually wood: light, less rigid and forgiving for stopping the ball.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
A stick that reaches the hip bone lets the player stand comfortably and control the ball; much longer or shorter feels awkward.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
USA Field Hockey describes it as one of the safer sports, with few serious injuries.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Sticks grow with the player: about 28, 34 and 37 inches.
Source: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recall
Children usually start in small games before moving to eleven-a-side.
Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recall
Small games give each child many more touches than a full match, so skills improve faster.
Source: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · applied
Questions people ask
- How many players does a hockey team have on the field?
- Eleven in outdoor hockey, which is ten field players and a goalkeeper. A team is at most sixteen people, so up to five can be substitutes.
- Is there a limit on substitutions in hockey?
- No. Hockey uses rolling substitutions, so a player can change as often as needed, and time is not stopped for a substitution. Players change by the centre-line.
- How long is a field hockey match?
- Four quarters of 15 minutes of playing time. There are 2 minutes between quarters one and two and between three and four, and a 10-minute half-time in the middle (Rule 5.1).
- Where must a goal be scored from?
- An attacker must play the ball inside the circle. A shot from outside only counts if an attacker touches the ball inside the circle before it crosses the goal-line (Rule 8.1).
- What happens if a hockey match ends level?
- Under the Rules equal goals mean a draw. A shoot-out to find a winner is set by competition regulations, not by the Rules of Hockey.
- Do men and women play by the same rules?
- Yes. Women's internationals use exactly the Rules of Hockey the men use. Men's and women's hockey have been in every Olympic Games since 1980.
- What is Hockey5s?
- A format with four field players and a goalkeeper on each side. It debuted at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, and the first FIH Hockey5s World Cup took place in 2024.
- Why is international hockey played on watered turf?
- Watering speeds up the game and stops the ball bouncing. Synthetic turf arrived at the Montreal 1976 Olympics and has been the elite surface since.
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).
- USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025)45
- FIH, The history of FIH & hockey17
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.18
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.17
- KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide3
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.22
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Terminology (Team)2
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 2.32
- General field hockey reference2
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 4.11
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 3.31
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 14.21
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 4.41
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 10.21
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Terminology (Field Player)1
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 4.21
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 2.21
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 11.51
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.21
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rules 5.1, 6.21
- FIH Rules of Para Hockey 2026, Introduction1