Ninh explains the Rules of Indoor Hockey The object of the game is for your team to
score more goals than the opposing team.
Indoor hockey, is a variation of hockey, sometimes field hockey that is adapted to be played
indoors.
It was originally used as a training tool for hockey players in the winter months, but
has since become a sport of its own, with professional teams playing in indoor arenas
similar to basketball and ice hockey.
The playing surface, known as a pitch is a maximum of 44m x 22m, with 10cm boards along
each side of the pitch.
Goals are 3m wide and 2m high and surrounding the goals are the shooting circles, which
form a 9m radius around the goals.
The game played with two teams of 18, with 6 players taking to the pitch at any one time.
They consist of one goalkeeper and 5 field players.
To score a goal, a player must use their hockey stick and push the ball into the goal, and
the ball must completely cross the goal line for the goal to count.
Once a team has possession of the ball, they will try and move the ball towards the opposing
goalkeeper and try and score.
You can pass the ball directly between teammates, or dribble the ball, by running and controlling
the ball with the flat side of the stick only.
Unlike in ice hockey, a field hockey stick has a flat side and a rounded side, and they
are allowed to touch the ball with the flat side of the stick only.
Should you touch the ball with the wrong side of the stick, the other team is awarded the
ball.
There’s one big difference between indoor hockey and standard field hockey.
You are only allowed to push the ball.
Hitting the ball with significant force or flicking it is not allowed due to the close
proximity of spectators and players, so these are prohibited for safety reasons.
Except for a shot at goal, the ball must be played along the ground.
The idea is to set up in good position to be able to shoot the ball towards the goal.
The opposing team will try and stop you by tackling.
They are allowed to try and take the ball away from you from the front, or from the
side.
Whilst many players can block the ball, they cannot tackle a ball carrier with more than
one player.
They will try and take the ball away from you so that they can score themselves and
once a goal is scored, the game restarts with the opposing team taking a centre pass from
the centre of the pitch.
The game is played in 4 x 10 minute quarters, for a combined playing time of 40 minutes.
Highest score at the end of time wins.
If the game is tied at the end of time, a draw can be declared, or if it’s a knockout
competition, extra time and penalty shootouts can be used to determine a winner.
That’s basically the gist of it, but there’s a few other things you’ll need to understand
before playing or going to a game.
For example:
Substitution.
There are unlimited substitutions in indoor hockey for field players, and they can be
made at any time, so long as the player being substituted comes off first.
But if you want to remove the goalkeeper for a field player, you’re only able to do this
twice in a game.
Free push.
A free push is awarded to the other team if a player kicks the ball,
if a player touches it with any part of the body except the stick,
if there is more than one person trying to tackle the ball carrier,
or causing an obstruction by intentionally shielding the ball or deliberately getting
in the way.
If a player pushes or deflects the ball out of play on the sidelines, the team who did
not touch it lasts receives possession of the ball.
This is taken as a free push and must be within 1 m of where the ball left the sidelines.
Penalty Corner More commonly known as a short corner – this
is awarded if a defender pushes or deflects the ball behind their own goal line.
The attacking team places the ball at the short corner mark inside the circle, and only
the goalkeeper can be behind the goal line.
All other players can defend the net but must not be behind the goal line.
The ball is pushed into play and is usually stopped and then shot towards the goal.
Penalty Stroke If a defender intentionally fouls a player
with a legitimate chance to score, a penalty stroke will be awarded to the attacking team.
The ball is placed on the ground at the penalty spot and it’s one shot only.
Any goals scored count towards the overall score.
Penalty Shootout.
For games where a winner must be determined, in the event of a draw, a penalty shootout
occurs.
There are 5 shooters on each team and only the goalkeeper is allowed to guard the net.
Team with the most goals after the shootout, wins.
That’s a lot to take in, but as you watch or play indoor hockey, the rules will become
clear.
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Ninh Ly – www.ninh.co.uk - @NinhLyUK