Rules of Hockey

All joking aside, how many of us know the rules of Hockey?  I am aware that the membership of this site includes players, umpires and supporters.  I know everyone professes to know the rules inside out and upside down.

Ask any umpire, every player on the ground tells them regularly that they, the player, knows the rules better than the umpire does - a statement often uttered as the player is being shown a card or had a goal disallowed.

To help us out, particularly with the FIH tinkering again with the rules of our game, the 2011 rules are available on the World Hockey website.

Summary of changes

There have been several changes that effect the definition of rules.  They include: -

• Location of a free hit
• Free hits awarded inside the circle
• Taking penalty corners - attackers entering the circle ...
• Penalty Strokes - if an offence is committed during the taking ...

Grab your copy

I've made it easier for you by including links to World Hockeys copy of the FIH rules and the changes for 2011.  Why not spend a couple of minutes and download the rules and read them.  You'll be surprised what changes have been made for the 2011 season.

Then, you can take the time to email them to your favourite umpire so he/she can learn the rules before the season starts